NCR Club Launch - August 2007

Saturday August 4th, 2007

Launch Summary

Regularly scheduled club launch. Super special thanks to Ed Dawson for towing out the equipment trailer Friday night so we could set the range early Saturday and take to the skies when the waiver opened at 8 AM. Thanks to Ken Sherman, Warren Debelle, Art Hoag and the Reilly family for help setting up the range. A surprise visit from Dennis and his rolling Rocketryzone store brought out the wallets and checkbooks. Tim Thomas with Giant Leap was also on site since Hellfire 13 unfortunatley was Washed Out. 22 flyers put up 73 flights. Flights are listed in a random order as the flight cards have been shuffled and sorted a few times eliminating the correct sequence of flights launched. Motor usage breaks down as follows, with staged flights and clusters credited to the largest motor used. A's=1, B's=9, C's=16, D's=3, E's=8, F's=4, G's=13, H's=8, I's=9 and J's=2. Jon Skuba ruled the skies with 9 flights, chased by John Reily with 8 and Nathan Plattner with 6. Tim Thomas actually got in some airtime with five flights. Notable flights have to include Joe Cowan's "Thunder and Lightening" boost to 4547' on an I300 and a staged airstart of an I195, John Smolley's "Twisted" boosted on wo H153's and air starting a J330, and Adrian Adamson's tower launched "Lithuium Tortoise" to 4365' on an E motor.

Weather Conditions

Near prefect flying conditions developed after the morning thermals blew thru. The clear skies and hot sunshine were a welcomed relief from the recent heavy rains that have been passing through the area. Winds aloft were gentle out of the NNW and the light breeze kept the high temperatures comfortable. The praiire was very green. In fact, mushrooms were spotted growing in spots - another first ever for early August, as far as I can recall. Another stunning day to be launching rockets.