LAUNCH! L.A.S.E.R., Groveland, FL, March 15, 2020, Part 1

This was my first time flying with the L.A.S.E.R. (Lake Area Students Engineering Rockets) in Groveland, FL.
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The club is fairly new, there were ten or so people in attendance. A good sized field and some good people led to a busy day.

Lonnie and Sue Buchanon and Jim Lytle (I know from Orlando R.O.C.K.) also flew today. I thought the launch might be cancelled by Corona Virus concerns but this was outdoors and was a small group.

This shows four of the Estes 6 volt controllers that lead to the low power racks.
I believe this is what G. Harry Stine called the "Misfire Alley" system where launchers are manned one at a time. After launch that first controller is set down, the next flyer uses controller number two. All systems worked smooth today.






Here's my fairly new Centuri ARGUS with an Estes C6-5. Estimated altitude was 550'.
That Enerjet 1340 (Eliminator) fin can is tough and should last for years.

Club President Mike Meredith launched his Frank Burke Dinosoar Aurora. Boost provided by an Aerotech E6RC motor.

On the right is the boost phase.
On the left is the long, smooth R/C glider recovery.





And . . . touch down!

The reinforced nozzles and fins on my Quest FLV (Future Launch Vehicle) went up on a Estes B6-4.
A textbook launch and recovery with apogee estimated at 325'. No damage to the low end at landing.







I haven't flown the upscale Estes TEROS in a looong time!
This field was large enough to open up a bit. Today with a Estes E9-4 it probably reached 650'. I've been lucky, an E9 that didn't CATO!
The ramjet nose cone was made from an inverted plastic champagne glass from the Dollar Tree Store.





Jim Lytle had an exciting afternoon. His original designs are fun and innovative.
Here's the boost of his Flying Irishman with a D12-3. It arced over and ejected close to the ground.






Jim's Squirrel Works Metropolitan Police Call Box launched with a D12-3. Very stable with recovery under a red Mylar parachute.
Jim's first Estes Saturn V launch got hung up on the launch rod! He cleared the launch lug and loaded another D12-3. Low and slow with ejection a bit late! Still full parachutes and a soft enough landing.

Part 2, tomorrow!