This summer marks the 50th anniversary of my very first model rocket launch.
The problem is, I have no inkling of the exact date of the launch, or any details pertaining to which model it was, as well as any flight data. I just know that it occurred in the summer of 1973.
I didn't keep any records whatsoever back in those very early days.
I suspect that the model flown was the Estes Mini-Brute Hornet, the very model that I retired recently following its 50th flight.
The rocket, already built, was on display at a hobby store in Colorado Springs - Custom Hobbies. My friend and rocket mentor, Marc Kramer, suggested I buy it and use it for my first model rocket flights. I recall that I spent the princely sum of a buck-fifty for the model.
On that same visit to the hobby shop, I picked up my first rocket kits - a Mosquito and a Starblazer (Estes K-31), as well as some packages of appropriate mini-motors.
The Hornet was probably flown at an open field near my home on the east side of Colorado Springs. Since I didn't yet have my own launch pad and controller it was likely flown off of Marc's GSE.
Apparently, the flight went well, as the Hornet lived to see a few more launches. I am probably the only model rocketeer in existence that can't remember his very first model rocket flight!
The early launch of my first Mosquito, which took place around the same time period, is one that I vividly remember:
WHOOSH...Disappear......
I did actually find the model a couple days after the launch. It was lying in the middle of a motorcylce trail at the perimeter of the launch field - crushed beyond recognition.
By the end of 1973, I had four additional models added to the fleet: an Estes Astron Spaceman and three small competition models of my own design, the Proton, Proton II, and Corona.
Illustrations of the birds can be found on the "Old Fleet, 1973-1974" page on the right side of this blog's home page.
I didn't own a camera back then, but I did render color drawings of the early models.
One quick note - it wasn't until 1974 or '75 that I established my fleet numbering system, so some of the early model numbers don't reflect the actual build sequence. Oddly, my actual first rocket was assigned #13!
Oh, well ...
Anyway, in late 1973 I joined the Skywatchers Model Rocket Club in Colorado Springs, as well as becoming NAR member #25180.
In December 1973, Skywatchers had enough NAR members to apply for a section charter.
We became ROMAR (Rocky Mountain Association Of Rocketry), section #331 in January,1974.
So, that's my 50-year anniversary story, and I'm sticking to it!
Cheers.....