As much as I regret it, as I want to see John Wilkes' bird fly

Sorry I won't get to meet you Mike. It looks like it is going to be one spectacular launch! Good luck getting your points.

Jul 19 Tomorrow
Mainly sunny. Hot. High 98F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Jul 19 Tomorrow night
Clear skies. Low near 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Jul 20 Sunday
Plenty of sun. Highs in the upper 90s and lows in the low 60s.

Doug

Jet stream looking favorably placed - over Montana 😀 Temps looking favorable. Surface winds tolerable. High altitude window in place. Forecasting blue skies with unlimited visibility.

Now if I just didn't have to drive 700 miles after 4pm tonight 😯 I'll be there, though!

What time are you planning on flying John? That is what is going to determine when I come up. 100+ degrees is what I'm hearing for tomorrow. Should be perfect for a big boost.

W

You guys are right. This is going to be one of those special launches where the cool kids fly their big birds. 8)

Please don't say disparaging words about my IO.

IO, IO, it's off to launch we go! If we can fly a commercial motor I could bring my modified GLR Rocky Mtn. Thunderbolt... had it packed since last Oktoberfest with an I357... better tighten those closures and fire it soon. 😯

Here's what I'm planning on launching this weekend.

A carbon fiber 3" minimum diameter. It's going up on an Aerotech M650 and sims to 34K feet. Inside is dual HiAlt45 altimeters, and Adept tracker and a Garmin GPS dog tracker. I want to get this one back.

IO, IO, it's off to launch we go! If we can fly a commercial motor I could bring my modified GLR Rocky Mtn. Thunderbolt... had it packed since last Oktoberfest with an I357... better tighten those closures and fire it soon. 😯

Hold on there tex.
I thought commercial motors were still ok?????? Other than BP..... 😯 stop playing with my mind.... It's a little fellow that gets lost or wonders off....

Ed, that looks GLORIOUS and I know how much work you have in yours. Should be epic!

Leaving Iowa soon. See y'all tomorrow...

It's a little fellow that gets lost or wonders off....

Hey, I'm only 5'7". No short jokes, although I do wander off occasionally, but I'm definitely not from Texas. They've flown before on research days. No big deal.

Man, Ed, that is one beautiful altitude grabber! This launch really IS gonna be one to remember!

My Dad and I will be there Saturday. Im going to fly my SSSS rocket. It should be one heck of a launch.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

All the good ones CAN"T be flown on Saturday...... I'm playing contractor and redoing a bathroom......... Save some for SUNDAY. 😯
BUMMER

Both of those are great!!!!

I think the HA45 said 24985 or somewhere in that area correct? This was the Sunday launch right? I was actually there for that one.....

Pretty impressive data layout. I'm looking forward to my Parrot. I started getting acclimated to it last night. It's going in my SSSS and other min diameter birds.

Is there any way to shield them from the heat?

ED,
Too bad about your CF bird. That was a real bummer.

I think the HA45 said 24985 or somewhere in that area correct? This was the Sunday launch right? I was actually there for that one.....

Pretty impressive data layout. I'm looking forward to my Parrot. I started getting acclimated to it last night. It's going in my SSSS and other min diameter birds.

Thanks. Hope you have fun with it.

In case people are wondering what we're talking about, I posted some data on John Wilke's flight that someone moved to a new thread under contests.

Is there any way to shield them from the heat?

Cardboard, foil, electrical tape, or paint have all worked for me before. John says that the av-bay had primer, so I was kinda surprised that didn't do the trick. But plain, unpainted fiberglass or plastic aren't enough to prevent being affected.

some clarifications... the ebay was plain, unpainted filabment-wound glass and the airframe was the same material, only that was primed with Kilz primer. The unpainted ebay was half-in / half-out of the primed airframe. I can't recall exactly where the Parrot was at (under the primed part or the unprimed part).

FWIW, the HA45 read 23,949'.

JW