CATO LXVIII LaunchReport - 27 October 2002
Sterling, CT

Photo by Rick Polzello

CATO 68 was bright, sunny,cool and unfortunately, quite windy. 26 flyers made 60 flights and burned 10,459 Ns of total impulse equal to a teeny "N"motor.

Launch Photos


Photos & composition by Rick Polzello

Rick Polzello's "LOC 'n Load 2.0" boosts on a pre-fire Aerotech H180W. The Perfectflite altimeter on board reported 1,080 feet and provided the dual deployment that brought it back on the field. On the right, the spectators watch Peter Lawall's 1/4 Iris cranking on a I211W for an outta sight flight. One of Peter's MiniAlt altimeters provided the dual deployment.


Photos & composition by Rick Polzello

Alex Immerman discusses the finer points of Pumpkin lofting with Ulf Jonsson. Ulf's streamlined "Big Egg" can be seen lifting off on an E30T motor. At right, Rick Polzello's "Pump This!" boosts on an E18W. Rick won the contest on this flight with a duration of 1:32.  Tim Hetland's Bullpup can be seen in the distance waiting for its turn.


Photos & composition by Rick Polzello

The BIG one. Todd Harrison and Rob Bazinet teamed to fly "Outer Limits"on a Kosdon by Aerotech L1000.

Photo by Rick Polzello

Liftoff on a KBA L1000. Perfect dual deployment recovery on the field.


Photos & composition by Rick Polzello
Tim Hetland's Bullpup cranking skyward on a 5 grain Cesaroni J300. Jeff Thomas' "RamJet" lifts off on a G80T. At right, Alex Immerman's scratch "38 Min" boosts on a F20W for a nice flight. For a White Lightning motor, the smoke of the F20W sure is dark.

Photos & composition by Rick Polzello
John Poulin loads his "Pumpkin Hauler" onto the pads for a Pumpkin contest flight. Liftoff on a G80FWL. At right, Jay Calvert's vegetable can be seen drifting under chute towards a second place finish.


1)  The crowd watches Tim Hetland's Spudnic take off on a G35W.
2)  Josh Drummund's Sky Digger zooming skyward on a Cesaroni Pro38 5 grain I360.
Photos by Les Kurz.


The Thugster, before and after. Owner Les Kurz manages a smile anyway.  At least he gets a nice core sample of rich Connecticut farm soil for his garden.
Photos by Les Kurz.


The cleanup crew.  From left: Jeannine Lawall, Jay Calvert, Sean Hogan, John Poulin, and half of Joe Roberts.  Joe never could handle his post-launch beer!
(Actually, he's hooking the trailer up to his truck)
Photo by Les Kurz.

Photos and composition by Joe Roberts

At left is Peter Lawall's "Red Rage" ripping on a J570W. Next is Ryan Tracey's Estes Skywinder taking off. Eric Jonsson's pumkin contest entry takes off on a D12 motor. At right, Jeannine Lawall's ill fated flight of the Hobbit. The G40 motor exploded shortly after this photo was snapped, shredding the motor and most of the rocket. It appears that Blue Thunder propellant may have been mistakenly put into a G40 motor...

Photos and composition by Joe Roberts

Peter Lawall's Iris lifting off on an I211W. Next is Jay Calvert's 3FP (3 Fins and a Pumpkin) on an E28T. Tim Hetland's "Apache" burns an I211W on its way up. At right, John Poulin's contest entry "Pumpkin Hauler" boosts a vegetable skyward...

Photos and composition by Joe Roberts

Don Stevens' Forte burns an F23FJ. Eric Jonsson's "Zoom" lofts a pumpkin on a D12! The last two photos are of Eric Spain's and Tod Harrison's LOC IV drag race with pumpkins. Both rockets burned G80FWL motors.

Photos and composition by Joe Roberts

Jeannine Lawall's Jules Verne 29 on a G64W; next, is a nice yellow rocket. The breezy conditions are evident in the smoke trail. Next up is Jason Hicks'  Diablo. Finally Rick Polzello's Endeavor's rips off the pad on a J275W motor.

Photos and composition by Joe Roberts

Josh Drummond's Sky Digger arcing over as it departs the pad. The 10 second delay proved too long for the reduced altitude and the rocket suffered damage.  Next, Jeff Thomas' "Red Crayon" takes to the sky on F50T power. Tim Hetland's Spudnic lifts off on a G35W while Jay Calvert's Executioner launches on a E9-4 black powder motor.

Photos and composition by Joe Roberts

Jason Hicks' Minnie Magg lifts off from the away cell for a good flight. Next, Les Kurz' Thugster blasts off. Sean Hogan's "Sumpkin Scary" takes off with a Pumpkin on board.  Jay Calvert's "Diamond Back" soars on a cluster of 3 C11-3 motors..

Photos and composition by Joe Roberts

Josh Drummond's Lightnin Rod lifts off under G35W power. Next, Eric Jonsson displays his entry in the pumpkin duration contest. Rick Polzello arms Loc'N Load prior to liftoff. At right, Jeanne Hogan escorts Sean to the launch pad with "Sumpkin Scary" for the pumpkin duration contest.


Teamwork in action:
1) John Poulin assisting Rick Polzello with Rick's PML Endeavor (J275W).  Josh Drummond's Sky Digger (I360) is in the background.
2) Eric Jonnsen helping Troy Heidtman with Troy's Estes Mongoose (B6-0 -> A8-5).
3) Eric Spain tilts the pad while Rob Bazinet loads a red rocket (I285), while Peter Lawall stands by to help wife Jeannine with her Jules Verne 29 (G64W).
Photos by Jay Calvert.



Day is done.  Gone the sun...
Photo by Les Kurz.

Anyone wishing to contribute imagespleasee-mail them to JayCalvert

LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTSand STATS:

Certifications:  None today.

Frequent Flyers: Jay Calvert managed 5 flights today. Eric Jonsson and Rick Polzello each made 4.

Clusters:  Jay Calvert flew "Diamond Back" on a trio of C11 motors. Alex Immerman flew his modified LOC Stovi on an E9, two D12's and two C11's. Ulf Jonsson used up a few igniters flying his BT60 based rocket on a cluster of seven A10's. Jeannine Lawall flew her modified Fat Boy on three C6's.

Multi-Stage Flights: Troy Heidtman braved the winds with his Mongoose on a B6 to A8 combination. Eric Jonsson flew the same motor combo in his ASP 18mm rocket. Ulf Jonsson flew his "Scratch"on an A10 to 1/2A3 duo.

Classic Kits:  None today.

Motor CATOs:  Jeannine Lawall experienced a spectacular cato of a G40W in her "Hobbit". The motor disassembled itself and most of the rocket about 30 feet above the pad. After some analysis, it was figured that the G40W was loaded with a Blue Thunder grain instead of White Lightning. Ouch!

Other Notable Flights:  Todd Harrison's "Outer Limits" flew on only the second "L" motor to fly at a CATO launch. Sean Hogan had a couple of interesting flights in the contest with "Sumpkin Scary". Tim Hetland flew his "Spudnic"on a G35W.

Contests: Today's contest was the 5th Annual Open Pumpkin Loft Efficiency Duration.  Results are below. Efficiency scores are "Pumpkin-seconds per Newton-second".

 Flyer
 Time
 Motor
 Total Ns
 Score Ps/Ns
 Prize
 Rick Polzello
 1:32.53
 E18W
 39
 2.372
  Cesaroni 5G Case
 Jay Calvert
 1:42.16
 F20W
 64
 1.596
  Cesaroni 4G Case
 Ulf Jonsson
 0:31.30
 E30T
 40
 0.783
  Cesaroni 6G Case
 Les Kurz
 1:12.93
 G64W
 120
 0.608
  
 John Poulin
 0:48.00
 G80FWL
 120
 0.400
  
 Eric Jonsson
 0:06.66
 D12
 17
 0.392
  
 Todd Harrison
 0:45.95
 G80FWL
 120
 0.383
  
 Eric Jonsson
 0:06.22
 D12
 17
 0.366
  
 Rick Polzello
 0:07.26
 D15T
 20
 0.363
  
 John Poulin
 0:41.56
 G80FWL
 120
 0.346
  
 Jay Calvert
 0:12.67
 E28T
 40
 0.317
  
 Jay Calvert
 0:12.30
 E28T
 40
 0.308
  
 Eric Spain
 0:29.43
 G80FWL
 120
 0.245
  
 Sean Hogan
 0:09.52
 E18W
 39
 0.244
  
 John Poulin
 0:19.47
 G38FJ
 94
 0.207
  
 Sean Hogan
 0:06.43
 E11J
 35
 0.184
  
 Les Kurz
 0:10.55
 G40W
 120
 0.088
  
 Les Kurz
 No Time
 G80FWL
 120
 No Score
  

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