Dennis Watkins, Black Roc 2009.
Gang,
Got to fly on Friday. Lucky I did. Weather went away about noon on Saturday and range was closed. Some brave souls flew on Sunday. It seemed to Mike and I that most flights failed. Mike tried on Saturday and we were on the pad but had lost the GPS signal as the wind came in. We were in a dust cloud taking it off the rail. Sunday it looked bad so we packed up the pad so we could then pack everything else. We then got a good patch and tried Mikes again to find there were no 1.5 rails there. So Mike decided best to scrub. On My flight, Had problems from assembling the motor to getting shear pins to line up. It took almost an hour for the GPS unit to find were it was and to start transmitting location. All I am sure to being nervous. Got it on the pad and up could not get continuity. Tried without the relay and thought maybe the wire was too long to carry enough amps. Finely found we had a bad connection at the controller. Get a count down here 1-launch push button on camera, get a picture of it half way up the rail! Next picture is just flame and that is 1/3 of a second later. This motor lit instantly and the rocket was gone, all 69lbs. of it. Bright red flame. Then it was through a cloud before it was done burning. No sight of it and no change in position on the radio. Took a long time and may have had to get below the clouds for us to receive. Finely a position and Dennis could breathe again. Lost the signal and put last known location in the Etrex. 3.86 miles away. Got in the truck and followed the position right to it. All back in one piece in great shape. Including the paint. Nose cone has bubbles on it where it has gotten very hot but paint did not peal. Missile Works tiny reported 26,581 Arts reported 28,465 baro and 30,583 accel.. 2013 ft. sec. max speed or about Mach 2. Motor worked out to an O-3362 with 22,864ns. And a 6.8 second burn time.
Dennis
MIKE LAW WINS WILDMAN RAFFLE.
Mike won the Wildman raffle to be L-3 Certified at LDRS In New York, July 2-6 2009. The prize includes an Extreame Wildman Kit, flight registration, an Aerotech M1297 motor, two Missile works RRC2 - mini altimiters, and , as they say much much more (even including the hotel!). You can check out the full package at Rocketry Planet. www.rocketryplanet.com/content/view/2840/30/
Valerie said Mike is so so excited, and will be sure to send updates and photo's of Mike's L-3 journey.
The news release from Wildman Rocketry stated:
Mike Law from Indiana is now going to LDRS in New York to do his level 3 flight. I want to thank everybody who joined this raffle and all Mfg's that donated to it. From his excitement on the phone I think we picked a good one .
Congratulations Mike We will see you at LDRS
GOOD LUCK MIKE!!!
MIKE'S SUCCSESSFUL L-3 JULY 4, 2009. 12,000 FT.
2009 SCHEDULE UPDATED:
Check the Schedule page for listing.
Charlie Humphries L.D.R.S. Success.
9/2/2008
Dennis Watkins reported that Charlie broke both the SCAM altitude and LDRS Host club, Kloudbusters, feild record last week. Charlie flew his Risky Business2, Staged with an M1315, to an M1350. The successful flight reached an altitude of 36,872' AGL. Be sure to congradulate Charlie on his fantastic effort.
FLYING FEILD OPPORTUNITIES:
We would like to put out a request to our rocketry friends in the farming community in and near the Allen County area that if you have a field which can support high power rockets (about 1/2 mile square or larger), and are ten or more miles away from FW International Airport, to consider making it available for a club launch in the off-growing season. These would be primarily club-attended launches. If you are interested, please contact one of us.
CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR NEWS PAGE!
Have you been to any interesting rocketry events? Have photos, a launch report, or an interesting story to share? If so, we'd love to hear from you! Please put together a sentence or paragraph or two, and e-mail your friendly Webmaster, for inclusion on this news page. For space considerations, please keep stories brief, and pertaining to rockery or personal events of members. Thanks, I hope to hear from you soon, - Ed