STAC Event 12/02/00: Rocket Launch

Despite predictions for cold weather, Saturday turned out to be very comfortable.  And amazingly, almost no wind.
It's a shame more people couldn't make it, but my father, Paul, and I had a great time.

I set up in the usual spot at Battle Creek Middle School.  Managed to only need three trips to the car this time, thanks to some large duffle bags.
Set up the card-table and crowd-control banners (not needed!).

Flight Results:
 
Owner Rocket Engine Notes Results
Jeff Hove Estes Avenger - upper stage
(shortened after lawn dart)
Estes B6-4 ~600' chute tangled with fins, broke fin on landing.  Repaired fin w/CA
Paul Hove Estes Trident Estes B6-4 ~500' plastic chute didn't inflate but rocket landed horizontal w/ no damage
Jeff Centuri Taurus Estes C6-5 Beautiful flight
Jeff Aerotech Initiator Aerotech E28-4T 24mmRMS Transroc II Beeper, camera tripod pad ~700' Perfect.  Ejection just after apogee
Jeff Bic Arcas Quest MicroMaxx 1/8A Micro pad failed even w/new batt.  Used 6v pad to ignite. Nice flight but chute didn't inflate.  No damage.
Jeff Centuri Starfire Estes C6-5 Transroc II Beeper.  Predicted 1800'. 14" nylon chute Awsome flight but shock cord broke.  Chute/NC/Beeper recovered near pad but body landed ballistic on roof of school.  The impact sound was loud from 100 yards away.
Jeff Estes Avenger - two stage Estes C6-0 (old) to A8-3 Fantastic!  Booster climbed for a long time to ~250' and ignited 2nd stage nicely but booster shredded all three fins (not well constructed).  Parts landed 50 feet from pad, sustainer had nice flight & recovered 200' from pad (caught it).
Jeff Estes Saturn V 1:144 scale Estes A8-3 Maiden flight after built 25 yrs ago, 14" nylon chute Gorgeous!  Very slow climb to 100' then tail-slide as chute ejected perfectly.
Jeff Estes Saturn V 1:144 scale Estes B4-2 14" nylon chute Even better!  Nice tracking smoke, ejection just before apogee. Caught it!
Jeff Estes Little John Estes A10-3T First flight after rebuild/paint.  Used Aerotech 14" nylon chute (tight fit) Perfectly straight climb.  Nice ejection.  Caught it.
Jeff Estes Mosquito Clone w/Micromaxx Adapter pod Micromaxx 1/8A 50' Perfect flight w/full streamer deployment on pod.
Jeff Centuri Orion Aerotech D13-5W 18mm RMS 14" nylon chute, beeper Unbelievably noisy launch.  Perfect deployment, broke one fin on landing.

Mission accomplished.  A good day!
 

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