Launch Date: 7 October, 2017

Today promised to be a fine day to head out to ‘Douglas County Proving Grounds’ to conduct some model rocket launches.  Wind and weather websites for Castle Rock indicated a wind speed of 5 mph and a temperature of 71 degrees at 3:00 p.m.   Not too bad.  It had been over three months since I last sent some models skyward, so this would be a much needed ‘flying fix’!

The first model off the pad was, of course, the Estes Mini-Brute Hornet.  This would be its 35^th flight on an A3-4T and 8-inch parachute.
As I was ‘commencing countdown’, a local bird did a fly-by to check things out!

 

After turning in its signature great boost and parachute deployment, the Hornet was carried to the southern edge of the flying field by the wind, where it landed on a gravel pathway.  Only a slight paint chip off of one fin.

Next up was the maiden flight of the MPC Super-Star clone.  The model turned in a picture perfect high flight on a ½A engine.  The streamer deployed and landed the model fairly close to the launch area.

 

The Super-Star was quickly re-prepped and put up for a second flight.  Again on a ½A engine.  Again, another perfect flight and recovery.  No damage to the bird after two flights, except for a small amount of paint bubbling from the hot engine casings. I may try this bird on an A engine when I can get to the bigger field at Dove Valley Park in Centennial.  

Next bird to fly was the old-fleet Delta II.  Equipped with a B4-4 and a 12 inch parachute, the model turned in a nice flight.  The delay was a bit longer than I would have liked, as the model was headed down when the ejection charge went off, but all was recovered safely.

I had intended to end the flying session at this point, but the last launch of the Delta II had attracted the attention of three boys who were tossing a football around on another part of the field.  They wandered over to see the rockets.

“Are you going to fly any more?” they asked.

Not one to miss an opportunity to introduce newbies to our wonderful hobby, I decided to put the Delta-II up again for their benefit.  As I prepped the bird, I fielded a LOT of questions, and explained what model rocketry was all about.

I let one of the lads push the button to send the bird on its way for its second flight of the day on a B6-4 engine.  Another great flight, this time accompanied by the ‘Wows’ and ‘Awesomes’ from the young onlookers.  They enthusiastically went on recovery and brought the bird back.

    I had one more bird in my model box – the diminutive Mosquito.  This one is a quick prep, so I had it on the pad in no time, and let another of the boys launch it.  A ¼A engine took it quite high.  We all strained to see where it went.

“There it is!!” one of the boys shouted, pointing.  I looked, and sure enough I caught sight of a falling object.
    Engine casing.   We watched as it descended and bounced on the turf about 30 feet away. 
    No rocket though. 



It took about a ten minute search before one of the boys found it at the east edge of the soccer field, quite a distance from the pad.  He received a dollar for his efforts.
Incidentally, this was flight  number 7 on this particular Mosquito.
With that done, I packed up to head for home. This local field has certainly proven itself totally suitable for model rocket flying, at least up to B engines.  Maybe even some C an D flights on larger birds. 
    We shall see.
   Anyway, today’s session: 6 great flights.  No damaged or lost models.  Perhaps a couple of new model rocketeers in the making.

I’ll take it.