Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., January 3, 2025

Some days are good, this wasn't the best!

My Estes TWIN FACTOR was launched with a A10-0t booster to an A3-4t sustainer.

As all my two stagers seem to fly - First stage is vertical, Second stage turns to 45 degrees! I got both stages back, there were some burn holes in the booster tube and the rear engine block was gone. 

This one is probably retired, the booster anyway.

The BT-50 based AMRAAM was my best launch of the day. 

I'm starting to use some of many Quest Q-jets B4-4s picked up over the past few years. 

I would guess 450 feet with a good walk to pick it up. My dog Dakota went with me to recover it.

Another Q-Jet B4-4 was used in my Quest X-15.

It wobbled during boost to 350' and drifted into the trees - Lost!

I had 17 previous launches on this one - 

My best launch shot of the day goes to Gary Dahlke's Extreme 12.

I believe it was a D12-0 to an A8-3. A smart choice considering the field size and the increasing winds.

Finish out the day with a bang! I usually have a MicroMaxx rocket ready.

This is the Rocketship Games HAWKEYE downscale.

It performed well, topping out at nearly 100'. I wish I had installed a streamer. I drew a bead on the landing area a found it after a few minutes.

Only four launched - 

The X-15 was lost and the Twin Factor booster is fried!

Not the best day, but they all can't be perfect.

Launch! R.O.A.R., Christmas, FL, December 20, 2025

Low 70s in December? That's warm for central Florida this time of year.

Winds around 5 mph.

Not a big group today, some first timers who bought C6-5s for their Estes Crossfire builds. I gave them some B6-4s for the first launch.

First up for me was the 2/3rds size Centuri UFO with a C5-3. Perfect boost to about 150 feet. Just as advertised, at apogee it turned over and "floated" down landing on the wire legs.

Here's the upside down landing.

My best flight of the day goes to the Quest STRIKER AGM sporting the original Enertech design paint.

A C6-5 pushed it to 425 feet. 

I reefed the chute for a faster descent which led to two fins broken off. The lower 2/3 of the fins didn't adhere well to the plastic tail cone. The smaller fairing fins were still securely glued to the body tube. 

I like to fly at least one MicroMaxx rocket for variety and laughs.

This is the FlisKit MACME SHREW, a downscale of the large Acme Spitfire.

The body looks like stacked, crooked tin cans.

It is stable - to about 40 feet. The short MMX ejection fired before apogee.

The narrow streamer slowed descent.

The New Way FIRECAT 4 finished the day with an Estes B6-4 to 325'.

On dislodged fin at touch down.

I felt the need to stop at four launches, my new dog Dakota should head home. She spent most of the morning under my car seeking some cooler shade.

Four up, four recovered with a few broken fins.

Launch! R.O.A.R., Christmas, FL, November 22, 2025

Still hot, still humid in November! Winds were low, though - 

Dakota the Blue Merle Sheltie was quiet, laying in the shade under my car.

First launch of the Semroc/Centuri EXCALIBUR with a B6-4.

Arrow straight (obviously due to the six fibre fins) to an estimated 400'.

No damage when picked up.

First flight of the Centuri SKYLAB clone.

A C5-3 got the heavy model up to nearly 400'.

The model was rigged for horizontal recovery but the chute lines got tangled at ejection. 

One solar panel fin and one side booster broke off on landing. Looks like an easy, clean repair.

Alex Baker launched two of his Odd'l Rockets Fighter Fleet series, the F-16 and a Blue Angels decorated F-16. 

For a size comparison,

My FlisKits MMX SATURN V was pictured next to Mark Ferrarro's Apogee 1/70 scale Saturn V.

Mark's was about the best Saturn V flight I've seen using a G76-4 motor.

My Micro Saturn was unstable! Probably got to 8 feet in that loop. Ejection on the ground and closest to the pad.

Another first flight - 

Finally launched the Estes LTV SCOUT with the recommended C6-5.

Boost was labored but true. Altitude was probably about 400'. 

I set the build up with two chutes instead of the single one in the kit.

Both ejected and opened. At landing, two of the small fins popped off and were found nearby.

A favorite - The Excelsior Decals HONEST GOON.

It's a bulky, heavy bird but always comes through.

With the C6-5 altitude was around 425'. 

Full chute and no damage.

Five up, five recovered. Four broken fins, all repairable.

R.O.C.K. Launch Nov. 8, 2025

This was a "make-up" launch, the field was too muddy last Saturday from all the rain. Few participants today, three regular club members and and few first timers launching their RTF Estes Pumas.

The ASP D REGION TOMAHAWK had an impressive boost with the A3-4t motor. Altitude was an estimated 500'!

Touch down was on the opposite side of the field under the long yellow streamer.

I'm always surprised how well the 13mm engines perform in a minimum diameter BT-5 tube.

This is my Estes EAC VIPER upscale housed in a BT-55 tube.

The B6-4 was just about right with an altitude of 375'. 

My new dog Dakota didn't bark or bat an eye during the launches. 

She did appreciate her new shaded play pen. 

The next dog "test" will be a camping trip later this month.

The Semroc MMX MARS LANDER was disappointing.

After clearing the launch rod, it looped and landed dislodging one of the lander leg fins. 10' high!

Even though the weather has been cooler lately, today was HOT!

Few flyers sent us home early.

My last rocket up was my GOONY X-15 with an Estes B6-4. Textbook flight with an easy recovery.

I only had four launches and wanted to get my dog cooled off! All recovered, no damages.

 

LAUNCH! R.O.A.R., Christmas, FL, October 25, 2025

I don't usually go to club launches in the Summer. The R.O.A.R. club skips meeting in the hot months.

First launch for me today was the new, New Way BLADE RUNNER with a B6-4.

Straight and stable to 250'. Not too high considering the drag of the blade fins. A good start to a windy day. Check out the launch rods angled to the East.  

Many experienced flyers have never seen a MicroMaxx model. 

This is the ASP SANDIA SANDHAWK using a 1/8A MMX motor.  Compare it's size, next to the girth of the Estes MAV.

While I cautioned how fast these are, this one was easy to follow through ejection and touchdown. The small chrome Mylar streamer made recovery easy. Estimated altitude was 75'.

My new dog - 

This was Dakota's first rocket launch - she did great!

A little startled by the first loud composite motor boost. After a few LPR launches the "whooosh" didn't phase her!

Dakota can be skittish around people she doesn't know. She warmed up to some (patient) new friends.

A Summer blog build,

The Estes MINI BOMARC first flight with an A10-3t. 

Some "coning" during boost, but overall as stable as a winged rocket gets. I would estimate the altitude to be 175'. Full 8" chute and no damage.

Another Summer build - 

The downscale (BT-50 based) AMRAMM was based on the Estes kit and information from the Alway book.

A B6-4 got it to 350' with a straight boost. If I remember correctly, a half ounce of clay weight compensated for the forward fins.

Winds were up to 15 mph - lots of open chutes drifted to the West.

I don't think any models were lost, the AMRAAM landed too close to the small pond on the property. It's closer to the marsh than the picture shows.

Four up, four recovered with no damage.

I had hoped to launch the LTV Scout and Centuri Skylab - it was too windy to risk those rare birds.

R.O..C.K. Monthly Launch, June 7, 2025

I had hoped to get in two more test flights of the Odd'l Rockets ROBOT today.

Boost was stable with a B6-4 motor, but at ejection the head popped off! The rear ejection worked fine, and the main body found.

But, the head was lost. No C6-5 second launch today.

Second up was the downscaled Centuri UFO INVADER. 

It performed as advertised, turning over at apogee and landing on the spring wire legs. 

Space X has nothing on this 1976s kit!

Boost was labored but straight up with a C6-3 in the tail.

The New Way LETTER GO yielded the best launch picture of the day.

An older Chinese Quest B6-4 had a noisy boost with an altitude guess at 325 feet.

The 12" parachute was large enough for recovery on the newly mowed field.

You can see how small the ASP Micro HAWK next to the BT-55 diameter model.

I like to add a Micro-Maxx launch for some variety. Boost is always fast. Altitude was an estimated 75 feet.

I asked for extra eyes to follow the descent but with the shiny streamer it was easy to track.

Only launched four rockets today. It was very hot and might be my last launch until Florida cools off next October.

Launch! R.O.A.R. Monthly, Christmas, FL, May 17, 2025

Summer heat is here!

I returned for a second monthly launch with the ROAR club in Christmas Florida.

The Quest kit-bashed Intruder has been renamed the INTERTRUDER . First launch was an Estes B6-4.

Some reviews say the boost can be squirrelly. Mine was straight and true to an estimated 350'. For half of the descent, the chute was caught up on on wing. It released and opened a hundred feet up.

I was expecting some damage but it touched down with the fin dowels and toothpicks intact.

This is a Jim Flis design, patterned after a playground gym.

The SKY RAIDER was stable but labored using the Estes C6-3.

I couldn't get a boost shot so here's the ejection. That's only an 8" parachute, easy to pack in what little area is left inside. 

I would guess the altitude to be around 400'. 

No damage at recovery.

Next up, the Estes SKY TRACER clone.

An A8-3 didn't give much altitude, maybe 175'. 

One of the trailing engine assemblies broke off, they are the first thing to hit under a parachute. 

I looked, but couldn't find all the pieces. These were a complex assembly, this rocket might be retired. 

The new Odd'l Rockets ROBOT prototype had two more test flights.

The first with another B6-4 to 275', the second launch a C6-5 to 425'.

The Robot arms are set to induce some spin stability. The spin was evident as the model slowed down on the C6-5 boost. This second test build also had .25 oz. of clay weight in the head.

Because of how the nose cone is attached, this rocket uses rear eject. The 12' chute is rolled around the engine mount centering rings. No wadding is needed.

Two more stable flights, no damage.

I don't think many of the ROAR members have had experience with MicroMaxx models of motors. They spent a few minutes questioning why the German made igniter wasn't giving them a usual ohm reading.

I got lucky with the burst feature and caught the launch of the Semroc MMX BLUE BIRD ZERO. MMX launches are quick!

You can easily see a size difference when loaded next to other models on the rack. Boost was a loft to 50'. Streamer recovery with no damage.

6 launched including the two prototype flights. One damaged. 

A hot but productive day.

R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch, April 5, 2025

Weather forecast was for 20 mph wind gusts and 90 degrees! I almost didn't go - It wasn't that bad,  rockets were prepped with A and B motors.

I'm glad my car had all wheel drive as the wild hogs really tore up the field. It was a bumpy ride in!

First test flight of the ROBOT design.

I was concerned about stability, but it was fine with a B6-4 motor. Rear eject worked, but - 

 

The winds took it into the trees!

I chalked it up as a loss, there were a few others rockets caught in the high pines to the West side of the field.

To my surprise - John and Tom got it down with the extension pole! No damage, ready for more tests. I may add some nose weight before using a heavier C6-5 motor.

The upscale BT-50 STAR SEEKER had a first flight with an A3-4t engine.

Vertical boost, reefed chute to about 250 feet.

I expected to see a fin torn off at touchdown, there is a very short root edge on this one. No damage! 

I usually prep a MicroMaxx model for each club launch, just to show the kids how small rockets can be.

This is the OOP Fliskit MMX SATURN V. Note the conical stability at the low end. No launch pic for this one, MMX are too  fast to capture.

I usually ask for extra eyes on these small builds as the launches are fast -  This one is slower and the black cone on the back is easy to follow through boost.

Altitude was probably 50' with streamer eject. No damage.

Still being built on this blog - 

The Estes ATV (Avanced Target Drone) clone had a first flight using an A8-3.

Textbook launch and recovery. Altitude estimated at 225'.

Always a Goony favorite - 

The NIKE GOON flys again! This is it's seventh launch.

An Estes B6-4 got it to 250 feet.

The home print decals are starting to yellow - 

My favorite launch of the day goes to Cory Skinner.

This is his build of the Oviedo Water Tower.

The legs of the tower are carbon fiber, the upper tube was a Nestle's chocolate milk can. Other detail parts are 3D printed.

Powered by an E30-4 motor, the flight was clean and true.

Hot and a bit windy - good a good day!

Five launches, five recoveries and no damage.

Launch! R.O.A.R. Monthly, February 23, 2025

For a change, I went to the R.O.A.R. launch in Christmas, FL. ROAR has one of the most sophisticated pre-launch procedures I have ever seen. 

There is a four pad low power rack and a mid power rail launcher.

Many Blue Origin families and first timers today. It took a while for the pads to clear so the "old timers" could launch.   

I had the first rocket in the air today.

A favorite, the Quest FLV with an Estes C6-5. Estimated altitude was 500 feet.

Stable, clean with touchdown close to the pad.

Next up was the New Way ALIEN INVADER with a B6-4.

This is one of the square tube models from New Way.

Estimated altitude was 350'.

One broken and separated fin on landing.

Flight of the day goes to Gary Dahlke.

An Honest John with a G79-4. The loud motor surprised the first timers.

A chute release was set for 300'. 

The Florida Tech Design Group brought their Doordash D.A.R.T.

Dart stands for Demonstrator for Autonomous Rapid Transport.

Today was a "boost" test using a G25 motor. In future flights, they hope to land it much like a Space X booster. The landing legs are retracted here.

Next up was the Estes EAC FIRE CAT clone with a B6-4

Altitude was estimated at 300'.

I usually expect to break a fin on this one, but it touched down without damage.

Here's the Odd'l Rockets F-18 in the Blue Angels decal livery.

I should have used a B6-4, but had an anemic A8-3 loaded.

The rocket launch was a "loft", maxing out at 200 feet.

No damage on recovery.

The Estes STAR SEEKER clone (now being built on this blog) had a first launch with a 1/2A3-2t motor.

Fast and high for a 1/2A engine, probably reaching 225 feet.

Good thing I added a streamer! You'll need one to find it as it falls.

I was warned - a fin did break off when it hit the ground.

To finish the day, I did launch a MMX Fliskits CRAYON. It was a big hit with the kids.

I would guess it got to 100'. It needed lots of eyes on it and a few helped find it in the low weeds.

Six up, six recovered, two with broken and fixable fins.