Launch, Orlando R.O.C.K. February 7, 2015

The Orlando area had some rain in the days before the monthly launch.
The pads were set up on the Southwest corner of the field close to the trees.
There was water on the field and in the ditch next to the access road. One car got stuck - twice!
Temperatures were cool and the winds were blowing towards the trees. Spill holes and streamers were used by most flyers.

Lonnie B. brought his scratch built Centuri Alien Scoutship Flying Saucer.
Check out how well the antennas (landing gear) are formed! Lonnie bent them around a AA sized battery.
First flight with a B6-2 was low. C6 flights should prove better.






I've given up on the MPC CADET CRUISER!
With a more recessed engine mount and nose weight it still wasn't stable off the rod. 10' up it took an immediate left!
The B6-4 engine only got it to 75 feet. The parachute did deploy before it hit the ground - barely!

Jean Marie joined us today.
Tom's Mom is flying his Bullpup with an Estes B6-4.
Jean Marie helped Tom with rockets back when he was in his teens and that family tradition is still carried on today.

Here's a sneak peek at a new Real Space Rockets (DFR Tech) kit, A BT-70 based Little Joe II!
Carl was testing nose weights and engine sizes today.
The 14" tall model features 3D printed fins and vinyl body wraps.
Keep an eye on
www.realspacerockets.com for upcoming new kits.







My favorite launch of the day was Lonnie's upscale BT-80 based Bandit.
The three engine cluster of C6-5s got it to about 500 feet.
Big, dramatic and slow!





Here's a test of a possible Odd'l Rockets kit, the SPOOL.

That's a print of the Moon on the top, the Earth is on the bottom side. The model is made of stout tubing and the plates are 1/8" ply. The Estes C6-3 got it to about 225' with a fast spin after the ejection went off. A perfect model for small fields.


With the winds increasing and the pads so close to the trees, a few too many models were blown into the adjoining grove. Some rockets drifted away and were lost, a half dozen got hung up on branches.

Thanks go to Kirby for bringing the rockets back to ground level.
He already retrieved my LITTLE GREEN MAN after Manuel and I walked the brush for ten minutes and gave it up for lost.
Kirby - I owe you a beer, or two or three!

My also flown: Estes GYROC clone with an A8-3. It helicoptered in and drilled it's blunt nose cone into the wet dirt.