SOUTHERN COLORADO ROCKETEERS

February 15, 2003 Launch Report

by Bill Moore

The day started out with the buildout at the aircraft museum at 9:00 a.m. with the group moving to the P.M.I. site around 11:00 a.m..

At the launch site the weather was cool ( mid 30’s ) with a heavy overcast at about 1700-1800 feet, with just a hint of a breeze.

Chris Main started off the festivities, launching an Estes Rampage on a B-6-4, resulting in a beautiful flight into the gray February skies. Only the first of many excellent flights for the day. Later in the day, Chris made another good flight with his rampage. Next up was Adam Olivia, also flying the Rampage, B-6-4 Combination, again a beautiful flight, but a failure of the chute opening caused a rather bumpy landing. After a couple of igniters failures Adam again sent his rampage into the skies for textbook flight.

Jason Unwin was next on the rack flying a Maxi Alpha 3 on a D-12-3. Always a crowd pleaser. This time Jason had a suprise in store, at ejection 3 small paratroopers were ejected for a fun flight. Cheryl Scott flew her Rampage next using the B-6-4, but the first of 4 separations occurred, bringing the rocket down in two pieces. Luckily no serious damage was done and after a quick repair job Cheryl will be able to fly it again. Next , “Mad” Max, the club V.P. and resident glider expert launched the Estes “Shuttle Express” new to this years catalog from Estes. A perfect takeoff with the two gliders separating at ejection and gliding back safely to earth. I sometimes think that with enough time, Max could make a brick aerodynamic enough to fly. To finish off the first rack Ben “Cluster Man “ Taylor launched his orange and silver Estes V-2 Modified to use a cluster of three D-12-3’s . Awesome is a good word to describe this beast

The next rack was led off by Andy Main with the Rampage, B-6-4, for another beautiful flight, marred only by a somewhat reefed chute, which caused no problems at all. Another Rampage flight by Chris was followed by Max Exline with his Quest Lightning with a glider attached flying on a C-6-5, Beautiful flight with good glider detachment. Now the rocket gremlins decided to rear their ugly heads for the first of many times this day. Next up was Bill Moore with his Saturn V flying on an E-9-4. At launch the Saturn hung just a bit on the rod, then lifted off, but at about 40 feet the rocket nosed over and headed straight for the ground impacting about 2 seconds before the ejection charge fired. Some damage, but it will fly again.

Rack three was started off by Jason with his familiar Big Bertha, Andy Main’s Rampage, Bill with an X-Flier parachute duration attempt, with Ben bring up the last spot with his Executioner modified to use a cluster of 3 C motors. Unfortunately, a blown fuse in the power supply aborted the executioners launch.

Rack 4 was the beginning of the cruise missile phase of the launch. Following Adam Olivia’s Rampage, Max launched an Estes Heatseeker on a C-6-5. The rocket gained about 100 feet of altitude , then gained target acquisition to the northeast, and was last seen heading for Nebraska. Unfortunately the rocket was never recovered. Next, a streamer duration attempt by Bill flying an Estes Wizard, staying aloft for 38.53 seconds. Ben had gotten the fuse replaced and launched his Executioner on 3 C-6-5. Another awesome flight.

Rack 5 was almost a total wash, with Jason’s Maxi Alpha going CATO at ignition, and Bill’s Eliminator doing an imitation of Max’s Heatseeker by making a right turn at about 30’ and heading due east in straight and level flight. The gremlins were definitely having a good time today.

By this time the new builders were finished for the day, so racks 6-10 were occupied by Jason, Max, Ben and Bill. Notable flights of these Racks were Ben’s V-2, Jason’s streamer duration attempt with a Quest Pip Squeak @30.15 seconds, and two more flights of the Big Bertha. Max had two more glider flights, a Estes Mini Meanie, and his Rampage. Bill flew his Aerotech Warthog, a Quest Delta Clipper and in a tribute to Columbia, The Estes Space Shuttle, Ironically, this was the best flight this particular rocket had ever had.

The Nitty Gritty: