2001

(When and If I ever get a chance to fly!)

April 14, 2001
ARS Club Launch - Rio Rancho Balloon Park

Weather
Cool to warm, 60-75F, Winds 5-15 MPH, Clear skies.

Flights in order

Details -      PHOTO

My first flight of 2001!  The club launches of December 2000, and January and February of 2001 had all been canceled due to bad weather, and I was unable to attend the March launch.  I'd built the I-161 for the November 2000 launch, but the field had been shut down due to high winds before I was able to use it.  So it sat in the garage for over 4 months, waiting for an opportunity to use it.  I was more than a bit nervous to use it after being built for that long.  I'd read of several motors that had CATO'd after being stored for an extended time.  But I re-lubed the O-rings, loaded the black powder into it, and prepped the rocket to fly.  After loading the rocket on the pad, the LCO counted down, hit the button, and the "Bug Gutzz" roared off of the pad.  About 4 seconds into the coast phase of the flight, the ejection charge blew, and the rocket started drifting down range with the wind.  I'm not too sure if the short delay had anything to do with the long storage time, but it was a good flight, and the rocket is ready to go again!

Details - 

In January I purchased a Missile Works RR2 flight computer.  I decided that I'd fly it a few times to just get the altitude before I tried using it to deploy the parachute.  So I installed it in the Tangerine Dream, prepped the rocket, and took it to the pad.  The wind was blowing pretty hard by now, so I tilted the launch rod into the wind about 5 degrees.  At T-0, the rocket shot up, and was soon out of sight.  After the parachute came out, it drifted down to a soft landing south of the field.  I soon found it, and listened for a beep from the computer. All was quiet.  After I got back to the truck, I removed the computer, and found that the 9 volt battery had come unplugged from the connecter, probably during the boost phase of the lift-off.  Well, no harm done, and I learned a lot.  Mainly to turn the computer around so the battery will not come loose.  Another great flight for the Tangerine Dream!

May 26, 2001
ARS Club Launch - Rio Rancho Balloon Park

Weather
Warm to hot, 75-85F, Winds 5-10 MPH, Clear skies.

Flights in order

Details -      PHOTO

The ARS had postponed their monthly launch for two weeks due to the Space Conference being held in Albuquerque.  We had lots of spectators, and several guest flyers.  I'd prepped a I-211 motor the night before, and started to prep "Bug Gutzz" (new name coming soon!) as soon as I got to the field.  I had lots folks come by and watch, and I was able to answer most of their questions.

When I loaded the rocket on the pad, Stan Stanzyk snapped some photos, and we headed back to the spectator area.  at T-0, the motor roared to life, and the bright yellow rocket leapt off of the pad.  There seemed to be a bit of wobble at first, but soon it straightened out. At apogee, the parachute came out, and the "Gutzz" drifted to a soft landing just north of the field.  The croud seemed to really enjoy the flight, and I received many positive comments from them.

Details - 

The first flight of the Initiator this year, and what a flight!  Another club member, Dave Founds, had his Initiator prepped, and I asked him if he would like to have a drag race.  These are always big crowd pleasures, and he jumped at the idea!  He had a G-35 loaded, so they were close in power.  When the LCO pressed the button, both rockets lit, and screamed skyward.  Mine seemed to light an instant before Dave's, possibly due to the IgniterMan igniter I'd used.  Both rockets  popped their chutes at apogee, and drifted down to landings on the field.  Flight 15 for the Initiator, with many more to come!

Details - 

For the last flight of the day, I prepped the Barracuda with a G-64 that I'd built last month.  The bright yellow rocket streaked into the sky, and was soon out of sight.  I saw the parachute come out, and then looked away to speak to someone.  When I looked back up, it was nowhere to be seen.  I asked for help, and Joe Atencio spotted something way to the north.  So I hopped in the truck, and drove out to where he thought it had landed.  I walked around for about 45 minutes, listening for the beeper that was on board, and trying to spot the orange parachute.  Nothing.  As I headed back to the field, Lori Stanzyk drove past, and told me that my rocket had been found!  It had landed to the east of the field, and was sitting on my table when I got back!  Whew!

September 2, 2000
ARS "Thrust in the Dust 2001" - Rio Rancho Balloon Park

Weather
Warm to Hot, 75 - 90F, 0-20 MPH wind from the north-east, clear skies.

Flights in order

Details - 

At long last, I get to fly again!  We (my dad, and a friend, Eric Freida) arrived at the field at 9:15, and after setting up the awning and signing in, I started to prep the "Zonker". (how about the new name!)  I built a I-211, checked the piston, packed the parachute, and headed to the pad. Soon the rocket was roaring off of the pad, climbing straight up into the clear blue sky.  The motor ejection seemed a bit early, as the Rocketman chute came out while the rocket was still climbing.  It drifted to the east, and touched down on the edge of the road.  Everything looked great, and it's ready to fly again!

Details - 

The prep for the Vulcanite seemed to take a bit longer than usual, probably due to the fact that I spent a lot of time talking to various folks that came by.  I built the motor, checked the parachute and airframe, and headed to the RSO for check-in.  I loaded the rocket on Pad #1, and waited for the count-down.  At T-0, nothing happened.  The LCO re-cycled the control, and tried again.  Nothing!  So He moved on to Pad #2.  Nothing!  Same problem on 3 & 4.  He safed the pads, and the PM went to check.  After arming the pads, they tried again.  Success!  Trailing a thick stream of black smoke, the "Dream" was soon out of sight.  Just after apogee, the hot pink chute came out, and the rocket drifted to a soft landing on the field.

Details - 

During the lunch break, I built the 29 mm G-64-W motor, prepped the rocket, and headed to the pads.  As the wind had come up during lunch, I added my small "beeper" to the rocket.  Soon, the LCO hit the button, and the Initiator jumped off of the pad.  It climbed straight up into the air, and was soon drifting down to a soft landing in the desert south of the field.  The beeper led Eric and me right to the rocket.  Another great flight for the oldest rocket in my fleet!

Dave's Rocketry Pages
Copyright © 2001. All rights reserved.
Revised: March 24, 2007.