LAUNCH! NEFAR Monthly Bunnell, FL 1/8/2011

We had wind gusts nearing 20 m.p.h. at the NEFAR monthly launch in Bunnell, Florida today. I only got two rockets in the air, but there was plenty flights of interest.

First up for me was the UP! CUP with a C6-3. Even with the wind, boost was straight up. That cup really amplifies the noise of the engine thrust.

To the right is another Odd'l Rockets kit, the BIRDIE. John Bishop flew it with an A10-3t engine.

One of the more unusual launches was this rocket's payload.

It contained the ashes of rocketeer Sam Haynes.

The deploy charge was late and the rocket landed hard without a parachute. Still, Sam had a fast, last flight.

That's me in the Odd'l Rockets jacket before launching a BREAK-AWAY with a B6-4. It was a good vertical flight and full separation of all the segments.

Normally this rocket has little drift during recovery but with today's wind it was a good walk to retrieve it.

The big launch of the day was Roger Smith's YOU-BEE or Upscale Break-away.

This flys much like the smaller kit, only much bigger.

It's hard to tell by the picture, but it stands 12' tall with a 6" diameter mainframe.

That's Roger taking a picture of the K motor launch.

Launch was very stable with the first charge separated the rocket into tethered segments. At 900' the altimeter set off a second deploy ejecting a 10' diameter parachute.

Drift was a concern as the rocket landed behind some trees. It was caught high up in branches, but after some coaxing it was pulled free.

Altitude was 1,671 feet - a rewarding success!