Our first launch of the fall season got off to a great start. Our rocket trailer fell off the hitch just before arriving at the field. But thanks to a few early launch attendees, we were able to lift the trailer back onto the truck hitch and make it the rest of the way to the field. The sky was clear, and the wind was almost non-existent, which made for a perfect day of flying rockets. This launch also marked our first day using the new Wilson F/X Digital Control Systems – Wireless system. A huge improvement over the hundreds of feet of cable we used to roll out for each launch.
We had over 50 amazing flights Saturday and Sunday and included some visitors from up north, large rockets with big motors, high altitudes and certification flights from NAR Jr Level 1 through to Tripoli Level 2 and 3.
Starting with certifications, Cameron Brown achieved his Triploi level 3 with his rocket Pure Imagination on a M1350 White. Emily Cates achieved her level 2 flying Blue Jay on a J180. Timothy Cherry, Aidan Pardo, Prarit Lokinen and Anasha Atkins all completed their level 1. On Sunday, NCSSM Rocketry arrived, under the supervision of Dave Morey and six successfully completed their NAR Jr Level 1 : Amarchi Uwakwe, Shivani Rankumar, Casey Foeller, Alexander Caza, Nikhil Nanduri and Alissa Kurtzvic. Congratulations to all!
Saturday had some amazing flights. Steve Gregorski decided to make the trip down to Bayboro, NC to showcase his Vertical Control System which essentially makes all his rockets stay vertical through the entire flight.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/a-new-spin-on-vertical-orientation-control.174525
Steve’s two stage – Full Tilt – was launched with a K1103 in the booster to what seemed like an uncomfortably seven second long delay before lighting a K480 in the sustainer for a perfectly straight-up flight to 15K. Check-out the video Steve posted in the NC Rockets mail list.
I also had an opportunity to launch my two stage – Double Shot – on a K1200 staging to a smokey J380. I only used a two second delay before lighting the sustainer to reach 10K in altitude. Dave Morey also had an exciting two stage Der Red Max flying a 38mm IJ335 to a 24 mm G65 motor. Richard Powers was also getting into the two stage show on the low power pad with his Boosted Bertha on a C6-0 to C6-5 and Arc Stratus on a C11-0 to C11-6. I appreciate the challenges of multi-stage flights, and is good to see more of these flights each launch.
Moving on to the bigger rockets, Todd Harrison flew his massive 8 inch diameter, 13 foot Tarantula on a EX Blue N3800 for a perfectly smooth liftoff and straight flight with a recovery just a short distance away from the away cell. Steve Gregorski was at it again with Stellar on a K1000 Jim Livingston EX and Sugar High on a J450 Sugar motor all showcasing the vertical control system. Zeno Dancanet also made the trip down from the Philly area to prove his avionics he will use on his L3 attempt. Zeno flew Keystone on a K535 and a K1100 both successful. Will look forward to Zeno making the trip back to Bayboro again.
Jim Livingston flew his famous Carbon High on a L950 blue and also tested the low power rack with his L’Nuke on a F25 white. Dave Morey likes his clusters and showed the crowd how to do it perfectly with his Enerjet 4004 with two G138T and two air started G53. Dave also flew Goose with the NCSSM team with a J500 center ground start followed by air starting two H180s and then air starting two H128 (one did not light). Mark Hartmann started off with his DX3 on a J420 then followed that up with his Frenzy XL on a K805 green . Zane Anderson also made an appearance on Saturday and flew his Direction and Magnitude on a L1030 to just within the waiver.
Sasha Matheson flew Andromeda on a K1100 and Anaconda on a L1090. I believe all parts were recovered and will make some good post flight analysis. Dan Fritsch was also busy flying a Goblin on a J250, a Loc EZI on a I140, a Sport X on a H238, Liberty II on a H180 and Big Dog on a F23. Chad Holm also had some fun recovery some pieces from his CATO of I235 EX motor on Ariel. Chad also flew his Go Devel on a J390 for a nice flight.
Tommy and Allen Harrell flew Road Rash on a H90 and G57. Danielle Stacy flew Darkwing on a I200. The low power pads were busy with Richard Powers flying Patriot on a C5-3 and BMS on a E35. James Zechman had two flights with a B6-4 in his Bull Pup and a D12-3 on his Estes D Region 1st. Johnathan Grose flew Patriot on a C6-7, Erie Vinson flew MoM on a C6-5 and Cambria Holley flew the Ster on a A8-3.
Thank you all for your support and assistance in pad set-up and take down and recoveries by foot.
Will see you all at the next planned launch weekend : November 1-2, 2025.
Summary of the motors flown:
| Motor | Saturday | Sunday |
| A | 1 | |
| B | 1 | |
| C | 7 | |
| D | 1 | |
| E | 1 | |
| F | 1 | 1 |
| G | 7 | |
| H | 9 | 12 |
| I | 3 | |
| J | 8 | |
| K | 8 | |
| L | 3 | |
| M | 1 | |
| N | 1 | |
| Total | 52 | 13 |
More pictures from Todd Harrison:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rS3w7qRKVgBsA9mRxJnHqFmBEGGMFZtn
Regards,
Mike Nay
Prefect, NC East Tripoli
