Doug Gerrard

I thought of another idea, not that I’m trying to be difficult, about how to “take care of” the singles vs. teams issue. If there were sufficient enough entrants to have two divisions it would be fairer to have individuals…   Read more»

With a judging contest like this and at least three places, you really need at least four or more contestants. The problem with two divisions is that you double the required number of contestants or you have the potential to…   Read more»

I think the idea of a single entrant paying $100 and a five person team paying $500 isn’t going to be popular. That’s the idea, it won’t be popular and so it would make people rethink the idea of large…   Read more»

I think groups of two or three would probably encourage some more elaborate efforts and entice more folks into the contest at the same time. Yes it encourages some and discourages others. There are folks that could/would not participate unless…   Read more»

For what this will take, and to do it right, 2-3 on a team will make it possible to do some really GREAT projects. I’m not sure I agree with you on this Bruce. I agree that the more people…   Read more»

I had not considered this to be a team event, but it does raise a very good point. I wouldn’t want to see a team of a dozen people joining resources (money and effort) trying to compete against a lone…   Read more»

The rules will be coming out soon. Warren has been busy and the one thing this contest needs is a Contest Director to run it. I wrote the rules based on what I thought would make a good, fair, contest….   Read more»

Anyone seen a large Baby Bertha?Yes, about 20 years ago when I first started HPR there was an upscale of the Big Bertha on the cover of the Tripolitian. It was about 8 inches in diameter and 12 feet tall…   Read more»

Whoa, James. I think he is referring to Andy that works with Art, not his boss. Andy is the one who is suppose to paint Odyssey. His e-mail address is on Odyssey’s Links page. If you want to call him…   Read more»

What is the boogeyman — gees or velocity?By “boogeyman” I think you’re referring to “what will destroy my rocket” then the answer is about the same. As you know F=ma so the force acting on a rocket is directly proportional…   Read more»

Absolutely kool tinkering but what triggers the device? If the bird is on the ground and out of sight – what senses/determines touchdown? Or is it shock activated? Wait a second Doug, where did your last post go? The one…   Read more»

Could you use the Defy Gravity tether to release the chute? Perhaps, IF you can find one and IF your rocket is small enough. Their web store is no longer running so I think they are out of business. I…   Read more»

Let’s not put the cart before the horse. The method one chooses to activate the device is secondary (and a personal choice) to actually building a unit capable of holding the recovery lines and breaking apart upon demand.Doug

I’m not sure about using an altimeter. How would you take into account the difference in elevation from the launch area to the landing area? I suppose if it were sensitive enough you could detect that it was no longer…   Read more»

How about you guys with the release ideas post up a thread on it?The thread is started under Recovery help. Give me time, Give me time. I have the idea and working on the drawings. I’ll get it machined up…   Read more»

I found a few kinds of parachute ground disconnect devices most of them rated for large cargo, possibly for hummers and tanks. The smallest one I’ve found is rated for 50-100 pounds and weighs only 3.5 ounces. Art and I…   Read more»

One of these days, maybe someone will make an altimeter that has a USB port on the thing so you can program it with a Palm or a laptop using a nice little graphical interface.There is, the G-Wiz. (Sorry Jim)….   Read more»

I know Jim will be thereYea, I have to deliver a couple of items to him. This really should be a good weekend. I’m already up here in CO. I came up a day early for business. But I’ll be…   Read more»

JW, I still haven’t mastered the intricacies of programming the R2C mini even after viewing the video on Jim’s web site. I’m hoping he’ll do the programming for me on the site. All help will be accepted and appreciated, free…   Read more»

I have one to remove too. I’ll bring it to the launch if you bring the propane torch and do a live demo…Doug