Kevin Mitchell's Super Stars on a previous flight.

PRICE, Maryland USA — With passing showers on Friday and high winds on Saturday, Sunday promises to be a busy and packed day for fliers at the Maryland Delaware Rocketry Association's annual Red Glare launch, with the majority of the large projects scheduled to fly today.

Friday saw rain showers passing through the area, while Saturday brought higher winds than normal, effectively grounding the large projects, and leaving only today for fliers to get them in the air at the Higgs Dairy Farm.  Red Glare is a play on a phrase in "The Star-Spangled Banner" and now one of the nation's largest regional high power rocketry events. 

One of the planned flights is Kevin Mitchell's "Super Stars", a 67 pound futuristic aircraft-looking rocket that is expected to reach an altitude of around one mile.  This will be the third flight for the rocket, and will feature EX/Research propulsion consisting of an M1900 RoadRunner Blue motor.  1.5 seconds into the flight, two additional J300 motors will be airstarted, followed by four "pseudo-missiles" mounted under the wings using AeroTech G35 Econojets firing at 3.5 seconds into the flight.

Dan Michael's 3/4 scale Patriot missile.

Dan Michael's 3/4 scale Patriot missile, a 12-inch, 15 foot tall behemoth weighing in at 310 pounds is scheduled to fly on an AeroTech N2000 and four M1315's.  This will be the fourth flight of the Patriot and is expected to reach around 9,000 feet.  The flight is almost the equivalent of a complex P cluster.  Dan is also scheduled to fly his L3 rocket Armageddon again, an all G-10 craft flying on an Animal Motor Works M2200 Skidmark as well as a 1/2 scale Nike Smoke using an AeroTech M1939.  Both are expected to reach over 6,000 feet.

One of this year's Tripoli Rocketry Association Board of Director candidates, Debra Koloms, is slated to fly "Wildwoman," a 6" diameter all-fiberglass creation that started life as an Ultimate Wildman kit from Wildman Rocketry and Performance Rocketry.  Debra will be flying the "Wildwoman" on her first 98mm EX/Research motor, a 10,000Ns red propellant, and is expected to hit 10,000 feet in altitude.

Ben Ulman's Nike Apache.

Koloms also is scheduled to fly "Gold Standard," an old standby of hers.  It flew in September at the METRA launch using her first EX/Research M motor.  "Gold Standard" has taken a lot of abuse from Koloms, this being the 25th flight.  It started life as a Smokin' Rockets Chubsy, which is a 7.5" diameter upscale of the venerable Estes Fatboy, and is expected to hit 7,400 feet.

Ron Rickwald will attempt to get his "Mega-Thor II" airborne, a 99 pound rocket flying on an N3800 EX/Research motor.  Rickwald rebuilt his "Mega-Thor" flown at last year's event and is expecting to see 7,500 feet in altitude.

A spectacular two stage Nike Apache built by Ben Ulman, weighing nearly 40 pounds, is expected to reach 14,000 feet flying on a 3600Ns L motor in the booster staging to a 5,000Ns J365 in the sustainer.

Other flights will include "Spinal Tap," a collaboration by Ed Rowe and Mike McBurnett, flying on an O3411, expecting an altitude of 12,000 feet as well as Brad Snyder's "Bad Wolf," a 45 pound rocket sporting 5,120Ns.

Website: http://www.mdrocketry.org/

10-21-2007 08:22 PM  #1
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Just another day at MDRA. In the three O-5000 drag race one of the participants smoked the tires....errr, catoed making for a spectacular race under cobalt blue skies. Kevin Mitchells Stars and Stripes saw a problematic altimeter blow the NC for no apparent reason while it was locked and loaded and everyone was waiting for the C rack to finish. No cell phone rings, no one within 40 feet, no voltage to the away cell. It just blew. It was taken down and unknown if it flew near the end. Andrew Diehl flew an amazing 15 motor cluster aptly named Medusa, though it had a bit of a recovery problem all 15 motors sang in harmony with the help of the Cluster Buck ignition system and the odd Christmas tree looking rocket performed waaaay beyond expectations. He WILL rebuild! Deb's Wildwoman flew flawlessly scarring the blue skies with rocket exhaust. Neil McGilvrays N4000ish pyramid flew with a red flame to 2K and perfect recovery. Ron Rickwald's Mega Thor amazed everyone as his 100 pound 18' rocket took the N in style and flew a perfect flight. Dennis Lappert kept his beautiful chamelion painted rocket on a short recovery leash with S.P.A.C.E. M power. At least 3 L3 attempts were made and despite the dry Eastern Shore conditions, the small amount of rain friday helped the conditions little, which caused a few fires in the corn field, none of the sparkies were refused. This is the club that looks for reasons to fly, period. There were many, many flights, too many to mention. Oh yeah, and that Dan Michaels dude flew his 310 pound Patriot to an amazing flight making sounds I'd never heard a rocket make before. It was a sensoral experience to behold. And Cluster Buck was involved in this flght too. God I love this field! Chuck

10-21-2007 08:40 PM  #2
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2541	Quote: Andrew Diehl flew an amazing 15 motor cluster aptly named Medusa, though it had a bit of a recovery problem all 15 motors sang in harmony with the help of the Cluster Buck ignition system and the odd Christmas tree looking rocket performed waaaay beyond expectations. I saw a picture of this rocket the other day, indeed a strange looking bird. It's similar to this rocket from LDRS17 with SIXTY D motors: Quote: Just another day at MDRA. It definitely beats a day sitting at home doing nothing...

10-21-2007 08:53 PM  #3
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Here it is with it's Red White and Blue EX motors under power. Brian Wadsley has to be given credits for the photo and may have more pics on his site www.printyourhobby.com .......the kid done good. Chuck

10-22-2007 12:23 AM  #4
Steve_Shannon When in doubt, ask Keenan   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1819	Great play by play Chuck. Made me feel like I was almost there.

10-22-2007 10:57 AM  #5
vahpr New Member   Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 7	Well, sure, it was just another day at MDRA but I know you'll agree Chuck that it's extremely rare to get a perfect, windless day at Higgs - maybe once a year if we're lucky. Ya know, despite the large number of rockets large and small, it never felt in the least bit rushed, or strained, or anything. Truly an extremely well-run event, but it's a standard we've become accustomed to. Thanks guys - you know who you are! Now if Tommy can only do something about the fly population Quote: Just another day at MDRA. Chuck

10-22-2007 11:15 AM  #6
Gregzo TRA #9866 L3   Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 25	Quote: Now if Tommy can only do something about the fly population I re-located some of the flys to New Hampshire - I hope that helps reduce the one-the-field count.

10-22-2007 12:52 PM  #7
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2541	Quote: Now if Tommy can only do something about the fly population Well, it *is* a dairy farm.

10-22-2007 06:03 PM  #8
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Quote: I re-located some of the flys to New Hampshire - I hope that helps reduce the one-the-field count. ......and I forgot to mention Greg did an excellent and efficient job as standin LCO allowing Neil to prepare his little pyramid.......we appreciate the fly evacuation efforts! Chuck

10-23-2007 12:17 AM  #9
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 146	I took 450 pictures from the event, most of them from Sunday since my battery died after 30 minutes on Saturday. If you flew anything sunday (other than anything on the A rack) send me a message and Ill see if I got any shots of it. It was just a small canon camera I had with me, but something might be better than nothing. I also got a few shots of the many explosions from Sunday

10-23-2007 04:07 PM  #10
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Quote: I took 450 pictures from the event, most of them from Sunday since my battery died after 30 minutes on Saturday. If you flew anything sunday (other than anything on the A rack) send me a message and Ill see if I got any shots of it. It was just a small canon camera I had with me, but something might be better than nothing. I also got a few shots of the many explosions from Sunday Explosions?! There were explosions?? What did I miss? I headed out a bit early Sunday to haul headlong into the I-95 traffic mess, but now I wish I'd stayed. Chuck

10-23-2007 05:56 PM  #11
Gregzo TRA #9866 L3   Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 25	Quote: I took 450 pictures from the event, most of them from Sunday since my battery died after 30 minutes on Saturday. If you flew anything sunday (other than anything on the A rack) send me a message and Ill see if I got any shots of it. It was just a small canon camera I had with me, but something might be better than nothing. I also got a few shots of the many explosions from Sunday I know Al Gloer is looking for a pic of his FrankenRush. You probably got bored with me running through the litany of pieces parts cobbled together to make this thing fly. It was on a Purple motor on pad B3 around 2 to 3-ish Sunday afternoon. Thanks

10-23-2007 09:05 PM  #12
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 146	Quote: Explosions?! There were explosions?? What did I miss? Bob Utley's "Black Eye" had a horrible cato right after takeoff. I loved the overall design of that rocket and the colors were perfect. Unfortunately, something made it go "boom"... quite litteraly.... There was also a Talon that had blown its case and caught on fire when it was about 50 feet in the air. That landed by the pads and caught the ground on fire. I love the talon design, but this was sweet to see (sorry to the rocket owner, but it was ) A large V2 cato'd as well, but I dont have a picture of that, just a few remains that arent really enough to tell what it is. Quote: I know Al Gloer is looking for a pic of his FrankenRush. Do you have a physical description of the rocket itself? I dont know if I can find it on just the motor color alone, and Im not sure of it by name. (Oh, and these images are from my facebook album, if you want the full shot (10MP jpeg), let me know and I can send them out)

10-23-2007 09:28 PM  #13
jsdemar NAR/TRA L3   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 321	[M>ost [D>angerous [R>ocket [A>ssociation ??? Only kidding guys! Just couldn't resist. -John

10-23-2007 09:39 PM  #14
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Now you know better than that. Catos are not explosions......Bob's Catoed, the V2 did not cato, the thrust ring broke and the motor getting pushed into the rocket disassembled the it up in the air, a hardware induced structure shred......the talon I don't recall, perhaps I was toast by then. Perhaps I was on 95. Chuck

10-23-2007 10:11 PM  #15
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 146	Quote: Now you know better than that. Catos are not explosions...... Yeah, I know ... I just got carried away in my excitement of the sport. As MDRA says, the flight is either cool or REALLY cool! A picture I have of the talon shows the motor sliding out of the back, so something may have gone wrong with the retention, but Im not sure what caused the initial problem.

10-23-2007 11:06 PM  #16
H_rocket Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 325	Quote: Do you have a physical description of the rocket itself? I dont know if I can find it on just the motor color alone, and Im not sure of it by name. (Oh, and these images are from my facebook album, if you want the full shot (10MP jpeg), let me know and I can send them out) It is the second ugliest rocket you will ever see. A Sudden Rush with a metallic purple fincan, a red lower recovery bay, a grey upper recovery bay, and a mud spattered white nosecone.

10-24-2007 12:27 PM  #17
tbrogan Certified Level Two   Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 86	An awesome event! Don't think there would have been any motors left on the east coast if Friday & Saturday were anything like Sunday! Chuck - thanks for the directions to the coffee shop in Barclay! Life saver!

10-24-2007 12:56 PM  #18
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 146	Tom, is this your rocket?

10-24-2007 01:20 PM  #19
tbrogan Certified Level Two   Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 86	Yep, sure is! Nice picture. Tom

10-24-2007 01:28 PM  #20
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 146	Once I get home I can PM you the full file, hopefully it should make for a decent crop.

10-24-2007 02:15 PM  #21
tbrogan Certified Level Two   Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 86	Thanks, that would be great. I caught this series too, this guy was next to me on the line, man did I feel bad for him He said it was the thrust ring that failed and let the motor rip through the rocket. Sucked, cause it started out as a spectacular flight.

10-24-2007 03:52 PM  #22
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 146	Quote: It is the second ugliest rocket you will ever see. A Sudden Rush with a metallic purple fincan, a red lower recovery bay, a grey upper recovery bay, and a mud spattered white nosecone. Unfortunately, I dont think I have any pictures of that rocket... Sorry.

10-24-2007 04:32 PM  #23
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Quote: An awesome event! Don't think there would have been any motors left on the east coast if Friday & Saturday were anything like Sunday! Chuck - thanks for the directions to the coffee shop in Barclay! Life saver! Tom Glad to help. There's not much in them parts but I do know how to find a good sandwich, and they got em there. They said they'd even deliver if we got them a decent enough order. Something to remember for the next time. Now if they would just build an underground hotel we could walk to this would be the mecca for flying. Chuck

10-26-2007 10:19 AM  #24
rocket1017 New Member   Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	My Red White and Blue LOC Bruiser Flight on Sunday I wondered if you might have caught the flight of my Red White and Blue bruiser EXP flown on Sunday late afternoon on the away cell #3 one of the next to last rockets flown on the away cell. AMW L1100 red airstrating to J-360's. I love to see if a pic if you did. I got some great on board video to post to MDRA site this weekend. What a great launch with such nice people running it. It so worth the trip from Albany NY to be there and fly with these folks !! Cheers John ..

10-26-2007 06:52 PM  #25
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Quote: I wondered if you might have caught the flight of my Red White and Blue bruiser EXP flown on Sunday late afternoon on the away cell #3 one of the next to last rockets flown on the away cell. AMW L1100 red airstrating to J-360's. I love to see if a pic if you did. I got some great on board video to post to MDRA site this weekend. What a great launch with such nice people running it. It so worth the trip from Albany NY to be there and fly with these folks !! Cheers John .. If you could send the onboard to Bob at ROCKETS magazine, it's possible he'll put it in the DVD.......go to the site and ask him as he's doing nothing but milling the DVD around in his head, although he does have a rocket to re-build, I mean build......like from the ground up. Chuck

10-28-2007 10:25 PM  #26
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Before the mailman took all my tapes and sent them off to ROCKETS mag for the DVD I snared Medusa. The 15 motor mess. No catos, just the fins getting ripped off as it hit harder than it's builder had envisioned. Us too. http://homepage.mac.com/wesrudy/Untitled84.mov There's a ton of cool stuff gonna be on the RedGlare3 DVD...........holy crap. Chuck

10-28-2007 10:39 PM  #27
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2541	Reminded me of Snagglepuss: "Exit! Stage left!" Heavens to Murgatroid!

10-30-2007 07:48 PM  #28
Chuck_Rudy Banned   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 199	Quote: Reminded me of Snagglepuss: "Exit! Stage left!" Heavens to Murgatroid! I had to give the (college) kid congratulations over at that *other* place. 15 research motors, no catos, all lit. He did his homework on the motors but underestimated their fin ripping force. It would have been wild seeing an onboard.......providing it was a BoosterVision as it may not have survived the landing. Here's the padcam of his school bud Brian with the beginning of his Mach 1.88 flight. Didn't see much on the hand held view as it got out of Dodge in a hurry. http://homepage.mac.com/wesrudy/Untitled81.mov Chuck