Baildon Moor, 16th April 2000
We decided to extend invitations to other local rocketeers for this launch. The combination of this and the good weather led to our highest turn out so far. All the usual suspects ( Brian/Mike/Shaun/Pete/Angela/Darren) were there, plus Peter & Dave Rawlinson, and Tony & Richard. We also had a couple of spectators on the day. Tony Betts of Rockets & Things was intending to join us, but couldn't make it at the last minute ( but he did manage to get our rocket orders to us, thanks Tony).
Brian launched...
- Python Plus : D12-3
- Bombproof (first sctratchbuilt 2.6 tube 1992 ish) : D12-3 proved its name - no
ejection charge
- 2 models based on 2.6 tube and estes Ninja - Big Ninja and the longer Mega
Ninja : D12-5 and D12-3
- FatBoy D : D12-5
- Big Daddy : D12-3
- Mini MOORS lander : A10-3T (alters every time it flies .. now has Bertha nose)
- Big Mosquito type but with trailing fins 2.6 tube : C5-3 (early sctratchbuilt
1994 ish)
- Moondog GTi : B6-4 great flight but still refuses to deploy chute - survives
well!
- Excursion Module (spindly thing with no fins) : B6-4
- Quest UFO (cheated in the drag race - used a C5-3)
- Sputnik 18" styrofoam sphere (they said it would never fly !!) : C5-3
- Fat Boy : C5-3
- Estes Greyhawk : C5-3 (always a nice flyer)
- Rogue Aerospace Interdictor : (B6-4 not as far to walk as last time)
Left to right:
- Bombproof lifts off
- I love the paint scheme on this one, but no real name?
- Estes Greyhawk? But it's black!
Left to right:
- Rogue Aerospace Interdictor, ready for launch
- Interdictor deploys streamer
Left to right:
- Stretched from the Estes kit, the Super Python lifts off
- Super Python deploys a cool x-from 'chute
- Descending
Pete & Angela launched...
Some stuff that included...
- Little Joe
- 'Pencil' rocket
- A deltie glider
But I don't have the full list.
Left to right:
- Little Joe on the pad, what a great model
- Pencil rocket made from Jimz Planz
- Deltie rady for take off
- Deltie in the air
Darren launched...
- Mini fatboy : 1/2A3-2T
- MkV : 3 x C6-5 1 x C6-7, a great flight on my a hemispherical chute
- Centuri Saucer : B6-0
- Generic gap stager : D12-0 & D12-7
- Centuri Saucer downscale : A10-0T
- KB-1 : C6-3
- Centuri X-24 : C6-3
- Estes Phoenix : D12-3
Left to right:
- Generic gap stager. Straight out of Stine's Handbook
- MkV on the pad. This recently came out of retirement and is flying well
- I think looks great on the hemispherical 'chute
Left to right:
- Centuri X-24 built from Jimz Planz
- Estes Phoenix
- Phoenix deploys chute
Shaun launched...
- Half arsed : F12-5J rms
- Half arsed : E30-7W rms
- Estes BullPup : C6-3
- Quest Falcon : C6-3
The Half arsed flights were the first composites we have flown from this launch site. They were pretty impressive. The first flight didn't deploy the streamer, but there was no damage on landing. That's one of the advantages of Baildon Moor, the turf is very forgiving.
Left to right:
- Estes Bullpup, ready for launch
- Shaun with the Half arsed
- That's definately Blackjack!
- The streamer doesn't deploy
Mike launched...
- Shomet (Shortened Silver Comet) : D12-3
- Oubourous (Scratch built ring fin) : C6-3
- Quest Intereceptor : B6-4
- Razumov Shtern: : 2 x C6-5 (two flights, one spack!)
- Gemiler (Scratch rear-chute) : D12-5
- Queasy Payloader : B4-4
- Mini Exocet : A3-4T
- Spudnik : A3-4T (two flights)
Left to right:
- Razumov Shtern made from Pete Alway plans
- Quest Interceptor on the pad
- Quest Interceptor at deployment
Dave & Peter launched...
- Quest Falcon: C6-5, flown twice, first flight crashed.
- Estes Quark: 1/2A10-3T, flown twice, second flight lost, sacrificed to the Rocket Gods...
- Estes Manta : B6-4, flown twice.
- Estes X-ray : 1/2A10-3T, flown twice.
- Unknown Rocket : B6-4, flown twice.
Left to right:
- Quest Falcon
- Dave recovering the Falcon
Richard & Tony launched...
- Estes Dagger, but unfortunately no-one took a picture of it. Bring more rockets next time guys! :-)
And finally...
A couple of pics that aren't of any launch in particular, but capture a moment for us all to remember, consider, and laugh about.
Left to right:
- After the fourth misfire in a row, that he blamed on igniters, Darren goes looking for the Estes quality control manager.
- What in the world is Mike doing? Anyway Pete looks on enviously. If you have a better idea for a caption send it to the webmaster.
Suggestions so far...
- Mike seems to be trying to get high on a C6-4, although we keep telling him
you can only get high on a C6-4 if you weigh just under 4 ounces...
Left to right:
- A pic taken from where we park the cars, looking across the plateau from which we launch. Everyone appears to be milling around looking embarrassed. Probably Darren had another igniter failure.
As is usual, a full and frank discussion of the day's events took place later in the pub.