|
LONG ISLAND, New York USA — Last weekend, the Long Island Advanced Rocketry Society teamed up with the Cradle of Aviation on Long Island to produce the first annual Long Island Rocket Fest. The general idea was to show people how rockets work, that they are FUN, and how they could get involved in rocketry. The LIARS provided a large-scale display of model and high power rockets as well as launch and recovery hardware. They ran two video loops from the LIARS TV program, consisting of clips from high power launches they've attended and some contributed video from and by Jamie Clay. In addition, they held demo launches five times a day, on the hour, right in the museum parking lot. The museum provided children’s activities on the half-hour that included Alka-Seltzer rockets, stomp rockets and some construction activities. They had perhaps 30 rocket kits for the 13mm “T” motors to give away to children that seemed particularly interested in rocketry — LIARS got them for a song in a closeout earlier this year. Given the size of the area (perhaps 75 ft square), their flights were engineered to be low and slow. Huge drag, small size, and low power were all employed to keep things in hand, and they didn’t lose a single rocket all weekend. The crowd was very into it: they counted down each and every launch. The demo rockets included a shuttlecock rocket and a homemade styrofoam Sputnik, each flown on A10-3T and A3-3T motors, a FlisKits Pheord X150 (B6 motors), an Estes Snitch (C6 motors), a Quest Super Eagle (B6 and A8 motors), a modified Fat Boy (made taller, into Fat Man, B6 motors), an Estes Patriot model (B6 motor) and a Sunward Aerospace Flying Umbrella (SOOPER HI DRAG, C6 and D12 motors). LIARS also flew a small (6 inch by 1/2 inch diameter) ARF model on 1/4A3-2T motors that went about 25 feet – for three perfect flights. A couple of drag races between the Snitch and Pheord X150 were conducted, to the wild cheering of the crowd. Each time, the Pheord X150 (B6) got up faster, but the heavier Snitch (C6) passed it eventually and went higher. Brian Meyer and Michele Mooney handled the launch duties and are both nursing their button-pressing fingers. One of the Super Eagle flights ended up in a tree (see end of accompanying video). A Newsday (Long Island’s major newspaper) reporter and photographer were present for the first two launches, interviewing and taking photos and video. Credits: Rockets & Hardware: Rich Morrow, Mitch Pines, Artie Lekstutis, Mike Mooney, Brian Meyer, Joe Piscitello, George Smythe, Ray Carlino, Gary Logan & Jim Logan. Exhibit and Launch: Ray Carlino, George Smythe, Michele Mooney, Brian Meyer and Ellen Hirsch. Cradle of Aviation: Joshua Stoff (Curator), Tom Gwynne (Director of Programs), Walter Roller (Rocket Fest Children’s Activities), John “L” (Security, loading, unloading), .and a nod to the full Museum staff & volunteers for the "little things" that together ensured success. Video team: Artie Lekstutis (Editor), Bill Manganaro (Music, interview), Ellen Hirsch (Lighting), Brian Meyer (interviewer), George Smythe (production assistant), Tim Clark (administration), Jamie Clay (contributed video). All in all, the LIARS made some friends for rocketry last weekend, definitely worth the cost in dollars and time.
Registered users can add comments and discuss this article. To participate, please login or register. |
VIDEO: The LIARS at the Long Island Rocket Fest were featured by Newsday, Long Island's major newspaper. 
