St. Louis Rocketry Assn.

November 2nd 2002

Launch Report

Jeff McCoy  

Dave Welch flew several flights in prep for an attempt at a level 1 cert.  His attempt with a LOC Weasel had a separation, due to a nick in the shock cord that was believed to have happened while putting vent hole in the airframe prior to the flight.  Not to slow Dave down he turned around later and flew a NRC Big Brute on an H-128 to get the Cert.  The first high power flight of the day went to Mark McGraw with a Missleworks Super P on an I-161.  Kevin Bauer came back to re-cert. level one with a LOC Hi-Tech on an H-123.

There were a total of 15 high power flights during the day ranging from H thru L motors.  Scott Kormeier flew several nice flights including a Rocket R&D Standard ARM on a K-550.  The biggest motor of the day goes to Rob Chapie, with a HyperTek L-970.  Notice I said biggest motor not flight.  After one unsuccessful attempt to get it lit, the second attempt ended in a Cato that blew the bottom 1/4 of the rocket to pieces and the top portion about 50 yards down range.  Many theories on the possible cause were offered. The fragments of the casing have been sent in to CTI to be examined in their lab.  Jack Hollister flew a great looking upscale Solar Sailor II on an H-73, unfortunately it ended as a lawn dart.

Henio Pull came out with a new toy as usual. This time it was an Estes Maniac flying a wireless color TV camera. There was a receiver attached to a camcorder on the ground, recording the flight.  He flew several flights on D-12 and ended with an E-30 flight.  Only a few rockets found the “Duck Pond” in the field to the east.  I believe all rockets that went swimming were recovered in tact.  Only two flights found the bean field.  Don Hanson had the last flight of the day with a PML AMRAAM 4 on a I-200; he found it hung up to the east.  Don, being the expert electrician that he is, was able to recover it carefully using techniques acquired at the Boy Scout Camporee just 2 weeks before.