John A. Wilke

No doubt, some of the prairie has been chopped up. It is easy to spot if you know what to look for, as “disturbed” soils stay messed up for quite a while. My point was that the specific site where…   Read more»

Warren, that soil has never been tilled and the grasses are largely native. There is some invasion from noxious weeds, but like the Sandhills of Nerbraska that is mostly native grass. There is no topsoil there because it never existed…   Read more»

Edward, these guys are good with native grass seeds ://www.sharpseed.com/Greetings from PERU. Stuck in the Lima, Peru airport.

At this moment I think I will have my most excellent large grill out there… not 100% sure, but at least 75% sure. Will trade propane for elk 😀

The private property starts about 1 mile to the east (IIRC). It is closer than you think.With regard to having laundry or no laundry on a drogue, I’m guessing I’ve gone with dual deploy about 200 times. 195 of those…   Read more»

80 knots is not bad (seriously). I’d forego the drogue chute, just breaking in half… which is how I always do it anyway.We need to stay off the private property this year…

My sump pump is running every two minutes (I’m serious – I am timing it). I was going to go out to the N site and camp this weekend but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to get stuck 8OGosh,…   Read more»

My KestreL (which is, of course, the same size as yours) had 1.125g of 4F for the drogue and 0.6g for the main. No piston on the drogue, but I did have a piston up top.The lower was contained with…   Read more»

For my KestreL I used 4 ea. 1/16″ polystyrene shear pins and I had a 1/16″ vent hole up top.I used a smaller chute (30″ IIRC?) and I have flown things thattaway 6-8 times…Your actual mileage may vary.

Scott, I think you will probably break 35K with that Bessie 8)

I think I will just stick to “using those big honkin’ eyenuts”Besides It was JW that turn me onto them a couple years ago.It was his post with a link.I use them all the time – but usually in bigger…   Read more»

Yep – you could do that. There is some extra weight, and eyebolts tend to open up (seen it happen many times). You could, of course, weld it.The advantages of the anchors are they are smaller and lighter. This particular…   Read more»

The 1/4-20 anchors are sold out 8OI will have some more made in the future…JW

Guys, rather than using those big honkin’ eyenuts, I have some hardpoint anchors in 1/4-20. They are identical to the anchors that came with the KestreL except the threaded core is 1/4-20 (same length, OD, cross-hole, etc.)The 1/4-20 anchors are…   Read more»

This has been sold – thanks for the inquiries!JW

Three words: “Strap on boosters”. I say we weld some 98mm casings to that Bessie and really move things along.No need to thank me – I’m glad to help 😀

Tony, that really looks great! Keep us posted. I love that fin “look” – a number of my rockets have resembled that.Where are you flying it on 8/5? Is that a Black Rock launch?

John, I’m thinking it’s first flight will be at Aeronaut in August. Then again at Balls..if it does not get ‘misplaced’.TonyThat sounds great, Tony – Keep me posted. I might come out to Aeronaut this year – would you fly…   Read more»

BALLS is Sept 30 thru October 2, 2011. See their web page at http://www.rimworld.com/balls/I will be in Australia with my honey 8) Odds are I will also miss O’Fest (but you have to admit I have a pretty solid excuse)……

Hey Tony, I know WHERE this will fly… but when?2nd question. Swamp Gas?