October 11, 1997 Launch Report

Contributed by Tom McAtee

SLRA held its final Polo Field launch of the year on October 11. Along with our normal sport launch, we also held our first official NAR sanctioned section meet. Weather was good, with temperatures around 80 and a moderate breeze down the length of the field. Despite the absence of some of our regulars, turnout was good, with 21 registered flyers and 100 flights. Due to the contest, small engines were more popular than usual: there were thirteen 1/2A flights, 32 A's, 11 B's, 23 C's, 10 D's, 7 E's, 3 F's, and one G flight.

Several new fliers joined us for the first time: Max and Nick Irelan, the McGraw family (Mark, Allison, and Scott), Amanda and Bryan Parker, Jim Rulo, and Tim and Trista Wittereid.

The major event for the day was the contest. Three events were held: Open Spot Landing, A Engine Parachute Duration, and 1/2A Boost-Glide. To increase participation, we also held unofficial events for non-NAR members. Response was excellent, with some 20 entrants in Spot Landing alone. Corey Buckley took first among the young A Division fliers, while newcomer Bryan Parker was best in C Division. Trista Wittereid put up flights of xx and xx seconds with her Astron Drifter for first in A Division Parachute Duration, while Aaron Edwards won C division on a beautiful 83-second flight with his Estes Viking and an 18" chute. In 1/2A Boost-Glide, Corey Buckley took A Division with two good flights of his Monkey parasite glider on an Alpha, while Tom McAtee won C division on a 63-second out-of-sight flight of his original Pterydactyl (sort of a canard-less Mini-Dactyl). The winners went home with some nice kits; thanks to All Seasons Hobbies and to Rob Chapie for their generous prize donations.

It was also a good day for sport flying. The McGraws put up nine flights with their extensive fleet; my favorite was the E28-powered Maniac which roared nearly out of sight yet came down on the field. Kevin Souers put in good flights with his classic EAC Viper, Astron Delta, and Goblin, and also brought out his Camroc - a real piece of modroc history. Also in the classic vein, Bob Schapp flew his Red Max and Mark II, and the Wittereids put in good flights with their Astron Falcon boost-glider, Astron Drifter, Centuri Javelin, and Centuri Flutter-Bye.

Jim Rulo launched the top two stages of his Comanche for a very high flight, but unfortunately had a separation, and the upper stage ended up a bit shorter. James Hollister put up a graceful flight with his Estes Python powered by an E11, and John Buckley flew a Sputnik in honor of the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the Space Age. Aaron Edwards put up great flights of a new Trans-Wing boost-glider and a clustered Big Bertha. Gary Bievenue had a new Falcon built from 1976 MRN plans, which flew well on C and D power. Mark Henriksen made the first Econojet flight at one of our earlier launches; this time he had the misfortune of having the first Econojet CATO - his beautiful scratchbuilt Shadowfire was cooked on the pad by a G35.