Launch! Soccer Field September 3, 2012

Because of work I didn't make the September Orlando R.O.C.K. section launch. It was scrubbed anyway - the field was too wet from the recent rains. With my current schedule I wanted to sneak in a few launches at the soccer field.

These are the new Art Applewhite PINWHEEL card stock models.
On the left is the MicroMaxx version.
Apogee was probably 35 feet with lots of spin going up, after ejection very little spin coming down.
On the right is the 13mm PINWHEEL flown with an A10-3t engine.
Apogee might have been 200 feet (I'm terrible at these estimations) Plenty of spin going up, it flipped ever and spun some one the way down.
These are perfect "first flight of the day" rockets.

There were girls in the playground area. All had watched the pinwheels fly and wanted a closer look. At 7:45 a.m. they were still in pajamas, probably a sleepover.
I asked if anybody wanted to launch the rockets - all five volunteered.
After a quick safety talk all were ready to help!

This is the Birthday girl Alyssa launching the Hot Rod Rockets BELL BOTTOM with an Estes A3-4t. Boost was great to over 500 feet.
The new streamer broke off, the thin Kevlar line was overdue for replacement. No damage to the rocket or detached streamer.

Lots of Oohs and Aahs from the girls.

Brianna counted down and launched the Custom Rockets NOMAD flown with an Estes B6-4.
This was a textbook launch, stable with full 12" trash bag parachute deploy.
I'd estimate the altitude at about 350'.




Pressing the launch button this time is Alana. Another NOMAD flew, this time a Centuri clone with a Quest A6-4.
The A6-4s are sometimes better than the Estes A8-3. The extra second of delay can help the model reach apogee. Estimated altitude was 225'.
But in this model that delay was a tad long. The parachute ejected with the model nose down.
No damage, just a little Quest soot inside.

Also flown:
Kylee launched the recently repaired Dr. Zooch Ares 1 Stick. An Estes A8-3 engine gave a perfect boost. The small chute got tangled at ejection but it fell horizontal into the low grass. No damage on recovery, just a little wet.