CATO Rocketry - CATO LXXXV Launch Report

CATO LXXXV Launch Report - 11 January 2004
Sterling, CT

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Photo by Jeannine Lawall

Old Man Winter cooperated with a few frigid nights, so the ground finally froze at the field - at last, after having to scrub the last four launches, we were able to fly! It was COLD today at the Sterling field - it was only 7° F in the morning, but had warmed up to a comparatively balmy 22 ° F by late afternoon. Wind speed averaged around 8.6 mph. Unfortunately, the lack of snow, solidly frozen field, and a few chilly plastic chutes made for some hard landings. The skies started out clear, but slowly clouded up as the day progressed. While only ten people actually flew rockets, at least a dozen spectators braved the cold. We even had a surprise visit from CATO's first President, Paul Ludwig. 7 flyers made 25 flights and burned 3,407 Ns of total impulse.

Launch Photos

Photo by Les Kurz

Steven Heller's LOC IV blasts off on a G80-7T for the first CATO launch flight of 2004 (and the rocket's ninth flight)! Ulf Jonsson paints the sky with his Piet Mondrian cluster rocket; J. Oslander Jr.'s Warthog has a nice, smokey send-off!

Photo by Jeannine Lawall

Father and son team, Bob and Andy Hevey, load and recover Andy's Pyro rocket together; a later flight produced an interesting harvest from the corn field - so that's where rocket fins come from...

Photo by Jeannine Lawall

J. Oslander Jr.'s Warthog launches in a plume of black smoke. Vice President Al Gloer's Apache is propelled into the sky on a White Lightening motor. Ross Tracy's Amraam 2 heads off for a perfect flight.

Photo by Jeannine Lawall

Photo by Les Kurz

Tim Hetland with his scratch-built rocket; Jim Oslander's PML Hydra awaits launch; rocketeers devise a way to boost 0-60 times in a pickup truck; the ubiquitous rocket chat - Jim Oslander, Jim Oslander Jr., and Al Gloer discuss - what else? - rockets!

Photo by Jeannine Lawall

Les Kurz and Ulf Jonsson on LCO duty; Asa Petersen, Levi Petersen and Doug Burke, future CATO LCO's, check out the equipment ; former CATO president Paul "Lud" Ludwig paid a visit to Sterling.

Photo by Les Kurz

An early deployment of J. Oslander Jr.'s FlisKits rocket kit, Double Deuce, ensures that he's closest to the pad; another shot of Al Gloer's Apache on a classic White Lightning motor; the last time anyone saw Les Kutz's LOC Legacy, on its way up to 2600" on a G64-10W.

Photo by Les Kurz

Photo by Jeannine Lawall

Another father and son team, Mac and Steven Heller with their Bruiser - it deployed a bit early, but had a decent recovery ,

Photo by Les Kurz

Sean Hogan checks cold setup before launch, while Ulf Jonsson registers Steven Heller; Al Gloer checks out his Apache's positioning on the rod before launch. To his left is Jim Oslander Jr.'s Warthog and Ulf Jonsson's Piet Mondrian; to his right is Jim Oslander's Public Enemy Psycho; CATO's first flyer's meeting of 2004: Sean Hogan explains the rules while Ulf Jonsson and Bill Dauphin listen.

Photo by Jeannine Lawall
Photo by Mike Casey

Don't forget to renew your membership! CATO Treasurer Ulf Jonsson looks on as NAR Section Advisor Les Kurz signs on for another year. The 2004 CATO Officers: from left, Secretary Jeannine Lawall, President Sean Hogan, Tripoli Prefect Bill Dauphin, Vice President Al Gloer, NAR Section Advisor Les Kurz, and Treasurer Ulf Jonsson.

Anyone wishing to contribute images please e-mail them to Jeannine Lawall

LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS and STATS:

Certifications: No certification flights were made during this launch.

Frequent Flyers: Jim Oslander and his son completed the most flights today, logging nine launches. Andy Hevey got six rockets to the racks. Tim Hetland launched four rockets, one on his own, and three with Steven and Mac Heller.

Clusters: Ulf Jonsson flew his artistic Piet Mondrian on three D12 motors. J. Oslander used two E30 and two E9 motors to launch his Viper 4 cluster rocket. HIs son, J. Oslander Jr., flew a FlisKits rocket kit, Double Deuce, on two B6 motors.

Multi-Stage Flights: Al Gloer sent his Aztec on its first flight - he used a B6-0 to a A8-3. J. Oslander, Jr. flew a multi-stage FlisKits rocket on a B6-0 booster and a B6-4.

Classic Kits: None today.

Motor CATOs: No CATOs today (thank goodness!).

Other Notable Flights: Tim Hetland launched a scratch-built 10 pound, 5.5." diameter rocket on an J-330 motor. Tim Hetland and Steven & Mac Heller launched a beautifully scratch-built Iris on its third flight. Les Kurz flew a very nice, but ill-fated, LOC Legacy on a G64-10W, with a PerfectFlite miniAlt altimeter payload: It flew straight and true, entered the clouds, and nobody saw it return - hopefully the rocket gods will return it someday. Peter Lawall and Mike Casey went rocket hunting in the woods and recovered several long-lost rockets, including Peter's three-altimeter test rocket from last May - yes, all three altimeters still work!

Contests: No contests were held today.

Top 10 Hot Shots:

Flyer Ns Motors

Tim Hetland 1,842 H112, H242, I435, Cesaroni J330

Jim and Jim Jr. Oslander 1,065 B6 (4), E9 (2), E30T (2), F52T, G33J, G64, G80T, H153 (2)

Ross Tracey 453 F50, G69, H153

Al Gloer 177 A8, B6, F20, G35W

Les Kurz 120 G64W

Steven Heller 120 G80T

Ulf Jonsson 36 D12 (3)

Andrew Hevey 34 A8 (2), B4, B6, C6 (2)

Motor Summary

Motor Total

A 3

B 7

C 2

D 3

E 4

F 3

G 7

H 5

I 1

J 1

TOTAL 33

Anyone wishing to contribute additional images please e-mail them to Jeannine Lawall

Flyer	Ns	Motors
Tim Hetland	1,842	H112, H242, I435, Cesaroni J330
Jim and Jim Jr. Oslander	1,065	B6 (4), E9 (2), E30T (2), F52T, G33J, G64, G80T, H153 (2)
Ross Tracey	453	F50, G69, H153
Al Gloer	177	A8, B6, F20, G35W
Les Kurz	120	G64W
Steven Heller	120	G80T
Ulf Jonsson	36	D12 (3)
Andrew Hevey	34	A8 (2), B4, B6, C6 (2)