Haw fast was the wind blowing at ground level? Do you think it was drug off? Since I was not there I wouldn't know. I may try to go up Sat AM and look for it.
Do you have pictures?
I'll get out the spotting scope and if someone is heading up and I am not, I will let them use it.

I'm planning to go up tomorrow morning (Wed the 8th) and search the area between where I'd already searched and where the nose cone was found. Have a good pair of binoculars, a good handheld GPS, etc.

the wind was up and down, but the rocket was out there Sat and Sun before we got to the NC. From what I understand the wind was high yesterday so it is hard to say were it is now and how fare it has been blown and dragged.

Ray LaPanse got some good photos of my L3 rocket, YikStik. I've put one of the pre-launch ones at . The rocket is a full-custom design based on 98mm Giant Leap Dyna-Wind tubing, and is about 9 feet long overall. Pretty straight boost as seen from the ground, should have gotten to about 14,700. The main was set to deploy at 1500 feet.

The red bits were designed to come down under a separate chute and were recovered after I had to leave on Sunday, thanks to James, et al. A *lot* farther out from the launch site than I expected, about 3.5 miles from the launch rail. The black and gold bits are still missing, and should have come down under a custom-sewn 8 foot chute of the Team Vatsaas design with alternating red and black panels. Unfortunately, the two tracking transmitters were both in the payload bay behind the nose cone, so we're reduced to looking for it without RF help.

Several of us were convinced we saw my rocket descending under main about the right time after launch through binoculars, but I am *not* convinced that the photo Ray showed us of a rocket descending in that general direction was actually of my rocket. The chute looks about right, but what's hanging beneath it doesn't quite. It also now seems likely that my rocket is farther out than that photo implied. [shrug] So bottom line is I've stopped worrying about what's in Ray's photo and plan to focus my next round of searching along the line between the launch rail and where the nose was found.

Here is a link to the wind vectors, scroll through them back to Friday night and then start coming forward. It looks like to me it would have gone north, and then north west under 10-15 knot winds. Friday to sat night. Then, Sunday on, 5 knot winds to the west and south west.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ndfd/graphical/sectors/bou.php#tabs

I am still thinking a trip up on Saturday may happen, unless it gets really cold.

If you want to stop by and get my spotting scope, you are welcome to it. It's going to reach out and find that rocked much easier than binos and it's on a tripod. I will be here in the AM till 8:30 then I have to leave for the day. Depending on where you are, I could still meet up with you tonight if you want. Call me on my cell - 303-916-7051
Greg

Thanks for the offer, Greg, but the timing isn't going to work out to pick up the scope from you. I'll do what I can with what I've got, and report either way when I get home late tomorrow.

I looked at my pictures, other than shots at lift-off I don't have any of it 🙁

I spent about 5.5 hours walking the area today with no luck. At this point, I assume it's either stuck down in one of the nooks in the washes I didn't get to, or someone picked it up.

Posted some 'lost rocket' signs along the roads with my contact info.

So everyone knows where they are looking for. I hope it gets found soon, this sucks.

I spent about 5.5 hours walking the area today with no luck. At this point, I assume it's either stuck down in one of the nooks in the washes I didn't get to, or someone picked it up.

Can you show about where you walked on a map for us?

Heading for the airport right now, but will pull the tracks off my handheld GPS and use them to cobble something up tonight or tomorrow.

Bdale

I didn't go up today, I had to stay in the area. Sorry about that.....

Well, Bdale’s rocket is still at large. Joe Hinton and I took off this morning around 10:30 and flew around the North Site for a good 45 minutes. We covered a lot of area and Joe spent a lot of time starring down into the washes, pass after pass, no rocket, no parachute, nothing but dirt and grass. At this point I would say that it has been picked up already, however, if anyone is out there looking for anything, keep your eyes open.

This whole deal bears a striking resemblance to last Oktoberfest when James lost Big-EZ. I hope that at some point YikStick will turn up like Big-EZ did. Sorry to Bdale for the loss, at least for now. Come home YikStik!

Art

It was such a nice day I went for a walk on the prairie today at the North Site. I covered about a square mile thinking I might run across Adrian's G record attempt or YikStick. I spent about half an hour scanning the terrain in the distance south where YikStick nosecone was recovered- no luck. I also walked the western arm of the gully complex (I'll see if Adrian can update his search map).

Since Bdale found his nosecone, I was wondering if he had a predicted landing point for the main tube given decent rates. Seems like you should be able to make a linear interpolation based on decent ratios.

Beautiful day, even though I came up empty handed.