Tripoli WA Grass Valley October 2009 Launch Report

The October 2009 Grass Valley launch was good fun. Below is a run down of the day.



The view arriving at the launch site.



Dave and I thought it would be fun to drag race our Aerotech Initiators.



Mine lit, Dave's didn't. I haven't seen my Initiator (or RT 29mm 40/120 casing) since. It just vanished.



RIP Aerotech Initiator (Maiden flight, G64)



So back to the trusty Thug.



And off she goes.



I brought the Snarky out as well (it was the last launch of 2009 after all!).



This rocket flies wonderfully.

There you have it, the end of my first season in High Power Rocketry. 2010 looks to be a very good year. Tripoli WA is really hitting it's stride and I believe you'll be seeing some really interesting posts in the next few months.

Tripoli WA Grass Valley August 2009 Launch Report

I do realise that we are well into 2010, but I thought I'd update the blog with the last couple launches from last year. The August 2009 launch could be best described as a hpr (high power rocketry) day. I flew my Binder Thug multiple times on 38mm hpr hardware, and once on a 29mm motor (hpr as well).


The Thug loaded with an I161W-10, Rocksim estimates apogee at roughly 3,200ft.


Boy did it go. I doubt I hit 3,200ft though, the power of the I motor combined with my terrible fin beveling job caused it to wobble to apogee. I saw the chute pop and saw the rocket come down in the paddock next to us. I though it would be fairly simple to find. I DID see it come down after all. Boy was I mistaken. It probably took well over an hour to locate. Below are the photos.


This is how I finally spotted it. All you can really see is the chute.



Directly overhead, looking down.



Looking back at the launch site. I still can't get over how far the rocket drifted.


Even though recovery took longer than expected I was really pleased with this flight. That said, I focused on using H motors for the rest of the day, all in the Thug. On the H's the rocket stayed in the paddock we were launching in and were super simple to recover.


If only all recoveries were this easy. This is how the rocket landed, untouched.


All considered the day was great fun. I did learn that I should probably use GPS, and/or dual deployment if I'm going to be launching I+ motors in smaller rockets. Also I found out a good general rule. Your rocket is ALWAYS further away from the launch site than expected.