The Forgottonia Rocketry Group in Macomb, Illinois held their second, and
apparently last, rocket launch of the Fall today at the Nine Mile Junction
Launch Site, starting launch operations around noon as usual. The air
temperature was just over 60° F and the wind was around 7 MPH throughout the
launch. Turnout was much better than the last launch. As usual, my wife Tracy
took all the pictures below. Pads 2 and 3 were the only 1/8" LPR stands, so all
my launches were from those positions.
The Forgottonia Rocketry Group in Macomb, Illinois held their first rocket
launch of the Fall today, starting launch operations around noon at Veteran's
Park. The air temperature was over 80° F and the wind was around 8-9 MPH
when we started. There were just three of us rocketeers present, plus my wife
Tracy who took all the pictures below.
I was able to attend the Fairfax Society of Rocketry's regular Spring Fling
launch for the first time. In fact, I gave in at last, paid my dues and joined
the club. The weather was beautiful, but windier than we would have liked, with
wind speeds of 10 MPH and above at the start of the festivities. Despite that,
the turnout was pretty good and it was very comfortable on the field.
The Forgottonia Rocketry Group in Macomb, Illinois had a rocket launch today...
the 25th of February. This is not a normal time to have a launch; indeed, it's
usually not fit to be outside in this part of the world in late February. But
at noon when the launch started the forecast for Macomb was 60°F and 8 MPH
winds. In fact, the wind was almost nonexistent when we started, and while
there were a few gusts they never got above about 10 MPH. No rockets were lost,
but one glider did a bit too well and flew away into the trees.
The Fairfax Society of Rocketry's regular Hocus Pocus launch was scheduled for
yesterday, October 21st. It wasn't to be, though, as wind speeds for the entire
launch period were forecast to be over 20 MPH (and in fact they were). The
launch was thus rescheduled one day later, when the forecast was for much less
wind. We saw wind speeds around 5 to 7 MPH for the entire launch period, with
temperatures from 40°F at 9:00am up to the lower 60's by early afternoon. I
arrived around 10:00am and I don't think any launches had happened yet, but I
was too late to make the first rack.
So I got word just a week or so ago that the Macomb NAR section, Forgottonia
Rocketry Group, was having a launch on September 2nd. Naturally I attended. We
had a part of Vince Grady Field at WIU; the launch officially started at 6:00pm
and wrapped up by around 7:15pm. Wind speeds were around 5-10 MPH, and we had
some issues with drifting; a few rockets were lost to the trees, but all of my
flights were recovered successfully.
When I found out there is a NAR section, the Forgottonia Rocketry Group, in
Macomb, Illinois, I was seriously overjoyed. I had thought a 2:30 drive to
the Cedar Rapids area for the Fairfax Rocketry Society launch in October 2022
was a good deal; a 1:45 drive to Macomb was thus even better. I contacted Greg
Montalvo and was told that "We welcome anyone who loves to watch a rocket go
up," and well, that's me.
A couple of weeks ago my daughter pointed out to me that the Fairfax Society of
Rocketry, located near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was planning a launch called the
Hocus Pocus Rocket Launch. I looked into it on Facebook and found that they
were inviting basically anyone and everyone, and so I decided to take them up
on it. Today was that launch, and it was a good one. I forget if there were
two or three Level One certification launches, but it was exciting to see high
powered rockets in person.
So upon my arrival home from the 4-H Launch I
was greeted by the still-excellent weather conditions, and was itching to launch
a little more. I prepped four of my "back yard" rockets and hauled my launch
gear out to fly them.
I was asked to be a 4-H leader once again, for the first time since the
pandemic, and today I had a brief launch with the one member in the program this
time. We launched on a field belonging to the member's family, situated on a
broad ridgeline. The sky was rather cloudy but visibility was good, and the
wind laid almost completely by the time we were ready to launch.
It's been a long while since I could do a launch, and I've missed it. So today,
when I realized the wind was going to drop to almost nothing, I ran out to the
office and quickly prepped five rockets to fly. My wife Tracy joined me, and
all pictures below are hers.
It's been two years and one day since our last launch; I had kids doing rocketry
projects in 2018, but we were unable to schedule a launch. Two weeks ago we
tried to have a launch, but were rained out; we could only find one other day,
i.e. today, when everyone thought they could make it.
Of course, today three of the kids were unable to attend. We went ahead, as one of the kids who did make it had never flown before. Boy, was he in for an experience.
This year I have four boys doing the rocketry project; as only one of them is
actually doing it as a 4-H project, I'm not calling this a 4-H launch this time
around. Scheduling conflicts prevented us from getting in any earlier launches,
but that's fine... the weather was beautiful today, mid 80's and very little
wind.
Dry, windy weather made it appear that we might have trouble setting up a launch
for the 4-H project kids this year, but then suddenly after a brief spate of
rain I saw that the forecast for Saturday the 9th was nearly windless. A quick
flurry of Facebook messages later, and four of the five project kids (and their
mothers and some of their siblings) were lined up to launch.
A couple of the boys from this year's project group asked me to help them finish
painting their rockets, and I arranged to visit them on a farm near Kahoka,
Missouri to do just that. But as I looked at the weather forecast and saw mid
70's and almost no wind, I knew we had to do more than prime and sand rockets.
We had to launch.
I've been hoping for a good chance for a launch all year. Last week I watched
the forecasts for Sunday the 20th with anticipation; by Friday it seemed obvious
we would have just the right sort of day for a launch, and the field I usually
launch in was freshly mowed and baled, so I notified the parents of the 4-H kids
I led this year; of the seven kids I had in the project, three were able to make
it. Add to that Joe Coehlo, a member of the
Canton Camera Club (as are my wife
and I) and another friend, Tim McAfee, who had never been to a launch before.
I'd call the turnout excellent.
All the rain we've been having has made planning a launch for the 4-H kids a bit
hard, but looking at the forecast last Friday it became clear that we might be
able to launch on Sunday. A flurry of Facebook messages later, we had planned
to meet at a field near one family's residence. The field had wet spots and
a few inconvenient trees, and it was hot, but all in all the launch went pretty
well. Note: Though this was officially a 4-H launch, not all of the kids who
flew were 4-H members. Just in case anyone wonders.
Wow, almost a year since my last launch. My wife and daughter are working
tonight at the county fair, and I was going to be there too, watching the
motocross races; but the almost incessant rains (including an installment
yesterday) made the dirt in the arena too soggy to build a track on it.
I was getting desperate to launch some rockets... if you look back through
my launch reports, you'll see why. It's been a while. So when I got home
from work today and the conditions were perfect, I just had to head out to
the back yard and launch a few.
Tonight was the science club "event" at my daughter Taylor's high school. It's not a science fair... there's no competition or judging. Instead, it's a show for the younger (elementary school) kids, to try to give them an interest in science.
The wind has blown and blown this year. Finding opportunities to launch
rockets hasn't been easy. So when I found the weather darn near optimal
for rocketry, I had to fly some. I laid out and prepped nine rockets and
was all ready to head over to the local farm where I launch.
After a very long hiatus (for various reasons), I finally got an
opportunity for a small launch tonight. Tracy, my wife, was the only
attendee, and is responsible for all the photos below.
After a week of really sweltering weather, things cooled off somewhat today.
I walked out into the late afternoon sunshine, noted the wind had laid, and
realized that I could launch a few. My daughter Taylor had a couple of friends
over, and they helped with the launch and recovery.
My brother Greg is back for the 4th of July holiday, and he brought my other
brother Adam's kids with him. I knew that my nephew Jesse had shown an
interest in rocketry before, so we planned a launch for today, Sunday the 3rd.
I prepared sixteen rockets, thirteen of mine plus three of Taylor's; however,
the wind, which had been pretty calm, picked up somewhat, and between that and
the fact that I couldn't use the first position on my stand (owing to the rod
nut coming loose), we flew only nine.
The weather hasn't been very conducive to rocket launching lately, but we
needed to get the 4-H launch done before the Fair. So, when we saw that
Father's Day was predicted to be nice, we decided to have the launch at 5:00pm.
The wind was light, perhaps 5-10 MPH and coming from the east; we did have some
drifting problems as a result of that.
I had two new 4-H Aerospace members over working on their rockets, along with Jaclyn, who is in her third (or is it fourth?) year in the project. As I watched the boys putting primer on their rockets, I thought about what a boring task sanding and re-priming is... and I decided we would launch a few in the back yard, just to keep their interest up.
Justin's school had a science-related event, which sadly I don't know the name of, and he came to me and asked if he could borrow my launch stand and controller to have a public launch. I was unable to attend due to work, but I sent him off with the equipment he requested, four rockets (a couple of his own, a used Estes RTF I got from a school, and my Triskelion), 12 engines, and my long range box (where I keep my regular launch rods).
It just hasn't been a good year for rocket launching in Northeast Missouri.
Today was my first real opportunity... it was fortunate that I was able to
get off work early. The wind was moderate but variable, probably topping
out at 10 MPH. Though Justin and Jaclyn, my 4-H rocketeers for the last
several years, were unavailable, my wife Tracy and daughter Taylor accompanied
me.
I've been itching to launch a few more rockets, and tonight was just beautiful. I knew I'd
only have about an hour of daylight to launch in, but fortunately I had prepared a few low-fliers
(including my Lo Flier) in advance. Tracy took the pictures, as usual, and Taylor and her friend
Jaclyn assisted with the recovery.
Two weeks ago, the landowner who owns my current favorite launch field told me
he had it mowed and baled, and that I should feel free to come over and launch
anytime. Of course, the wind refused to cooperate... from then until today,
we only had one day when the wind was calm enough to launch, and it was a
weekday when I had to work late.
Until today, I said. This morning I looked out and saw that there was no wind. None. It's almost axiomatic that you don't prepare rockets to launch around here when the wind is calm, because by the time you're ready, it's windy. Undaunted, or perhaps just stupid, I soldiered on, and by 11:00am we were ready... and the wind was light and variable, mostly from the southeast. Ideal.
The weather forecast said that the next week would be unsuitable for
launching; so, despite 12-20 mph breezes and a cloudy sky, I decided
it was time for our 4-H club launch. This year, Sam wasn't able to
participate, so the group consisted of Jaclyn and Justin. My daughter
Taylor and I also launched some rockets.
For about the first time this year, launching conditions were perfect this afternoon. So, I launched a few in the back yard with Taylor (my daughter) pushing the button and helping to retrieve them. Sorry, no pictures this time.
Once again, I joined the SPARC guys in St. Peters, Missouri for their regular
monthly launch. They were launching at the soccer field this time,
so we drew some spectators, which was pretty cool.
The wind quieted somewhat suddenly Sunday evening, and my thoughts turned
naturally to rockets. Four kids (my daughter and three neighbor boys)
were in the yard, so I got four low fliers together along with my handmade
controller and my modified Estes stand, and headed out to the back yard.
My first launch of the year happened to be our 4-H club launch. I had three
project members present: Sam, Jaclyn, and Justin. It's Justin's third
year doing 4-H Aerospace, but the first for Jaclyn and Sam.
Some time back (like, last year), Troy (akpilot) issued an open invitation to
me to attend one of his club's launches. I finally got the chance yesterday.
The weather this morning was beautiful, and the weather forecast was for more
of the same all day long. Partly cloudy, temperature in the 70's and 5-10MPH
breezes all day. I knew better than to believe that last... I've learned that,
in Missouri, you prep your rockets when there is a breeze, and often there will
be none when you start to actually launch; but start prepping when there is no
breeze, and a stiff one will blow up on you. But this is a good thing, I
thought, as I wandered out into the light breeze.
My daughter Taylor and I launched a very few rockets in the back yard tonight, starting around 7:30pm; thus, we had about half an hour of useful daylight left. Mainly, I wanted to test my new miniature X-24 Bug (3/4 scale, 13mm power, all paper except for the bulkhead) and try out my over 20 year old Centuri Flying Saucer. I also launched Taylor's Gauchito. Rather than dragging out the four-way stand, I used an Estes stand (modded with a ceramic tile launch deflector) and my wooden launch controller. It was about 85°F and apparently windless.
After waiting seemingly forever for (a) decent weather and (b) all the hay and wheat to be mowed,
we finally got our chance. Taylor, Justin, Jaclyn, and I all got in some launches, and for the
most part we were very satisfied. All of my rockets which got launched had never been launched before.
I was supposed to weedwhack tonight, but the weather was nice and I was home reasonably early, and Tracy told me to go ahead and launch (before I even asked!)
I should have weedwhacked.
I didn't get a chance to launch over the weekend, and I was itching to burn some black powder... and when I got home from work after a really annoying day, I was pleased to note the calmness of the late afternoon. Surely launching a few low-fliers in the back yard would put me in a better mood...
We had a beautiful sunny afternoon for launching, 85°F with moderate humidity and virtually
no wind. Justin, Taylor, and I launched several rockets, with only one mishap.
This afternoon was cloudy but fairly calm, with breezes of around 5 MPH or so.
Justin and I decided to launch a few of our rockets, including some of mine that
had never been launched as well as a few that hadn't been up recently.
Tonight I launched just three times in my back yard. These launches were mainly for the purpose of testing my new launch controller; I also tried out crepe paper wadding costing less than 1/4 the price of Estes' flame-retardant toilet paper. (Okay, mostly the launch was because I was itching to burn some black powder...)
In honor of the impending birthday of the son of my wife's best friend, we held a launch July 1st. Jeffrey (the birthday boy), his sister Megan, my protege Justin, his sister Jaclyn, my daughter Taylor, and I all launched rockets.
Taylor, Justin, and I got in a really good launch this evening, starting at around 6:40pm.
The air temperature was in the mid-70's, with very light winds.
Taylor (my daughter), Justin ( the neighbor kid I've been teaching about rocketry) and I launched several times today. Yesterday was the first day that would have been fit for rocketry, but I had other commitments, so today was the day.
I launched a few with my daughter and my neighbor's son on Sunday the 8th. The neighbors are blessed with a large, tree-less back yard; my yard is big but has a bunch of trees.