This was a great weekend for rocketry in Eastern North Carolina! The winds were calm most of both days, the sky was clear and blue, the temperatures were mild, and a lot of people showed up to share the joy. There were 13 cars on site at one point on Saturday, with lots of kids running around. Sunday was even better ? absolutely golden! First, the motor use summary and then on to a few details:
|
Motor |
Sat |
Sun |
Total |
|
A |
2 |
? |
2 |
|
B |
6 |
? |
6 |
|
C |
2 |
? |
2 |
|
D |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
E |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
F |
6 |
2 |
8 |
|
G |
9 |
1 |
10 |
|
H |
4 |
? |
4 |
|
I |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
J |
? | ? |
0 |
|
K |
? |
2 |
2 |
| ? |
45 |
8 |
53 |
Not a huge event as rocket launches go, but for January, a very respectible turnout. We now have another member of the high-power fraternity, Warren English, who made his entry with a PML?Explorer?using the reliable AT H128W. There were some smaller English?s around this weekend: Vivienne monopolized the A motor category with 2 flights of her?Small Eagle, and Cydney, who wins this month?s “Best Rocket Name” competition with?The Queen of Williamsburg?which flew on a C6.
Plenty of other kids on site: Bram Lovelace was back with a lot of flights, a bunch of Fishers: David, Ethan and Evan, and 3 generations of the Withers family visited us for the first time to check out the scene at Bayboro. Becky Withers flew her?Amazon?for a perfect flight on a C6.
Tommy Harrell was continuing to refine his 2-stage skills but was having a hard time getting the sustainers to light up, with 2 flights that took off and recovered with no damage, but didn?t get stage 2 to come to life. The reports I got indicated that the problem was different on the 2 different flights.
We see Mike Collier, from Roanoke Rapids, at almost every launch, but it has been a while since his brother Tommie has been to Bayboro. This month Tommie was back with the usual rack of beautifully finished kits. His?WAC Corporal?and 4″?V2?are unusually fine in the finish and detail department.
Sunday was one of the best days I have ever experienced at Bayboro. It is hard to imagine better conditions for flying rockets, the only thing that would have made it better would have been a few more friends on site to share it with. There were only 3 people there: David Cox, Andrew Billin and myself. I flew the?Generic Four Inch?to exactly 1 mile up on an AMW K670GG. David had a thrilling flight of his LOC?Magnum?on a K550W with 2x I200W?s all ground-started, that topped out at 5600 feet, and followed that up with flights of his?Arreaux, Baracuda, and?D Tomahawk?that were also perfect. Andrew Billin brought out a kit of the Russian?Vostok?orbital vehicle that flew perfectly on a F12 fast BlackJack motor. This is a beautiful design and Andrew finished it perfectly: A delight to look at and a stable flyer.
You all need to check out this video that was forwarded to me by the prefect of ROCC
Youtube link to video: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gcZXmyxbaY
A definite local link and without doubt the best on-board video of a 2-stage flight that has ever been captured!!
Alan Whitmore, prefect
Tripoli East NC
