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Rick Polzello Prepares "Scuderia" for flight on an Aerotech K550W motor.

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T minus one minute...

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The first flight of the day was Rick Polzello's "Scuderia" on a K550W. The Missile Works RRC2 reported 3,771 feet, but the rocket landed in a tree at the edge of the north woods. The trusty retrieval pole paid for itself again as Rick was able to get the rocket down with the help of Sean Hogan. At right, John Poulin's SAAB RB-5A cranks away on an I161W. Unfortunately, the rocket landed in the west woods. John was able to get it back with the recovery pole as well.

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Shawn Forsythe installs the igniter in his Aerotech G-Force prior to his L1 certification attempt. The motor experienced an anomaly right off the rod and spun wildly in flight. The rocket landed on fire in the snow near the pads.

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FIRE!
1) Before ejection.
2) After ejection.
3) The fire brigade arrives.

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The damage is pretty severe. The aft section of the rocket was burned away and the hole that was burned through the side of the case can be seen in the photo on the right.

1) Les Kurz and his LOC Starburst.
2) Flyiing on an F24W.
3) Two rockets.  The orange one is a TARC entry.
4) Ross Tracey's missile.

1) Ulf Jonsson connects is TARC entry
2) Liftoff on an E9
3) John Poulin's SAAB RB-5A (I161W)
4) Jay Calvert's TARC entry

At left, Les Kurz' Starburst can be seen burning only one of the two F24W he had loaded. The flight was fine and Les flew it again on the other motor. The temperatures were low and everyone had to bundle up to stay warm. Sean Hogan's propane heater was a popular gathering spot throughout the day.

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1) Scudmeister Rick gets high on the new CATO stepladder.
2) Joe Roberts (he's in there somewhere) holding his Silver Comet.
3) John Poulin's camp stove was a popular hangout for instant coffee.  Next time we want StarBucks (kidding...).

Eric Spain poses with "Vertigo" before it's flight on a Cesaroni J330. Liftoff! At right, Greg Briden's Amraam 4 heads north towards the woods on an Aerotech I195J. It was recovered after a long search on the ground with a broken forward fin.

1) Eric Spain's Vertigo (Pro38 J330).
2) ___'s ____ on a ___ White Lightning motor.
3) ____'s Super Big Bertha on a ____ black powder motor.

Sean: "It's not THAT cold, is it Joe"?
Joe: "Muffu baaa grr nu TAH!  Gurgu?"

Don Stevens has the right idea.  Sean's propane heater is nice!

It went that-a-way!

1) Jay Calvert's TARC rocket "Executioner Spike".  A Binder Design Spike booster with a modified Estes Executioner sustainer.
2) Team Amity's TARC rocket boosting on a G80T for a perfect flight to 1515'.
3) Joe Robert's LOC Starburst on a pair of Estes E9s.

We stayed a little longer than usual and had a LMR night launch.  Jay Calvert loads the first of several night flights.

1) Sean Hogan helps John Poulin load his Tube Tail onto the rail.
2) John's Tube Tail blazing on a G80FW.
3) Jay Calvert's "Jay-Bot" Fat Boy, with flashlight in nose cone.

1) John Poulin and Sean Hogan help Jay Calvert load his NCR Archer onto the rail for a G80T flight.
2) Night flight.
3) Another night flight.

1)  Jay Calvert's "JAY-BOT", a modified Estes Fat Boy, on a D12-3 with a penlight in the nose cone.
2)  Jay Calvert's NCR Archer on a G80 Blue Thunder, with a flashing red LED unit attached to the side.

1) One of Jay Calvert's black powder rockets leaves a sparky trail skyward as it climbs into the night sky.
2) John Poulin's Tube Tail lights up the launch site with a G80FWL.

Sean and his incredible light-emiting mini van.

LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS and STATS:

Certifications:  Two NAR level 1 certifications were attempted.  Ross Tracey flew his Ariel on an H153, but body damage prevented his success. Shawn Forsythe flew his G-Force on a H180W, but a motor failure spoiled his day.

Frequent Flyers: Joe Roberts and Zack Lau each made 6 flights today. Four flyers managed 4.

Clusters:  Les Kurz flew his Starburst twice today. The first flight only burned one of the F24's he had loaded so he flew it again on the other one. John Poulin flew his Viper IV on a quartet of E18Ws. Joe Roberts flew his Starburst on a pair of E9s and his Viper III on three E9s. Team Total Command flew their TARC entry on a cluster of three D12s in the booster and staged to an E9.

Multi-Stage Flights: Several TARC entries were flown today. Jay Calvert flew his "Executioner Spike" on an F50T staging to an F32W. The igniter burned, but the F32 failed to light. Todd Harrison and friends flew "Unfinished Business" on a G80T to an F20W. Ulf Jonsson flew his "TARC Omelette" on an E9 to E9 combination. Toby Schneider flew his TARC rocket twice on G80Ts to F39Ts combos and had the altimeter report 1,515 feet! Team Total Command flew their black powder powered cluster TARC entry. Ross Tracey also flew his Navaho on a B6 to B6 combo and Zack Lau flew his Tubular 2 Stage on an A10 to 1/2A3.

Classic Kits:  None today.

Motor CATOs:  Shawn Forsthe had his L1 certification flight ruined by a case burn through of an H180W.

Other Notable Flights:  -

Contests: Today's contest was a version of the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) Contest, opened up to teams and individuals of all ages, and allowing the use of any commercial altimeter.  Team Amity had some outstanding flights and won an Aerotech HV Arcas kit for 1st place.  Ulf Jonsson took 2nd place and won a Quest Lightning kit.

Scoring:
1 point per foot away from 1500
50 points per cracked egg (no leak)
100 points per leaking egg
Successful staging required
Perfect score = 0
Contestant	Staging	Altitude	Alt. Pts.	Egg1	Egg2	Total Points	Place
Team Amity	OK	1515	15	0	0	15	1
Team Amity	OK	1435	65	0	0	65	-
Ulf Jonsson	OK	659	841	100	0	941	2
Jay Calvert	No	430	1070	100	100	1270	DQ
E. Greenwich H.S (R.I)	No	0	1500	0	0	1500	DQ
Waterbury H.S.	OK	0	1500	0	0	1500	DQ

 

Flyer	Ns	Motors
Rick Polzello	1,702	K550W, F20W
Eric Spain	765	J330
John Poulin	611	I161W, G80FWL, E18W(4)
Greg Briden	425	I195J
Toby Schneider (Team Amity)	340	G80T(2), F39T(2)
Jay Calvert	307	G80T F50T, F32W, D12, C11
Ron Verrilli	284	H128W, G35W
Ross & Ryan Tracey	281	H153, C6(3), B6(2)
Les Kurz	260	H210R, E15W, E9
Shawn Forsythe	235	H180W
Joe Roberts	206	E18W, E9(5)

Motor Summary

Motor	Total
1/4A	3
1/2A	1
A	3
B	7
C	6
D	6
E	13
F	14
G	8
H	3
I	2
J	1
K	1
Total	68

Anyone wishing to contribute additional images please e-mail them  to Jay Calvert


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