Rocketry Planet
| Tripoli Cherryfield back to launching rockets at May event |
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| Launch Report by David Smith, RSO & Scribe | |
| Sunday, August 08, 2010 | |
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CHERRYFIELD, Maine USA — Saturday was an odd day. The winds aloft were light out of the northeast but we had a sea breeze from the southwest close to the surface. Rich Willey and I did our best to figure out where to place the launch rail and spectators. We wound up on the southwest corner of the field, looking into the sun. There was a slow stream of cirrus clouds all day. To the west though, there was a weird quality to the sky. It wasn't blue. This was caused by the extensive fires in Quebec. We had six fliers. Rich was anxious to get his large rocket airborne "before the winds picked up," which didn't happen. His "Shi Shi Mu Mu II" lifted off on an Animal Motor Works L777WW and went to 5200 feet. Later he emailed me that he'd listened to the output of his altimeter again and it was actually reporting 6200 feet. Yeah, right. He later got his 38MM off a few times on a G54RR and G104SK. The Skidmark didn't set the field on fire. I launched my "Nova Star" on an Animal Motor Works L777WW also. It was an excellent boost into the sun and recovered within walking distance. My altimeter read 5,731 feet. This rocket hadn't flown since '07 and I personally had only one other flight in the last 18 months. Adherence to the checklist help shake off all the rust and return my confidence. The most prolific fliers were the father/daughter team of Bill & Rachel Daigle. They lofted an AeroTech Mirage on a CTI G118 Blue Streak, a CrayPuppy on an H120 Red Lightning, an AMRAAM on a F29 Imax, and the star of the show, an upscale Laser-X on a L730. The RSO (me) was a little concerned about the Laser-X's large fins and possible fin flutter so it was classified a "heads up" flight. It wasn't, though. The rocket weathercocked into the onshore breeze a bit, and then back the other way into he upper winds. The fins were rock steady and didn't hum. It reached 3,811 feet and deployed its parachute. Unfortunately the harness "disengaged" and the lower section fell free. It picked up a nice tumble which slowed its descent, landing in the only soft spot on the field, nozzle first, and was damage free. When the upper section finally made it to earth, Bill could have hooked everything together, put a fresh motor in it, and flown it again. Wendell Cayer entertained his young family with numerous model rocket flights. I just wished he'd let me know when he launched his Snitch. I love Snitches. Joe Giarrusso made the long drive from Massachusetts and we're glad he did. He had a clustered, tube-finned rocket named by his daughter as "Ursula's Cursula." The name alone was worthy. The motors were ... surprising. He had a central CTI G131 Smokey Sam and four AeroTech E30's. If that wasn't scary enough, he was going to ignite the E's with Copperheads! At this point I'd like to point out that Tripoli Cherryfield has a new launch system to supplement the existing Transolve wireless system. Using some of the money given to the prefectures last year from the Tripoli Prefecture Improvement Program (PIP), I built a relay system connected to 500 feet of wire. One car battery powers the switching, another powers the igniter(s). It is very powerful, 100 amps, easily. Hot wire igniters like a FireStar don't warm up, they instantly flash. If you have pyrogen on them they are incredibly intense. As it is now, it's good up to L motors. I'll add another 500 feet of wire for M's, N's and Steve's O motor. So, Joe is prepping his rocket. I'm confident that the electrical system can ignite five motors at once Rich is figuring the winds. Cameras are clicking away. Joe has a wire clip harness for the electric match on the Cesaroni and the Copperheads on the AeroTech's. It's an electricians nightmare. Joe gets it on the pad, we step back, push the buttons and nothing happens so we walk back out and find a couple of the clips are shorting out. He fixes it, and it fails to fire, again. We check again and discover a dirty connection on one of the batteries. He presses the firing buttons for the third time and that sucker leaves the pad on a column of black/gray smoke. It even goes straight up! Now, prior to launch we were making predictions on how many motors would ignite and how badly it would fly. We were all wrong. Every motor lit and the flight was perfect, with one minor exception, the CTI motor fell free when the parachute came out. When Joe got everything back he noticed that the CTI ejection charge hadn't fired. This is strange because the charge is an integral part of the motor reload. He said this one flight made up for the long drive, both ways. So, after a long winter and a Great Recession, Tripoli Cherryfield is back to launching rockets. That's the way it should be. Our continuing thanks to our landowner, Jasper Wyman & Son. Without them... For David's contribution of this article, he will receive a free Rocketry Planet T-shirt. This sponsorship is made possible by our friends at Graphix & Stuff, producers of high quality hobby apparel and vinyl signage. Want your own free gifts? Read the program details page for complete information. |
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Must plan road trip.
.
Haven't made it out to a Cherryfield launch for a while, but I can say the hospitality & field are both excellent
The Labor Day Weekend launch is a go.
October and November will have some genuine surprises.
David, ME
To be fair to others, let me explain to them as well.
This site is run by volunteers and is a hobby, not a full time job. The article was submitted on June 13th, and was published less than two months later. About that time, I was suffering from saddle sores and excessive flogging from readers both here and on the Tripoli Members email distribution list who faulted me for having an opinion and openly posting about it. It eventaully led to the deterioration of my personal health, to the point that after several emergency room trips and doctor's appointments, I ended up under the care of a doctor and am currently taking medication to heal my gastrointestinal tract. It is amazing what people expect from me, that I should work 24/7, like a machine, yet without an opinion, certainly not one I share publicly. I praise David for seeing through the smoke screen and submitting articles while not judging me in the process. It is sad other's are so myopic they can't see what he sees. I hope he continues to submit articles, as they are interesting and fun working with.
Fair enough. Get well!
This site is run by volunteers and is a hobby, not a full time job. The article was submitted on June 13th, and was published less than two months later. About that time, I was suffering from saddle sores and excessive flogging from readers both here and on the Tripoli Members email distribution list who faulted me for having an opinion and openly posting about it. It eventaully led to the deterioration of my personal health, to the point that after several emergency room trips and doctor's appointments, I ended up under the care of a doctor and am currently taking medication to heal my gastrointestinal tract. It is amazing what people expect from me, that I should work 24/7, like a machine, yet without an opinion, certainly not one I share publicly. I praise David for seeing through the smoke screen and submitting articles while not judging me in the process. It is sad other's are so myopic they can't see what he sees. I hope he continues to submit articles, as they are interesting and fun working with.
Holy crap!
The TRA email list, IMHO, has no positive value. It is 100% politics & vitriol.
Easy for me to say, but I'll say it anyway: worry less about other people's opinions, and more about your health.
Must plan road trip.
.
I have been told about Cherryfield quite a few times. I even entertained the idea of going for my L3 up there. I have to get up there one of these days. This place sounds great.