BlueSkies44 Report
September 18, 2010

The day started out with clear skies, winds from the east at about 3mpr and humidity in the 80% range. it all made for a good launch day. The temperatures started out at a plesant low 74 with slight winds around 10:00 and heated up to a decient 88. The winds were light most of the day except around noonish when they got up to 10 plus mph. around 2 or so the wind died. Wind direction was variable. It started in the West and wound up in the South. Upper winds were no indication of ground wind. It was warm when in the sun so shade and water were necessary items. We had a bunch of visitors through out the day and sometimes they helped with the launch and recovery.

We had 7 fliers with 50 flights and 50 motors burned. The total impulse was 1842.5 N-sec.(AW K650) .

Motor breakdown:

  • 1/8A - 0
  • 1/4A - 0
  • 1/2A - 0
  • A - 2
  • B - 5
  • C - 18
  • D - 7
  • E - 6
  • F - 6
  • G - 5
  • H - 1
  • I - 0
  • J - 0
  • K - 0
  • L - 0

    Flyers and their Birds.
    Name Flights Comments
    Darryl Hankes 11
    1. Drago (F25-4W) Help on Flight.
    2. Silver (F50-6T) Help on Flight.
    3. Short but Sweet (H399WT) What an impressive flight. It was fast and loud. Those 6 grain CTI motors rock.
    4. Maniack (F10-8) Good height on a minimum diameter rocket.
    5. Aster-30 (F25-6W) Help on Flight.
    6. Arcas (G78-7MG) Help on flight.
    7. Arcas (G76-7MG) Help on flight.
    8. Phoenix (G80-7T) Help on flight.
    9. Goldie (F35-8W) Nice and high flight. A bit of a walk for recovery.
    10. Black Hawk 24 (D12-3) Great straight flight.
    11. Black Hawk 24 (E11-5FJ) Great straight flight. A bit more power than the last Black Hawk flight.
    Joe Magginnis 11
    1. Snitch (B6-0) Good Flight.
    2. Snitch (C6-0) A higher flight.
    3. Gold Strike (B4-4) Nice Flight. Not very high. Easy to recover.
    4. Recoil (B6-4) The Quest motor put out a lot of White smoke. Good flight.
    5. Cowabunga (G78-10) The only model flown from the high power pad.
    6. Venture (B6-4) Nice flight.
    7. Big Betty (E9-6) Great height. Landed 400 yards from highway in front of subdivision. Matt and car recovery. Thanks Matt.
    8. Patriot (A8-3) Good low flight.
    9. Patriot (B6-4) A little higher. Easy recovery.
    10. Patriot (C6-3) Nice flight. Good height and not too bad to recover.
    11. Patriot (D10-5) This model got up there in a hurry. Great height. Took a while to recover. Just missed the weeds to the south.
    Matt Magginnis 9
    1. Magician (E9-6) Maiden flight. Nice straight flight. Good height. Landed in parking lot next to the prep area.
    2. Athena (C6-5) Great Height. Landed about 300 yards NE of pads.
    3. Loadstar (C6-5) Great flight. Landed South of the pads.
    4. Sky Trax (C6-5) Good straight flight. Landed NW of launch pads.
    5. Magician (E9-6) Nice straight high flight. Landed in edge of weeds North West of Pads.
    6. Sky Trax (C6-5) Good Straight Flight. Landed NW of launch pads.
    7. Loadstar (C6-5) Another great flight.
    8. Athena (C6-5) Good height and easy recovery NE of pads.
    9. Magician (E9-6) Good flight. Recovered West of Pads between soccer field and concession stand.
    Dennis Stevens 8
    1. Snarkey (E30-7) Good flight.
    2. Nightwing (C6-5) Nice looking rocket and great straight flight.
    3. Nightwing (C6-5) Another great flight.
    4. Black Hawk (C6-5) Great looking rocket.
    5. Hawkeye (A10-3T) Help Flight.
    6. Duck Tape Repair (G54W) Good Flight.
    7. Wildfire (C6-5) Good straight flight.
    8. SR-71 Blackbird (C6-5) Drag Race with Jeff. Dennis got off the pad 1st and had the straighter flight. Great Flight.
    Jeff Caldwell 5
    1. Space Shuttle (C6-3) Good flight. shuttle separated from the tank and glided down while the tank recovered under parachute NE of pads.
    2. SR-71 Blackbird (C6-3) Good flight. Model tends to level out about 100 feet above pad.
    3. Sidewinder (D13) Good height. The AP has enough thrust to get this model up.
    4. Honest John (F52-5) This model was modified to carry a 29mm motor and it get's it up there.
    5. SR-71 Blackbird (C6-5) Drag race with Dennis.
    Matt Kendrick 4
    1. Blue Ninja (D12-5) Good flight.
    2. Blue Ninja (D12-3) Good flight. The shorter delay is more suited for this model.
    3. Blue Ninja (D12-3) Great flight.
    4. Patriot (C6-5) This unpainted model had a Great lift-off Straight high flight. Model landed on my car with no damage to car or model.
    C.J. Kendrick 2
    1. Interceptor (C6-5) This unpainted model flew great.
    2. Tomahawk (D13-3) Great flight and recovery for the unpainted model.

    It was a long fun day for all who could make the launch. We had some great flights and some spectactular landings. Only a few models were damaged but all could be repaired. No rockets were lost.

    After tearing down the launch site, the last of us left the launch area around 4:45 pm with a day filled with rocket memories, tired rocketeers, and the smell of AP and BP.

    Jeff, it was great seeing you and talking about your projects.
    Matt M, even though you supply of rockets is limited at the momemt you made the best use of what you brought. 9 flights aint bad
    Matt K, its great seeing you. Hope you enjoyed the launch. Hope you can make it to our BlueGrass Blast next month.
    C.J., it was good seeing you again. Thanks for bringing Matt and letting him launch the Blue Ninja. I am looking forward to publishing the pictures on the site. Hope you and Matt make it to the next launch.
    Dennis, you always are a hit with the big and small kids. Glad you could make the launch and thanks for helping with the launch.
    Darryl, Thanks for all your support and help. I am still trying to figure out what you wrote in the sky but it sure was cool. Too bad about the nozzle blow. The green flames were impressive.

    Our next launch is the big one the Blues Grass Blast scheduled for October 2 & 3, 2010 at ADC Park between 10 - 5. Food will be available on site both days. Competition and Sport Launch will occur both days. Come and help us meet the reagional requirement. Come and have fun. Hope to see ya all then.

    Stay tuned to the Bluegrass Rocketry Society web site for launch schedule updates.

    See you there.

    Joe Magginnis

    END 9/19/2010 END