Day Two opened with increased winds so consistently identifiable with Kansas launches in the past.

Unlike the previous day's almost non-existent wind in the early morning hours, Friday found flyers facing 5-10 MPH gusts immediately upon opening of the range. From that point it only got worse.

Somewhere beyond this barn, the partial remains of Project Scorpion resides along with a 75mm M-class motor casing. Destined to separate?

Friday was also the day chosen to launch Darrell Mobley's Project Scorpion for its second appearance at an LDRS. This year, the rocket was selected for an AeroTech demonstration flight, showcasing their excellent line of 75mm M-class motors.

This particular load would be the M1315W motor, a 6,400 Ns motor designed for their 75/6400 casing.

If you haven't had the privilege of assembling one of these motors, they feature the least parts count of all the RMS series. There are less parts in this M motor than a comparable 38mm I motor. Assembly is a breeze, the best experienced to date.

Darren Owens huge Fatboy launching on an Ellis M1000

Outfitted with a Walston transmitter, locating it shouldn't be a problem, right?

That is technically correct, providing all the parts stay together. When the countdown terminated, the Scorpion screamed into the sky for its 5 second burn.

At apogee, the recovery system was deployed and it promptly severed the tubular nylon in two. The booster headed south and the payload section with the transmitter headed about 5 miles north.

After about 2 hours of tracking, the payload section was located and recovered, but the booster section remains to be seen. It appears the Scorpion was destined to separate, now it's destined to fertilize a hops field.

Darren Owens launched his super scale Fatboy, a 16" diameter version, on an Ellis Mountain M1000. The combination of the short, stubby airframe design and the high winds caused an immediate weather cock visible in the photo to the left.

It continued on a huge cruise missile trajectory, streaking to the south and impacted before the recovery system had a chance to fully deploy.

Doug Gerrard's 11 camera rocket

Doug Gerrard of California brought out his level 3 project called My Mind's Eye. Powered by an AeroTech M1939 motor, this rocket is a camera junkie's dream.

It features three SLR cameras and eight point and shoot cameras, a total of eleven cameras that would snap 407 photographs during the duration of the flight.

Two accelerometers and two timers deployed the Rocketman chutes to recover the rocket, which appeared to work all as planned.

Quentin Wilson of Rocket Boys fame.

Andy Schecter of Tripoli Western New York launched his ultra-scale Fatboy affectionately named "Yo BATF!" on an AeroTech M1939.

Andy's flight of this huge upscale project was picture perfect, until time for main parachute deployment.

As it turns out, the main chute tangled in the drogue and the rocket landed rather hard out in the fields. The result was all three fins damaged and a dinged up nosecone.

Fortunately this design has removable fins, which makes replacement easy. It will be back!

Quentin Wilson made the treck from Amarillo, Texas to participate, becoming the first of the original Rocket Boys to officially certify.

He used the kit of the same name by Rocketman, which features a spun aluminum nozzle and is really cool!

Team Aries is burning the midnight oil even as this is being written.

Working feverishly in the back of their rented Ryder truck, Ray Halm and Any Schecter were putting the finishing touches on the huge scale model of the Aries rocket.

For all you AeroTech customers out there, there is somewhat of a celebrity in the photo to the right.

Team Aries at work in their Ryder truck.

When you call AeroTech customer service for warranty claims, the voice on the other end of the line belongs to Todd. He is pointed out reclining on the rear bumper of the Ryder truck.

But hey, there is only so much room in the back to actually do work!

When is there time to eat and sleep?

Ray drew the duties to complete the finishing for the Aries, shown to the left skillfully applying coat after coat of gloss white paint. Hopefully the hotel won't mind the white circle left behind as a memento.

The rocket, built from fiber board chemical drums, is a culmination of months of hard work.

Slated to fly on Saturday with FOUR M1939's loaded into the aft end, this should be the most spectacular flight of the launch, short of the experimental flights on Monday.

The team will be accompanied to the pad by a film crew from the Travel Channel to film the flight for their "American Journey" program.

Andy Schecter attaching the fins.

Ray has been featured on film before, having the flight of his full scale ARCON captured on video earlier.

If you haven't seen this flight, it is a spectacular flight on an M1419 in this six inch rocket.

You can get a feel for the size of the booster when you see Andy Schecter's whole arms inside the aft end attaching the fins.

Quad M1939's? What a rush!

This is one big rocket!

Since it took from 9:30 until 3:00 to load, launch and retrieve the Scorpion, I turned in early, returning to the hotel at 3:30.

After a shower and a much needed nap, the energy has returned to finish the day's coverage, albeit somewhat slim.

With no distractions for the remainder of the event, better data should be forthcoming.

However, for the benefit of those no longer with us, a moment of silence is in order for our departed Scorpion.