CATO Rocketry - CATO 29 Launch Report

CATO 29 Launch Report - 30 April, 2000
Sterling

NOTE:

This is a partial launch report. I will get the stats up as soon as time allows. Just wanted to get something in place for the meantime. JR

CATO 29 almost didn't happen.. the forecast only a day or two before looked quite dismal (rain and high winds). Based on an improving forecast, we decided to go for launch; despite some breezy conditions we had a very successful launch! Most of the rockets were of the smaller variety (the wind was going in the "short" direction of the field). Quite a few people came out to fly, including a large group of flyers that came up from New Canaan CT. A number of NARTREK flights were also made.

Launch Photos

One of the "New Canaan Crew" preps an Estes Big Daddy for launch.

Alex Calvert's NARTREK 2-stage flight using an Estes Long Shot.

Peter Lawall displays the rocket which perhaps had the best flight of the day. A perfect dual deployment recovery; the rocket flew on the largest motor of the day (H128W).

Sean Hogan preps his "Green Thing" for another flight. A "close call" for the Green Thing on this flight due to an Aerotech "bonus" delay!

Some of the "New Canaan Crew" display the aftermath of the first flight of the "Mirage". The rocket had a perfect boost but for reasons unknown the G40W motor's ejection did not deploy the recovery system. The rocket was modified on site and flown again on a G80T motor (albeit a bit shorter!).

Jay Calvert displays his "Four Play" (a LOC 4-29SS) rocket. The rocket had a great maiden flight on 2 F101 motors.

Peter Lawall's rocket onthe final leg of a perfect dual deployment recovery. Photo by Bob Wiech.

An unidentified rocket departs the pad (anyone who knows what rocket this is let me know and I'll add a better description). Photo by Bob Wiech.

A compilation of "blast off" photos (photos submitted by Ed Willis). I'll add rocket names (those I can figure out) shortly....

Anyone wishing to contribute images please e-mail them to Joe Roberts

LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS and STATS:

To be added here.

NARTREK UPDATE

Les Kurz submitted the following update:

Hi rocketeers,

Well it was a very blustery day on Sunday. But we managed to fly (a lot) of rockets all the way to 4:00! Due to the wind, the rockets were smaller. It can be a good reminder to those of us in HPR how much fun the small models can be (a Wizard on a B6-4 gets up there in a hurry!). And you can fly a bunch of them in the time it takes to prep an RMS motor.

More good news is that our NARTREK program is officially 'launched'. Alex Calvert flew all four of his requirement flights (no mean feat given the wind) and became CATO's first NARTREK Cadet. Congratulations Alex! He was awarded his achievement certificate, bronze level patch, Silver requirement package, THREE QCR kits, and received a healthy round of applause.

I'm sure we will have a lot of Bronze flights at the May 13 launch and through the summer. Remember, flights can be made on your own too. I will continue to recognize completion of levels at the launches. Silver level flights will be highlighted in September.

'Deputy' Les

EGG LOFT CONTEST RESULTS

Jay Calvert provided the following contest results (recall that the contest was continued from the 2 April launch):

Senior Division

1st place - John Ritz - (1 egg x 35.95 sec) / 5.0 NS = 7.19 Matra Super 530D kit donated by The Launch Pad ($32.99 value)
2nd place - Jay Calvert - (1 egg x 81.74 sec) / 17.0 NS = 4.81 Ultra Beep donated by Transolve ($19.95 value)
3rd place - Les Kurz - (1 of 2 eggs x 13.33 sec) / 17.0 NS = 0.78 eHobbies t-shirt donated by eHobbies (priceless!)
4th place - Paul Welling - (1 egg x 11.754 sec) / 17.0 NS = 0.69

There were several DQs...

Junior Division

1st place - Alex Calvert - (1 egg x 20.613 sec) / 9.0 NS = 2.29 $10 Gift Certificate donated by Aerospace Specialty Products and eHobbies stickers and post-in notes
2nd place - Jake Howe - (1 egg x 12.27 sec) / 9.0 NS = 1.36 eHobbies range box, eHobbies cap, stickers and post-it notes
3rd place - Matt Kurz - (1 of 2 eggs x 17.333 sec) / 20.0 NS = 0.87 Estes Photon Probe kit donated by A2Z Hobbies ($12.80 value)
4th place - Aaron Welling - (2 of 3 eggs x 44 sec) / 105.0 NS = 0.84
5th place - Aaron Welling - (1 egg x 9.936 sec) / 17.0 NS = 0.58

several DQs...

Note: I made a calculation error that changes the order of the Junior Division winners from what I announced at Sunday's launch. Sorry for the confusion. This will have no effect on prizes already awarded.