Monday, April 2, 2012

April Fool's Day Launch, 4/1/2012 - Rockets and Catfish

I don't need an excuse to launch - any holiday works!
April Fool's Day seemed appropriate for what happened.




First and second up was my tree branched damaged CENTURION, launched twice with B6-4s to 325' altitude. I was testing out a new engine retainer. (More on that later!)
The retainer worked beautifully!







The Quest ESCORT AS-1 flew with an Estes A8-3 engine to an estimated 250' high.
There was a little tail wag as it went up. Crispy Quest parachute recovery and a small snap-back dent in the upper body tube.







This is one of the few Dr. Zooch kits I would even consider flying with an A engine.
The ARES STICK had a fast boost with an A10-3t in an adapter.
The small 6" parachute brought it down without damage.





Okay - here's the weird . . .
I saw some movement on the ground near the launcher.
I walked over a found a catfish - alive, flipping around on the grass.
It didn't make a whole lot of sense. The nearest lake is 1/4 mile away.

My first thoughts were: "Get out of there before the aliens land!"

A guy was running his two dogs nearby. He walked over and asked about the rockets.
I shook Robert's hand and talked up the hobby. I pointed out the catfish flipping around in the grass.

He gave the best explanation. I've never seen them, but Robert said there was Eagles in the area. An eagle could have picked up the fish from the lake and dropped it on the field.

Mystery solved! He picked up the fish and walked it back to the lake to release it.



Last flown was the Custom NOMAD with a B6-4.
Draggy but a true flier that probably reached 350' with full parachute recovery.

A good day, clear, cool and no wind.
I caught three of the five rockets launched and a fish.

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