ROCK’s March Launch

High winds threatened to spoil an otherwise perfect day for rocket launching.

But, we monitored the wind speed and launched during the pauses between the gusts.

Tom tested the winds by flying his Lawn Dart.  It landed not too far from the launch pads.  Then Tom flew his latest creation, No Stack.

Tom’s cardboard creation performed a few aerobatic loops after leaving the launch rod.  

Between the gusts of wind, Carl Campbell snuck a few launches of prototypes for upcoming scale kits from DFR Tech.

We were once again visited by an eagle which accompanied a flock of turkey buzzards circling over our launch site for a few minutes.

Ton Tweit launched his FlisKit’s Nell twice. The first time, the igniter leads caught on the bottom of the rocket and it barely left the launch rod.  The second time, it flew well on a B motor.

When I first saw the new little plastic Coke bottles, my first thought was … that would make a neat rocket.  Someone else had the same idea, but actually did it.

Tom T’s Pink Crayon was not the last launch of the day, but Bracha, Oscar, and I had to leave a little early, so it’s the last launch we saw.

You can view the rest of my photos of the March ROCK Launch in the RocketReviews.com Photo Album.

ROCK’s February Launch

A clear blue sky and cool temperatures with light wind provided an excellent day for rocketry as ROCK held its February launch.

 

My photos from the launch are available for viewing in the RocketReviews.com Photo Album at http://www.rocketreviews.com/february-2013-launch.html.

Slow-Motion Video from the February ROCK Launch

Featuring “The Dude”:

I’ll post still photos from the launch soon.

TTRA’s December, 2012, Launch

The fog evaporated to reveal overcast skies as we arrived at the Varn farm for TTRA’s December launch.

But, it didn’t take long for the sky to clear. Maybe it’s because we started poking it with rockets!

Astron Mike launched a number of his amazing gliders.

Gary Dahlke flew one of his large, two-stage rockets.

We saw a couple of catos including Andy’s Tomahawk on an Estes E9.

Lift-off for this Tiny Pterodactyl on an Aerotech K500 looked good.

But, things went bad soon after.

We stayed later than we had planned because there was always just one more launch we  wanted to see.

You can view many more of my photographs from the launch at http://www.rocketreviews.com/december-2012-launch-6696.html.

Video from the December, 2012, ROCK Launch

ROCK held its December launch last Saturday. It was a little windy in the morning, but the wind died down in the afternoon. In spit of a modest turn-out, we had a lot of fun.

I put together the following video of the launch. It features high-speed (slow-motion) video of the launches.

You can view the still photos I took of the launch in the ROCK Launch Photo Album at RocketReviews.com.

NEFAR’s Bunnell Blast 2012

Last weekend, NEFAR hosted its annual two-day Bunnell Blast launch.

Rockets from small to large took to the air on Saturday.

And even a furry rocket flew … sort of …

Saturday’s launch lasted into the early evening allowing for spectacular dusk and night launches.

Gusty wind, unfortunately, provided a challenge for flyers on Sunday.

But, some large rockets still flew including one of Gary Dahlke’s two-stagers.

My YouBee, an upscale of the Odd’l Rockets Break Away, flew on an Aerotech K480W motor.

Robb Haskins flew his Cluster Thrust on a cluster of four motors.

Now, it’s time to start preparing for Bunnell Blast 2013!

 To see more photos from the launch, please visit the NEFAR Bunnell Blast 2012 Photo Album at RocketReviews.com.

Photos from ROCK’s November Launch

For the first time in a while, it was not too hot, too windy, or too cloudy on the first Saturday of November as ROCK held its monthly model rocket launch.

Chris Michielssen flew his well-crafted Estes V-2.  Unfortunately, the scale model ended up in the top of a tree, far out of reach for recovery.

A FlisKits Tres turned in a great flight on a cluster of three canted motors.

Tom’s vintage Nighthawk flew a couple of times. During the first flight, the booster tangled with the glider. But, the second flight was perfect with the rocket transitioning cleanly to the glide phase.

 

We had a good turnout with lots of kids participating.

Please visit the November, 2012, ROCK Launch photo album at RocketReviews.com to see the rest of my photos of the launch.

 

 

 

 

ROCK’s July Launch

Light winds produced a good day for flying rockets as ROCK held its monthly launch on July 7.

Brian delivered the safety briefing then announced the first flight.

The two-stage Estes Solar headed straight up.  But, just as the first stage motor burned out, it …

… took a sharp left turn.  Then ….

 … the second stage motor fired sending the two stages off in opposite directions.

 

Our launch pads sported new number signs designed and printed by Klages Kreations and donated to the club by Bracha and I.

Several Big Daddy rockets took to the sky including the “Scout Dad” and the …

“Peanut Butter and Jelly.”

Two scale Mercury Redstone rockets flew; one right after the other.

Please visit the ROCK Launch Photo Album at RocketReviews.com to see more photographs of the July ROCK launch.

ROCK’s June 2012 Launch

After a couple of scrubbed launches due to dry weather, ROCK returned to fill the skies with rockets in June.

Flyers were anxious to turn in their flight cards and take their rockets to the launch pads.

One of the first rockets to fly carried a passenger – a single Love Bug.  I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one fly solo before. I don’t think I’ve seen one do anything solo before.

In spite of the very hot weather, we had a number of people show up to fly a variety of rockets including some cluster-powered birds.

Some odd-rocs also flew including an homage to my favorite sandwich, the Fluffernutter!

Tom Tweit, who I met at the Maker Faire, showed up and launched one of his crayon rockets.

One of the rockets landed inside our JonRocket.com trailer.  I gave the owner a good deal when I sold it back to him.

As the skies grew a little more cloudy, Tom Tweit launched his Bull Pup.

Additional photos of the June ROCK launch are in the June 2012 ROCK Launch Photo Album at RocketReviews.com.

 

R.O.C.K. is GO FOR LAUNCH on June, 2012

After two months of cancelled launches due to dry conditions, Orlando’s R.O.C.K. has been cleared to hold its monthly model rocket launch on Saturday, June 2, at the club’s regular launch site.

Because the risk of fire is still a higher than normal, the state forestry department has asked the club to limit the number of vehicles parked on the field.  Therefore, attendees are asked to park int he designated parking area at the entrance to the park.  Parking along Barr Street will not be permitted.

ROCK’s launch begins at about 9:30am and usually lasts until the early afternoon.  For more information about the club and directions to their launch site, please visit the club’s web site.