Without going into the long version, I've been enjoying the hobby of model rocketry on and off since 1967. I've been a member of the National Association of Rocketry since 1983, and we have a local Section - a fancy name for club - here in the Kansas City area.
We have 10 or so launches a year (weather permitting), and two of these include contest events (when the rocket on the pad is not part of a competition event, it's called a sport flight).
We have 10 or so launches a year (weather permitting), and two of these include contest events (when the rocket on the pad is not part of a competition event, it's called a sport flight).
Last weekend was a two day event, our fall contest and sport launch at a field Waaaaaay up north, near Pattonsburg, Missouri. Put it this way, if we had driven another half hour, we would have been in Iowa.
Did I take pictures? But of course!
Rocket in flight.
Saturday...
In the Boost Glider event, the motor pod detaches and returns with a small parachute or streamer, while the rest glides back.
The glider is timed by stopwatch, and the longest duration in seconds wins.
Boost Gliders can be bought as kits or built from plans.
David designs his own. Here he's holding his Zephyr-High.
Tim and his
large version
large version
of the classic
Estes
Interceptor.
Ready for a
sport flight.
"5,4,3,2,1,Launch!"
Interceptor
up and away!
After the range closed for the day and we packed up, we drove to Bethany and had supper at a family restaurant called "Toot Toot". Good food. Some then left for home, others of us stayed at a motel.
Sunday...
Got up, showered, dressed, had a brief devotion, then free continental breakfast. Took stuff out to my car, and then checked out. Before I got onto I-35 to drive back to the Pattonsburg field, I wound around some back roads to indulge another hobby.
The northern endpoint of Missouri 13.
(Now I ought to visit Blue Eye again,
and get a photo from the southern end
of 13 on the Arkansas line.)
Back to the launch range...
I mentioned we were close to Iowa.
Stan came down from Lamoni to join the fun.
If you're familiar with the classic Estes Big Bertha kit, you've already noticed the inside joke.
12 fins instead of four.
Another of Stan's
own creations,
the USS Goonlantis.
Great finish
and decals...
the photo doesn't
do it justice.
That photo below is me, posing with my D Boost Glider, built from Trip Barber's D-Light plans. (Oh, in case you're wondering, the rudder is underneath the stabilizer to keep it out of the motor exhaust during boost).
Background story...before you launch one of these, you have to add nose weight (clay or similar) to the front of the fuselage (not enough and the glider stalls, too much and a death dive results). You start with some weight (best guess), and adjust by hand tossing the glider in a wide open field on as calm a day as you can get.
Conditions were good Saturday morning at the launch field, so that's one of the first things I did. On the second toss, the glider nosed into the ground and snapped off the front four inches of the fuselage. More damage than I wanted to try to repair on the field, but with a two day event you have more time to work with.
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Better than new.
Sunday, not long before launch, Randall took this photo.
Unfortunately the connection between the pod body tube and the pylon failed under the thrust of the D12-3 motor. The flight was disqualified due to instability. The repair to the fuselage held, and the glider is fine. I'll have to build a new pod though.
Randall helping David load a Big boost glider on a long launch rod. The rod was then raised back up vertical, and the clip wires attached to the igniter before launch.
Four Sport Scale entries being static judged. David is comparing the models against the photo documentation - of the full size rocket - for such things as outline, pattern, color, and quality of finish. The models will later be launched and returned, and judged on flight appearance, and points taken off for damage (if any).
Group photo...part of the group, anyway.
(L-R: Dave B., Randall J., Randy W., Bob, Josh, and Blake.)
(David L. took the photo.)
A.K.A. a bunch of rocket guys having too much fun.
(Note: in the background is Randall J's rocket trailer,
built to resemble Luke Skywalker's Sky Speeder from Star Wars.)
Hey Blake, don't threaten your Mustang...
Oh, I see. You're just loading your car.
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