I will have at least five rockets including Sponge Bob which did not get to fly during MHM. So a full ex "M" and air starting two full "K's" then air starting two more full "K's". Also several I's, J's, K's and another "M" research motors flying on Sunday.

I had hoped to have my 2.5x Big Daddy done by Oktoberfest, but I have run into a major setback. My one year old Brittney puppy is fighting a very aggressive cancer. So all my energy and a large sum of money has gone first to save him, and now to keeping Lucky comfortable in his final days. 😥

Ron

I will try to be flying a Jayhawk on 2x L ex motors. A joined project with John Wilke, and maybe a SSSS. My dad will be flying his lvl 3 rocket on a full M if it survives BALLS.

If I get the time, hopefully I'll have a few things to fly.

I've been focused on getting my 4" bird repaired, which I will fly on a K555SK (if conditions aren't too dry) and an L1300BB. I'm finishing my 4" PF Little John kit as a dual deploy bird, and will probably fly that on a J275 or K185. I'm also working on some smaller 24mm rockets for some low and mid power altitude attempts (E, F, G). I have a couple F32's and G55's that need to be burned before the end of the year and this will be the last chance of using those full F and G single use motors to take a record. No existing motors even come close to their potential.

Given that we are unlikely to get the 30K or 35K call-ins for Oktoberfest, I've ignored my 54mm MD altitude bird, though I might fly it on a Loki K350 moonburner or an L1300 if I can keep either below 20K. I've also got to find a tracking setup to borrow since John Wilke moved to Iowa.

I had to work today so I didn't make it to the September 1st launch, but after cleaning up some rafting gear, I have most of the weekend to work on stuff.

Warren

Well, considering that there was a wonderful spot known as lake pawnee about half a mile southeast of the pads today, I seriously doubt that it will be too dry for skids (though a lot can change in a month out there).

You can borrow my tracking setup if you want. It's an Arrow 5-element yagi and a scanner.

I'm still shooting for having the first batch of Parrot altimeters done and certified, along with record attempt rockets in A through F. Today was quite a bust for me on that front, though. Using the same design techniques, and the same stability margin (0.8-1.0 caliber, RockSim) as I had on that nice, straight E shot last month, two rockets I was trying out today were unstable. After my F rocket burned enough propellant to become stable, it shot straight into the ground about 7 inches deep, uncomfortably close to the spectators. 😳 I can only guess that the electronics shifted rearward or that the CG had a lateral offset. Next time, more stability margin; I'm glad the only damage was to my own stuff. My Beeline transmitter was broken, and may or may not be fixable. The latest Parrot prototype I was flying appeared to be undamaged, but was misbehaving after I pulled it out of its deep hole. A Parrot has survived a lawn dart before, but it wasn't nearly so powerful.

I decided to give my latest A rocket a try also, and it was also unstable, despite a RockSim stability margin around 0.8. So rather than letting the same thing happen to my new 24mm E attempt, I preemptively dismembered it and used it for a 24-29 mm converter for my Blue Ninja.

The Blue Ninja flew great with an E9, landing about 20 feet from the pads, so I decided to go for it with the F10. I'm beginning to see now, why it doesn't yet dominate the F record boards. On the same pad, and with the same rocket, as the perfectly straight E9, the super-long burn of the F10 magnified some tiny launch rod tilt or something, and the rocket slowly, gradually arc'ed over, burning all the way, and went way out of sight toward the East.

That lake Pawnee Chris referred to is now the breeding ground for a zillion mosquitos. After a half an hour of unsuccessful searching, I almost needed a blood transfusion to make up for all I gave to those little pests. I did pull out somebody's lawn dart from the shoreline, though. It had a 54mm (I think) motor in it, it's red and black with triangular fins.

Today was quite a bust for me on that front, though. Using the same design techniques, and the same stability margin (0.8-1.0 caliber, RockSim) as I had on that nice, straight E shot last month, two rockets I was trying out today were unstable. After my F rocket burned enough propellant to become stable, it shot straight into the ground about 7 inches deep, uncomfortably close to the spectators. 😳 I can only guess that the electronics shifted rearward or that the CG had a lateral offset. Next time, more stability margin; I'm glad the only damage was to my own stuff. .

Adrian, I totally understand your issues. As I noted in another post, all the sims on earth don't mean jack when game day comes. One of my favorite quotes is "constants aren't and variables won't". It is tricky indeed.

Sounds like the condtions were outstanding today? I wish I had been there...

I'll be out for Oktoberfest. I'm going to fly the K240 (RATT) which will never set any altitude records, but it is quite cool. I'm going to go to BALLS the week prior, so Oktoberfest will be mostly a time to catch up with old friends.
J

Well To much stuff going on at the moment, Buying a new house here in Wellington. Moving in around the first part of November. Helping my wife mover her Tanning and Hair Salon from Wellington to by the Campus in Ft Collins at the moment.. Plus getting our house ready for sale. As well as doing alot of work for a new endeavor has all made it difficult to get much rocketry done. The other big issue is beings my L3 needs a repair from and LDRS incident. Nothing overly bad, But it is Performance Rocketry 6" convolute wound glass and I need a new nose cone and upper body tube (48" section) Getting the stuff in any matter of speed is a doubtful. Knowing how Curtis is at Performance Rocketry.. I used to get it easily from Wildman But seeing how Wildman who carried alot of it is now for sometime not in business and not sure when or if he will recover. It looks hard for me to get at the moment.

BUT I will be bringing a few of my Blue motors out for some flight fun. A J 3 K's and L and an M.. Guess we will see what we can put in the air on those...

Once I get life caught back up I need to get some new rocket projects going.

Today was quite a bust for me on that front, though. Using the same design techniques, and the same stability margin (0.8-1.0 caliber, RockSim) as I had on that nice, straight E shot last month, two rockets I was trying out today were unstable. After my F rocket burned enough propellant to become stable, it shot straight into the ground about 7 inches deep, uncomfortably close to the spectators. 😳 I can only guess that the electronics shifted rearward or that the CG had a lateral offset. Next time, more stability margin; I'm glad the only damage was to my own stuff. .

Adrian, I totally understand your issues. As I noted in another post, all the sims on earth don't mean jack when game day comes. One of my favorite quotes is "constants aren't and variables won't". It is tricky indeed.

Sounds like the condtions were outstanding today? I wish I had been there...

I'll be out for Oktoberfest. I'm going to fly the K240 (RATT) which will never set any altitude records, but it is quite cool. I'm going to go to BALLS the week prior, so Oktoberfest will be mostly a time to catch up with old friends.
J

It was perfect, other than the issue of the water hazards. Slightly breezy at times, but nothing constant or too bad, and by the end of the day, it was dead calm and clear. One of the best days I've seen in quite a while - I hope it's like that for Oktoberfest.

Adrian, I totally understand your issues. ... It is tricky indeed.

Thanks, John. I'm still keeping my eye out for your G.

And thanks for Fudd ignitor, Ken.

I think I have enough data now to pull the trigger tonight on the first production run of the Parrots. The bare boards should be ready by the end of this week, or early next week, and the assembly folks will take it from there for another week or so. That leaves about three weeks for the calibration of all of those boards. Whether the first batch will be Tripoli certified in time will depend on Mr. Rouse returning my emails.

With the amount of work I've been stuck with out here in the real world, it's looking chancy for me to get finished all the things I want to fly at Oktoberfest. At this rate, everything is sure to fly naked or on an old chipped paint job.

Warren

Getting the stuff in any matter of speed is a doubtful. Knowing how Curtis is at Performance Rocketry.. I used to get it easily from Wildman But seeing how Wildman who carried alot of it is now for sometime not in business and not sure when or if he will recover.

Crap. That explains why I haven't heard anything after ordering a PR Concept 98 from Tim Lehr on August 14th. Tim wouldn't bill you until he shipped. Curtis takes his money... then you may or not get the item(s) in the future. At least, that's what I've heard from people dealing with him. Unfortunately, he sells the best convoluted G10 around. I may or may not fly my L3 on research day on an N2440 RR. Since Conway's rocket won't be ready for our drag race until MHM, I'd like to wait until then. Plus I'll be having family over next July, and I'd like to show it off. This one is well-built, and can easily take an N, but I'd really like to save it. And with Wildman on the ropes and my next bird with him... crap. Guess I'll just have an I357 to fly on Saturday. Rest of the time doing what the club needs and helping anybody out who needs it.

Well Bruce, Thats what I say we should do. Lets make it an Official N motor drag race at MHM. We can build you a N2400RR and fly it then. Plus im going to be building my blue formula in an N. so we can have a Blue vs red.. Now all we need is someone to do a White N and make it a red white and blue 3 way N motor drag race. Hmm. Makes me think I am getting ready to get started soon on my white formula.

Anyhow another place we may be able to get better availability on PR glass parts is through Rockets Magazine as they are now a PR vendor. Supposedly Curtis has gotten or has promised to get better at supply and time lines.

Well then. I will be bringing out a J , 3 or 4 K's an L and an M on Sunday.. Was thinking of doing a static fire here or there as well. Maybe that would be a great first off the bat wake up @ 6 am. Static fire a K motor or something. LOL.. Wake up time!!! whooosh..

Maybe that would be a great first off the bat wake up @ 6 am. Static fire a K motor or something. LOL.. Wake up time!!! whooosh..

Ha! Someone usually launches something to get everyone up, and that would definitely do it!