ROC July 1999 Launch

Report by Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky

July in Southern California can be hot as firecracker! This July's ROC launch saw both heat and fireworks. To be out on the Lucerne playa in July is to truly appreciate several things. One, it's DAMN hot in the desert. Two: Geez it's hot in the desert in July! And three, we are blessed to have such a wonderful place to launch rockets!

Let me tend to some business first. Lloyd Briner lost an 18mm casing out on the playa. Should you find it let someone, your reporter of record, Jeff Gortatowsky, or any of the ROC officers know.

Over in the K corner was Hulan "Gimme a Kosdon" Matthies with a 5.5 inch diameter Mosquito upscale on an AeroTech K550. This insect was swatted down however as the skeeter shredded. Keeping that insect theme however Matt Shumard certified Tripoli Level 2 using a Rocketman Praying Mantis and a K550. Congratulations Matt! Still in the K-ool impulse range we had Garett Young and Ken Finwall fire up a LOC V2 on nice K1100 flight. Wayne Mrazek was passing more than a little gas when he lit a fire under his scratch built, Hypertek K240 powered, Gas Attack for a nice flight with an AltS25 enabled recovery.

John Andersen hit a home run with his scratch built K550 powered Slugger-X. John used dual Adept electronics to bring home the rocket. Chuck Plattish kicked his LOC Magnum up a notch using a K185 for a nice long burn flight. Join the July 'K' Klub was Jim Domemoe using a K550 in his PML Ultimate Endeavor. Jim used a BlackSky AltAcc for recovery electronics.

Other attendees joining the Tripoli Level 2 ranks were Dave Ramsperger using a scratch built rocket he called "RAM Arrow" on a J90. And James Neal who certified successfully on a J90 in a scratch built ISQY Tomahawk. Congratulations Dave and James.

Dave McCue and a Kosdon J230 combined to successfully launch and recover his LOC Caliber ISP. John Walquist used a J275 in a modified PML AMRAAM 4 to hit 3,964 feet as recorded and recovered by a AltS25.

Ah, "Into every launch, a little plywood and paper must fall." And so it came to pass that Mark Peifer's LOC EZ-I65 was to re-kit itself when the J275 stuffed in it CATO'd. Hulan Matthies did not escape the wrath of the playa as his 5.5 inch diameter Stovi upscale had no AltS2 activated chute. Also in the 5.5 inch re-kitting category was George Perez whose J415 powered LOC Magnum lost it's chute. George has had better days as he and Andy Perez teamed up to fly a Public Enemy Intruder on a Kosdon J295. However it became a Lake Stake shortly after apogee.

Wayne Mrazek brought out a enhanced smokey effect Hypertek demo J175 for use in his scratch built "Beta 1" rocket. The rocket recovered nicely using an Adept AltS25. Proving he has no symethicone, Wayne returned with his scratch built Gas Attack successfully flying on a Hypertek J300 and again using Adept electronics for recovery. Jacob Cohn did nice job launching his scratch built "Phingus III" on a J275.

Kurt Gugisberg had several notable flights at the July 1999 launch. As a matter of fact, Kurt was good enough to send in a short report so without further adieu:

"I launched the 'Stretched Pterodactyl Jr.' on an I284 with an Altacc for dual deployment. It was a straight up flight to about 2817 feet with drogue ejection at apogee. The main chute opened on schedule at about 700 feet. I then launched my Too Blue Two on a I211 with an Altacc on board - flew straight up to about 3332 feet with apogee deployment of the main.

"The above mentioned Dynacom V-2 on a J275 took off at an angle and had a somewhat late deployment due to the trajectory. The parachute (a LOC chute newly reworked by Prescilla's Parachutes) held up well under the shock of opening with no damage from the ten pound rocket. And my LOC Graduator flew on an H128. The old trooper still lives and flies."

Thanks for that report Kurt, and keep 'em coming!

Jeff Stai kicked his PML Ariel up a notch on an I284 while Mr. Rocket Rage himself, Carl Delzell had a nice flight of his scratch built "Rocket Rage on an I300". Of course Carl always uses the reliable recovery of Parachutes by Priscilla! Bill Sieder's "Drano Dart Immortal" flew several times with one great flight on an I357 and another on an I300. Ah, clogs live on... Rick McGee Prefect of Lucerne Test Range (Tripoli Los Angeles) and all round decent guy, had nice flight of his Aerotech Astrobee-D on a I161. Rick also had an outta sight flight on his LOC Forte with an I211.

An I300 was Greg Lawson's weapon of choice for a nice crowd pleasin' flight of his LOC Mini Magg. If fact Greg writes:

"I also put the 'Golly Green Giant' up on 3xE15's. All lit. I then put the Minnie-Mag up on an I300. I guess the delay was perfect because it coasted up to apogee, stopped, then the chute popped. All in all, a good day. Humid and hot but still good."

Jeff Stai used an I211 to fry both the top and botton halves of his PML Quasar when the forward closure let go. Ouch. Jeff was not alone in the "ouch" category, Hulan Matthies hit the playa when his Kosdon powered Mosquito had no chute. And not to be left out, Gary Wicenski's LOC EZI-65 became the latest Lake Stake as using a I211 to store up the potential energy.

John Walquist had his 8 1/4 pound modified PML AMRAAM 4 hit 1721 feet on an I211 with a AltS25 recording the altitude and handling the dual deployment duties. Gary Bitterman's It's Hard To Be Green, Mark Piefer's LOC Mini Magg, Jim Demenoe, and Ron McGough, all put up successful I-powered flights as well.

Hyam Sosnow pleased the gathered masses with an excellent flight of his scratch built "4-29" powered by two smokey H124s. Hyam also flew his scratch built "Prince Viper III" on three H112s for a super flight! These are always fun to watch! Thanks Hyam! Ben Payne had a nice flight with his H238 powered LOC Norad, as did Troy Monroe Stacy with his H220 powered scratch built called "Grunt". Greg Lawson used a H45 in LOC Hi-Tech (go figure?) for great flight as well. That same rocket also had a nice ride on a H124. Bob Snyder choose a different motor for his Hi-Tech and it had a great ride on a H128. Rick Kempiack used an H55 as the motor of choice for the successful flight of his scratch built "Blue Dart".

Arthur Davison and Ken Finwall teamed up for nice flight of a LOC Vulcunite named "Mr. Spock" on a H55 while George Perez used a H112 for nice flight on his LOC Mini Magg. Brad Williams brought out his all fiberglass Hawk Mountain Raptor and had a decent flight on a H180 while Jeff Stai used the same motor for a crowd pleaser on his PML Callisto. H180 were a-poppin' as Barry Forrest used one for a nice flight on his kit bashed Launch Pad Exocet. John Jennings chose a Kosdon H255 for a great flight with his Public Enemy V2.

These flight and many many more made the July 1999 ROC launch another one to remember. Thanks to everyone who came out to fly and thanks to the crews that setup and took down the launch apparatus!

Motor Usage for July 1999

1/2A             4
A                4
B                2
C               42
D               17
E                6
F                8
G               30
H               41
I               21
J               13
K                7
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Total          195