Rocketry Planet

This picture says it all.

One of the 3+ tractors pulling some of the vendors and early fliers into and out of the site.

A view of the farm/barn area where many are parked until the road clears up.

Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies hitches his trailer to a tractor to have it hauled into the site.

A new creation by Barry Lynch sits in the back of his vehicle as fliers stand around chatting, waiting for the road to dry. Unfortunately, this one is not a kit.

POTTER, New York USA — LDRS 28 began today and started with a lot of mud and rain, not smoke and flame. The catchy title came with the first installment of LDRS 28 coverage, via special correspondence submitted by Brett Keller, who is onsite at the event taking photos and grabbing the latest buzz.

The first day found the field and surround areas soaked by the recent heavy rainfall in northern New York, and the resulting muck made opening day a little anti-climatic.

"Not much flying this morning," Keller said in his opening report, "as the field has gotten pretty constant, heavy rain for several days and while the parking area is fairly solid, the road coming in is pretty incredibly muddy."

Instead of racks of rockets, the highest activity of the day is being attributed to locals. 

"There are three farmers with tractors pulling people out who get stuck and towing trucks in and out of the launch," Keller reported. "Organizers set up registration in an area before you got to the muddiest parts of the road so people could pick up their registration packets, but only a few vendors and a few fliers, a total of 50-60 vehicles, were actual down at the field."

Keller reported that only about five flights have been made today.  Providing the rain holds up, things should start improving later in the week, although it had rained again about an hour ago.

"Hopefully the road will dry up some tomorrow," Keller said, "and Saturday and Sunday should be absolutely huge based on the number of fliers registered."

Laughing about his report's title, Keller added, "Hopefully [the] coverage can say that things will get better and not scare away the fliers!"

The pictures include some views of the field, showing just how muddy it is.  One corner of the muddy road is especially bad, but should dry out if the rain lets up.  Keller will provide coverage and photos as he can.  You can also review Keller's coverage on Twitter, by visiting:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=+%22LDRS+28%22+OR+%22LDRS+2009%22+OR+%23ldrs28

Brett Keller contributed to this story.

Reader comments:

#1 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

What a bummer. Guess they won't be needing a lot of welding tarps.

James L.

James L. on 07-02-2009 04:04 PM

#2 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

I hope everyone has a good time despite the gloomy weather. It's all about seeing your rocket buddies too.
Wisconsin has been under a large low pressure area that has kept us cool and cloudy for almost a week now. I think it has gone East. Thats bad news. Hang in there.

wooshprez on 07-02-2009 07:08 PM

#3 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

Just to be clear, there had been only about half a dozen flights before the rain came in around noon - the time at which I left the site - but I hear the flights picked up again in the afternoon. I'm sure there will be a lot more flights tomorrow, and Sat/Sun are still looking good.

BrettKeller on 07-02-2009 07:11 PM

#4 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

So LDRS vendor rented spaces were an exceptional (bad) value?

Danville had a zero minute drive to the field and all parking was on asphalt or within a car length of asphalt.

Jerry

Just Jerry on 07-03-2009 02:24 AM

#5 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

Wow...I sure hope it clears up for them. A lot of people drove a looooong ways to go to LDRS.

I've heard stories about Danville...The nearby prison, the TRA meetings there, somebody launching off a J motor taped to a broom handle just like a gigantic bottle rocket and other stories. I like those stories.

-Dave

DAllen on 07-03-2009 06:59 AM

#6 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

Quote:

Wow...I sure hope it clears up for them. A lot of people drove a looooong ways to go to LDRS.

I've heard stories about Danville...The nearby prison, the TRA meetings there, somebody launching off a J motor taped to a broom handle just like a gigantic bottle rocket and other stories. I like those stories.

-Dave

Stick stablized rockets work - of course by code that rocket would need some type of recovery system...

UncleVanya on 07-03-2009 08:59 AM

#7 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

Quote:

Wow...I sure hope it clears up for them. A lot of people drove a looooong ways to go to LDRS.

I've heard stories about Danville...The nearby prison, the TRA meetings there, somebody launching off a J motor taped to a broom handle just like a gigantic bottle rocket and other stories. I like those stories.

-Dave

The Discovery Channel shows ROCKET CHALLENGE had a "BOTTLE ROCKET" the launch tower was disguised as a bottle the actual rocket was stick stabilized i believe it was M impulse nosecone on the body tube recovery the works. youtube was the last place i saw the videos.

atxcple on 07-03-2009 09:09 AM

#8 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

This just in: LDRS29 will be held June 10-15 at the Lucerne Dry Lake, California. 4 commercial days, 2 research. Hosted by ROC.

ddmobley on 07-03-2009 09:37 AM

#9 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

Quote:

This just in: LDRS29 will be held June 10-15 at the Lucerne Dry Lake, California. 4 commercial days, 2 research. Hosted by ROC.

Whats the waiver for Lucerne? anyone know?

atxcple on 07-03-2009 09:38 AM

#10 Re: Article: LDRS 28 opens with mud and rain, not smoke and flame

Are there any special concerns when flying in CA? Isn't there a state pyro license required? Isn't the max total installed motor an "N" or is it an "O"? How does EX fit in?

Are there commonly available motors that are not permitted in CA?

UncleVanya on 07-03-2009 09:58 AM

Comments 1-10 of 35 shown. Click here to read comments 11 through 35.

Registered users can add comments and discuss this article. To participate, please login or register.