NCR Club Launch

Saturday December 4th, 2004

Launch Summary

Joe opened the very calm, cold morning with a G54 in Little Nuke. DJ Giacchino, from Cheyenne had the most flights, including a successful Level One cert flight. Dave Way, on the other hand, went oh for four on flights, with problems on two different rockets for his Level two cert attempts. His V2 flew on a J285 but dislocated a fin on the landing. And his Iris lost a launch lug on an otherwise almost perfect flight on a J420 Redline. Joe Cowan was also unsuccessful on his Level Two attempt on a J350. It roared off the pad and then seperated/shredded/ejection charges fired prematurely. Anyway, most of the rocket survived and the upper portion can be replaced. Steve Marshall was not very fortunate either with his boost on an Aerotek K1100. Awesome boost but nothing happened and it lawn darted big time, trashing everything but the fin can and motor case mount. I also launch my Small Endeavor on the recently certified Loki Research I305 - a really rather hot, quick burning motor. And John Wilke knocked off another big chunk in the race to space, 25,080 feet on three shots. Icarus was challenged but the kitty only got fatter. (9,817' on an I285 and 10,133' on another I285, plus 5,130' on a I211).

Weather Conditions

The weather never warmed as much as predicted but the winds never materialized either. Lots of snow all around but the pad area and most of the parking area had been cleared off by that big fusion reactor in the sky.