Rocketry Planet
| LDRS 29 Day Five sees California's inaugural EX launch |
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| 2010 Archived News by Neil McGilvray, ROCKETS Magazine | |
| Tuesday, June 15, 2010 | |
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For those who have participated in many research launches, so runs the knowledge success and failure is only separated by the simple act of pushing the launch button. It is not an affirmation on ones skill or lack of it. The results are the results and lessons learned are priceless. They will be applied to make the next project work the same way it was suppose to in all those day dreams and sleepless nights. The weather was perfect for launching. The sky was clear and the Northerly wind was much lighter than the previous days. As the afternoon progressed the wind did increase, which is standard for this part of the country. But most of the launch had been reduced to a slow drip at this point. Most of the fliers were burned out from the first four days of high flying fun and were ready to get back to their normal lives and occupations. The first big project of the day was Gerald Meux with his N-powered Nike Smoke. Gerald was on pins and needles as he launched his second N motor of the event. Gerald made the most of this flight and nailed the boost and the recovery. To make the flight more special he had his other in attendance, only to show rocketry can be a mother and son activity as much as it is considered to be a father and son bonding opportunity. Dirk Gates took the helm of the Gates Brothers Rocketry and launched the 11.5" diameter Sumo. The huge red and yellow rocket thundered into the sky on a cluster of hard hitting motors. This flight would be different. Dirk was testing a drag plate to purposely slow the rocket and minimize the altitude. As this was a test there were some lessons learned. The drag separation of the nose cone under power is an aspect of the new system requiring some additional research. ROCKETS Magazine Editor and Videographer, Bob Utley loaded up his 6" diameter Tomahawk with a research M-1400. This gave Bob the chance to show ROCKETS Magazine doesn't just film rockets, he flies them also. The 65 pound rocket emblazoned with the ROCKETS Magazine logo climbed off the tower and ran straight into the sky like it was on a wire. The Tomahawk reached an altitude of just over 6,000 feet and was recovered under the main at 800 feet. This was something that made the LCO nervous, with apogee recovery being more the norm on the west coast, than the exception. Team Odyssey consisting of Art Hoag, James Russell and Doug Gerrard put on a clinic of how to pull off the most intricate project of the launch. The combination of camera and video technology, motor making abilities, extreme high flying prowess and team work showed what puts these guys at the top of the heap. The finely finished 6" diameter, O-6700 powered flying machine ascended perfectly and was recovered from over 16,000 feet without a scratch. The well documented 12" Talon on a P -motor was the last of the big projects. The big white and red bird stood proud on the tower for what seemed to be an eternity. The launch system was the root cause of standing down on four different FAA high altitude call in's. The team of Sparta Chris, Broseph and DJ Seedy Weeze were ready to tear their hair out as the launch system continued to frustrate the goal of the day, pushing the damm button. Eventually Team Odyssey came to the rescue with their wireless launch system. When the button was finally pushed the 250 pound rocket was rocking off the pad. The powerful P-6300 wasted no time in pushing the Talon into the sky. Unfortunately for rocket and the team members, the Talon will not see a second flight. Nadine and Neil Kinney launched their Deal or No Deal rocket for a spectacular boost and a picture perfect recovery. The Discovery Channel captured video on all of the major projects including Nadine's. What the final product looks like, who knows? There is little doubt it will be both entertaining and controversial. Until the final product is aired, it is all up to speculation at this point. Suffice to say, all fans of rocketry will be watching and discussing the virtues within minutes of the final credits rolling. As we have done for the past four LDRS launches, ROCKETS Magazine is proud to cover the biggest show in rocketry in our 64 page, cover to cover issue due out in August. The video is soon to follow. If you like the pictures on Rocketry Planet check out even more at http://www.rocketsmagazine.com/. Thanks for the support and all the help we receive at al the launches we attend. Special to Rocketry Planet. |
LUCERNE DRY LAKE, California USA — Day Five of LDRS 29 was a history making event. This was the first time California had hosted a research rocket launch. This would be the litmus test of which all future California research launches would be measured against. As with all research launches there is the opportunity for success and failure to walk hand in hand. 
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Gary
by Neil McGilvray
LUCERNE DRY LAKE, California USA — Day Two at LDRS 29 began to look eerily like day one. Little or no action! It was another day where the weather conspired against ROC and LDRS. 72 pads lay dormant waiting to be flown off. The strong west/northwest winds from Day One had subsided into periods of relative calm to prolonged gusts of over 25 MPH.
The flight line was packed and the parking area/pits extended over a quarter of a mile long and were three to four deep. "Go Fever" had not spread throughout the camp yet. Most of the fliers were simply opting to wait it out, after all how long can the wind blow over 20 miles an hour? We will find out.
Sharpe Entertainment, the production company for The Discovery Channel spent most of the day getting back ground footage.
So am I!
by Neil McGilvray
LUCERNE DRY LAKE, California USA — Good things come to those who wait. The strong winds of the past two days abated enough for LDRS to finally look like LDRS. The crowd had swelled to over 1/3 of mile long and four to five double rows deep. Estimated attendance of fliers and spectators was well over 2,000. Those in attendance picked the best day yet to witness some no holds barred rocket flying.
The day started earlier and rockets were being launched just after 7:00 am. While rockets up through the J, K and L range were being launched with regularity, the away cell was buzzing with activity surrounding the Wildman sponsored N-10,000 drag race. During the night the leadership of ROC was able to cobble together the needed seven pads to handle these fire breathing monsters. Discovery covered the launch and was front and center as six rockets roared off the pads. Crazy Jim Hendricksen had installed a large sparky motor in his rocket and lumbered off the pad long after the first six had broken mach.
by Neil McGilvray
LUCERNE DRY LAKE, California USA — Day Four of LDRS 29 was open early and ran late. The wind had shifted to the north and varied between dead calm and gusts to over twenty. While the wind was down in the early morning, Nibbles the Space Cat, took to the sky. The world famous feline was boosted on an M-1550 and proceeded to air start combinations of K-540's, K-700's and finishing the flight with a set of J-570's. The pampered pet was recovered with the aid of nine different parachutes.
The flight line stayed busy all day long. Discovery was up at the crack of dawn filming the conclusion of ill conceived Sweet Sixteen Drag Race. By 9:00 AM the winner or more appropriately the survivor was crowned. Despite the lack of reality in reality TV, having Kari Byron at the launch overrode any of the participant's misgivings in participating or trashing their drag racing rockets.
More photos to come soon. LOL buy the way the Little joe flight was AWESOME.. (along with 100's of other cool flights)