Day Three opened up a bit on the unexpected side, as temperatures were noted as unusually low, the after effect of a night time cold front which brought in heavy rains.

Driving to the launch site, the situation indeed looked bleak. It rained on and off most of the hour drive there.

Just past Argonia headed toward the field, the skies were fairly clear with white, puffy clouds over the launch area, yet all around the area was surrounded by dark, threatening skies.

You just can't hold a good launch down!

Here Ed LaCroix is once again providing invaluable customer assistance. (?)

Team Aries continued to prep most of the day, while crew members from the Travel Channel's American Journey scrambled around getting pictures and interviews.

The time required to build four AeroTech M1939 motors must be extensive, so Ed LaCroix of AeroTech pitched in and built them for the team. Meanwhile, Ray and Any were getting the recovery systems set up to bring this massive rocket safely back to earth.

As much as everyone was looking forward to a Saturday launch of the Aries, team members decided it would be best to try and launch it first thing Sunday morning when the winds were slated to be lower. As disappointing as that is to people, gut feelings are usually right about those kinds of things.

Ray and Andy prepping the recovery system components.

There were a TON of flights put in on Saturday, as the LCO seemed to be launching an average of about two per minute. There were thirteen level 3 attempts on Saturday alone.

Kimberly Harms flew an AeroTech 75mm L1120 for a great flight, as did Jim Rossen, flying a Kosdon East demo flight using an M5200 Green Gorilla.

Dennis Winningstad flew one of the new AeroTech 98mm Blue Thunder motors, an M2400, in his huge Thug upscale. It was literally gone before the camera could even focus on it -- all it got was a trail of smoke.

Kimberly Harms' L1120 and Jim Rossen's M5200.

Arley Davis brought his upscale of the USS Andromeda kit which he flew on an AeroTech J350 38mm White Lightning motor.

This was one great looking model.

Mark Henriksen of the St. Louis Rocketry Association shocked everyone by stuffing an AeroTech 38mm J570 up the rear of an Estes Phoenix!

Arley's Andromeda

Not only did this rocket stay together, but it flew like a bat out of hell. He even retained the original BT-80 body tube. He decided to stop abusing the poor thing after one of the plywood fins started to delaminate.

Dwayne Wilkey flew a Smoking Rockets 7.5" Nike Smoke for his level 3 certification flight.

This rocket was just plain gorgeous with its stark white, orange and yellow exterior.

It was loaded with an AeroTech 98mm M1419 White Lighting motor, and equipped with an Adept ALTS2-50K altimeter as well as a backup Transolve P5.

He separated it at apogee to descend drogueless until the recovery electronics deployed the Rocketman chute for main deployment.

All day long, the flyers kept coming. They lined up with big rockets, little rockets and all sizes in between. AP was in everyone's blood. 

The pads were constantly infiltrated by a swarm of flyers. Here, they look like converging ants.

Candy's Broom

Ian Butt's M2400

Candy Davis was ready for Kansas, as she flew down on her Witch's Broom to fly with everyone.

Her rocket was loaded with an AeroTech J570 and was a real crown pleaser, especially when she donned her witch's costume and posed for pictures.

Ian Butt flew a great flight on his large scale Aerobee 150 using an AeroTech M2400 for a demo flight.

This rocket weighed in at 65 pounds yet the new 98mm Blue Thunder motor, which produces over 600 pounds of thrust, kicked his rocket into the air with what seemed like the greatest of ease.

Shannon Richardson of Amarillo, Texas had what must be the best full scale model of an ARCAS that I have seen. The attention to detail was amazing, but what was more amazing was the construction techniques.

Shannon started with unrated schedule 40 PVC pipe, which is lighter than normal PVC but still very thick.

Awesome ARCAS!

He used Missile Works 4" couplers and had Jim Amos turn him a custom redwood nosecone for the steep offset shoulder.

Steve & Eric Bloom

PML cut the 1/8" G-10 fins, to which Shannon added an authentic G-10 fin cuff along the upper edge.

The fins bolt to the motor mount and since the airframe comes off, he can change then fins when necessary.

Using a 54mm mount and weighing in at 15 pounds, it provides slow realistic liftoffs and the finish was purely immaculate.

Steve and Eric Bloom made the trek from Seattle to participate in the festivities, bringing along their upscale GeminiDC to fly on a K550. What a nice job, Steve!

For those wanting more photos, there is a photo gallery you can visit by clicking here. More pictures will be added to it as the events continues to unfold.

Tomorrow, the Aries flies, and that is something no one will want to miss.