Twenty club members flew rockets, plus one more non-member; there were at least as many more spectators present. Eighty-two flights were made, which nearly equals our record. Most frequent fliers were Jeff Brundt and the Hollisters, Jack and Peter, with ten flights each, followed by Tom McAtee (9) and Tim Schaiff (7). D's were the most popular motors by far, powering 18 flights, including 6 clusters. There were 3 1/2A flights, 5 A's, 3 B's, 13 C's, 18 D's, 6 E's, 6 F's, 10 G's, 12 H's, 4 I's, 1 J, and 1 K-powered flight.

Our Columbia friends Fred Gruis and Elmer Price made the most spectacular flights of the day. Elmer flew a K185 in his Magnum for a great flight; it just kept going and going and going. Though the ejection seemed a bit early, everything held together for a nominal recovery and a successful NAR/TRA certification upgrade. This was the first K motor flown at one of our launches. Elmer took and passed the TRA Level 2 written test before his flight, and thus became (I think) the first member of the club to certify for Level 2.

Fred Gruis flew a J415 in his scratchbuilt Long Gone for another great flight and an NAR certification upgrade. Fred also had an impressive scratchbuilt two-stage rocket with an I booster and an H upper stage. While the upper stage didn't ignite, it still reached a respectable altitude, and both stages recovered successfully.

Other successful certification flights were made by John Sullivan (with G and H power) and Rob Chapie. Congratulations to all!

Jeff Brundt had a new Broadsword and a new lower stage for his Terrier-Sandhawk. Both made good flights on D12 and E28 power. He also had a very nice new Super Vega which made a great flight on a D12; unfortunately, it lost two fins when flown on an E28. Jeff's nicely done Astrobee D also flew impressively on G64 power.

Jack Hollister had a new BT-60 scratchbuilt, the Bustard, which flew successfully on A through D motors. The SR-71 made a beautiful straight, gently rolling flight on C power, and the Mosquito did its disappearing act on an A10, reappearing a few seconds later on the ground.

Tom McAtee put in the day's first flight with an Aerotech IQSY Tomahawk powered by an E28, and flew a range of models from 1/2A (Birdie, Pterydactyl) to G (LOC IV) power. The Pterydactyl boost-glider had a nice long thermal-assisted flight, drifting out of sight downwind, but was still recovered on the field.

Tim Schaiff's Barracuda made good flights on F22 and G80 motors, with a nice contrast between the slow smoky F22 and the high-acceleration G80. The Orion Rocket Works Crayon fooled the chief RSO by going unstable on its F12; it gave an interesting aerobatics display, coming down safely downrange.

Chad Rogers had a new mini-engine model with fins made from a compact disc; this disappeared off the pad on an A10 but was successfully recovered. Both Chad and Mark Henriksen flew PML Cirruses; unfortunately, both experienced problems. Mark's, flying on a G, lost its nose cone, while Chad's, boosted by an H, lawn darted downrange - the only significant casualty of the day.

Steve Mizerany made several good flights with his Oddball fleet, and debuted his Quest X-30, which made a nice straight flight. His relatively conventional 2.6" diameter scratchbuilt Fred made a great flight on F32 power. Several rocketeers flew D-engine clusters: Rob Chapie flew his 2-D Impulse and very nice 4-D Patriot; Mark Henriksen flew a modified 3-engine Broadsword, and Steve Mizerany flew another nice Patriot.

Many club members took advantage of the good weather conditions to fly H or I motors: Mike Gitcho, Mark Geislinger, Dave Daven, Heino Pull, Rich Tabor, Robin Weinrich, Bill Suntken, and Dane Kell all put in successful flights.

Our next launch is Saturday, April 20 at Elsberry, MO.