Launch Date: March 3rd, 2022

"What manner of man are you that can summon fire without flint or tinder?"

                           - King Arthur, Monty Python and The Holy Grail

Why, a model rocketeer, you silly kynge!

On Thursday, March 3rd, six such men made the trek to Dove Valley Regional Park in Denver to enjoy a day of spectacular flying weather resulting from a high-pressure cell parked over the state. The temperature was in the upper sixties with little in the way of wind. This was a far cry from the snow and frigid conditions that have prevailed in the past couple of months, so everyone was quite ready for a rocket-flying fix.

The festivities were begun by Bob Spohn, who sent a Mini Marz Lander aloft for a good flight. Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic of this one due to my fumble-fingering with the cel phone as the model was being launched.

Bob is a newcomer to our little band, driving all the way down from Longmont, Colorado to participate.

Next up was Lee Reep, hailing from Fort Collins. His first flight was made by a Hex-3 on a Quest Q-jet B6-4.  Unfortunately, the motor experienced a side-blow, damaging the model's motor mount and part of the body shroud.  Will the Hex ever fly again?

Since conditions were sterling for gliders, my first model out of the box was the MPC Lunar Patrol clone. Boosting on a B4-2 motor, the model turned in a perfect flight. Both gliders were successfully recovered after long, slow descents.

When I returned to the launch site with parts of my retrieved model, I witnessed a strange sight:

It was Lee and Bob Spohn prepping a rather strange looking model!

It turned out to be a Halloween-themed odd-roc which Lee called 'Skeletor". Yikes!

The grisly contraption turned in a beautiful flight on an E12-6 motor. Ghoulishly delightful!

Bob Spohn soon had another model ready on the pad.  This was a new Mars 'Leaper' powered by an A10-0T motor.  It turned in a low-altitude flight, landing at an angle which almost stuck one of the landing struts into the Dove Valley turf.

Encouraged by the performance of the Lunar Patrol launch made earlier, I brought out my FlatCat boost/glider. The model boosted straight and high on a B4-2 motor. At ejection, the glider separated and settled into a perfect glide pattern, landing nearby over two minutes later. I made the comment that G. Harry was smiling down on that one!

Bob was soon observed setting up an Estes Interceptor on the launch pad. Flying on a C6-3, the model turned in a very nice flight. Yours Truly photographer failed to get a picture of this one before it was launched.

Dave Bauer got into the action with a pair of rocket-powered jet fighters, a Sunward Maverick based on an F18 and the other a Sunward SU 47 S(ukhoi 47) in Russian decor.  He intended to fly both simultaneously in showdown 'dogfight' fashion. 

It was East against West.  

              Biden vs. Putin....

Both models, powered by D12-5 motors, took off with a roar. It was a beautiful sight to watch the birds soar into the blue on their various trajectories, pop their parachutes, and land safely.

Since both models performed so admirably, the outcome of the 'battle' was un-decided.....

Bob Spohn soon had another model on the pad, this time an Estes Power Patrol. The model flew well on an A8-3, but was returned with a damaged nose.

Jim Gazur had his first model of the day prepped and ready for flight.

Ill let Jim describe the details of this model in his own words:

  "Generic avionics test bed built on a Booster-55 fin unit.  Since the avionics on this bird (PerfectFlite Stratologger CF) have been sorted out, it made a great platform to characterize the Dexter Labs Micro-Hybrid motor.  This motor uses the small Nitrous Oxide chargers used for making whipped cream at home.  It burned 7.1 grams of N2O2 and 1.9 grams of acrylic plastic fuel in about 1.0 seconds with no visible exhaust smoke.  The rocket achieved a maximum velocity of 215 FPS and an apogee of 383 feet.  On two previous flights on D12-5 motors, the same rocket averaged 155 FPS and 530 feet.  So, the Micro-Hybrid is a low- to mid-range "D" motor with a high average thrust.  I plan to characterize it further on the test stand with various fuel choices. "

Liftoff for an impressive, straight-up flight!

With the wind still at a minimum, out came my Orbital Transport. Flying on a B6-4, the model flew straight up, arced over, and separated at ejection. The orbiter settled into a nice, stable glide. All was recovered close by to end a textbook OT flight.

Bob soon had his next model prepped for flight. This was an Estes Prospector carrying a small video camera strapped to the side. The model turned in a nice flight on a B6-4 motor. 

My next bird out of the tote was a Quest Icarus for its maiden launch. The model carried the payload section from the recently-destroyed Big Rage model. The Icarus turned in a perfect flight on a C6-5 motor.

Lee launched a beautiful flight of his 1990s-built Estes Trident on a C6-3 motor.  Picture perfect!

This model is Dave Bauer's Corsair.  The bird turned in a very impressive, high flight on a D12-5 motor, and was returned safely.

Photo by Lee Reep

Bob's next model was a nicely-done Big Bertha carrying a video camera.  Flying on a C6-5, the bird lifted off on a very nice flight. The parachute brought the model down to nearly 'spot-land' on Bob's launcher! 

Bob Spohn carefully readying the video cam for flight

Bob flew the model a second time a bit later as his final flight of the day.

Lee Reep soon had a model with an unusual paint scheme ready to go on the launch pad. He describes the model as a "ghoulish white/yellow/orange hydro dip paint job over grayish-black base color. Another Halloweenish-looking rocket."

Flying on a dual D-motor cluster, the model turned in a spectacular flight!

Glider time again...

Jim Gazur brought out his 1.5 upscale CMR Manta glider for some test flights.  Here is Jim's description of the model and flights:

"Equipped with two-channel radio control flown on early 1970's vintage Centuri B4-2 motors.  While not a very high-performance glider, the Manta is very robust and handles the RC modifications well.  The point of this exercise was to get the vehicle to come back to me instead of me going after it (something to do with advanced age).  I figured the way to demonstrate success was quick turn for a reflight.  I'm declaring victory with five flights in about 15 minutes."

Five glider flights in fifteen minutes.  That's got to be a record!  

Each of the flights was executed very successfully, with Jim demonstrating proficiency at controlling the glide paths.

Lee Reep soon had his own glider ready to go on the pad.  This is a  Jet Freak B/G which Lee says was designed several years ago by an 11-year-old kid!  

The model flew nicely on a B4-2 motor.

Lee flew the model again later on an A8-3 motor.

My next model to be flown was the maiden voyage of a Big Daddy of 1990s vintage. Flying on a D12-3 motor the bird flew straight and surprisingly high. After recovering the model, I found that I had forgotten to insert the orange spacer in the motor mount. Despite the fact that the D motor was recessed an inch inside the tube, the model flew well.

Bob flew another small model, an Emerald Streak.

The model turned in a perfect flight on an A8-3 motor:

Dave Bauer launched a very nice-looking Crossbow SST on a great flight:

My next model to fly was the newly-built Interceptor for its maiden launch.

Bob Spohn had also brought along an Interceptor, so we ended up launching both simultaneously. It was quite a sight to witness both of these birds soaring aloft together.  A C6-5 motor sent my model on a great flight with perfect parachute deployment and recovery.

This is Bob Spohn's Interceptor

It wiggles.....

       It's wacky.....

             What could it possibly be, boys and girls ????

An Estes Wacky Wiggler., of course !!   Flight courtesy of Bob Spohn...

About this time, Fred Cobb had arrived on the field, and soon had his first model prepped.  This was a vintage Estes Alien Explorer.  The tall, exotic model launched on a spectacular C6-3 powered flight!

Speaking of vintage model rockets, Lee Reep brought out his Estes Astron Cobra that he had built about twenty years ago.  Flying on three B4-4 motors, the model turned in a beautiful flight, landing close in to the launch area.  A fine showing by an Estes classic!

Here is Dave Bauer's Photon Disruptor prior to a perfect flight and recovery:

Fred Cobb's next model to fly was a beautifully-done Estes scale Mercury Atlas.  Here is a picture of the prepping process:

...and a spectacular flight:

My seventh and final launch of the day went to a new Nike-X for its maiden flight. Flying on a B6-4 motor, the model turned in a perfect performance, with nearby parachute recovery.

The final flight of the day was put up by Fred.  By now the wind had picked up to about a sustained seven mph.  The model was a vintage Estes Sky Raider.  Fred was a bit apprehensive about flying a D-powered bird in the existing conditions, but went ahead with it nonetheless.

The model flew quite high, popped its parachute and began drifting in a westward direction.  It came down atop an odd sloped-roofed building across the boulevard bordering the park.  We watched as the model slid down the roof and caught on the building's support wall.

Fred Cobb can be seen in the distance walking toward the building on which the Sky Raider ended its flight.

With that done, the intrepid group packed up the gear and left the field to the breeze (and the goose poop).  

Here are a couple of additional random photos I had in my phone:

Lee Reep prepping....something!

A shot of Bob Spohn sun-burning his tonsils!  This was a random frame pulled from one of my flight videos.

Many great flights had taken place this day, with no lost models, no lawn darts, no major recovery system failures, and only one CATO. Only a couple of the models flown suffered minor landing damage.

By, the way, Fred did retrieve his Sky Raider!

There were many blossoming parachutes with most of the flights terminating within just a short distance of the launch area.  One couldn't ask for a better day of model rocket flying.

And no necromantic powers were required.....