39 motors, 38 flights, 18 registered flyers.  We think these above-average numbers were partly due to pent-up demand; this was Team-1’s first launch event since November of 2019, and many other launches have still not resumed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Social distancing and facecover wearing methods were in effect, particularly in the confines of the airport office building where Registration was set up.  This launch event’s name tag featured a photo of a Smoky Sam launch plume and exhaust trail taken at last November’s launch.

Team-1,

This Launch Report for the Michigan Team-1 launch event at Alkay Airport on Saturday 06/20/20 was delayed because of missing launch cards.  Sorry for the delay.  We finally found the missing 11 cards stuffed in the weight scale storage crate (!).  The good news is that someone participating in the equipment teardown & storage process recognized their importance and didn’t discard them into the trash.  The bad news is we had to expend considerable effort and time in the hunt to find them.  We never want to discourage flyers from helping with teardown, so kudos to that person (whoever it was) for helping.  The takeaway is: the only place that used launch cards go after a rocket is flown is the blue Used Launch Card box.

The weather was beautiful for a rocket launch, although a bit warm, with gentle breezes out of the south/southwest and mainly blue skies with a few clouds.  Rocket weather doesn’t get much better than this in Michigan!  Impulse Buys was present as a vendor; we always appreciate Jay Calvert adding value to our launch events.

Motor Usage Summary:

39 motors, 38 flights, 18 registered flyers.  We think these above-average numbers were partly due to pent-up demand; this was Team-1’s first launch event since November of 2019, and many other launches have still not resumed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Social distancing and facecover wearing methods were in effect, particularly in the confines of the airport office building where Registration was set up.  This launch event’s name tag featured a photo of a Smoky Sam launch plume and exhaust trail taken at last November’s launch.

Two candidate launch sites were mowed on the preceding Thursday for launching, one of the west edge of the north-south runway, and another near the X intersection of the other two runways.  The site on the edge of the north-south runway was chosen for this event.

This was the Altus Metrum TeleLaunch system’s third use, and again it worked flawlessly.  We used the 2020 TRA Prefecture Improvement Plan funds to purchase a 2^nd TeleFire Eight unit, and it was employed at the D-Cell.  This means that our launch operations are now fully wireless – no more orange cables on the ground to trip on! 

Certifications:

Several attempts at certification were made:

Scott Loranger certified Level 1 using a LOC Iris on an H170 Metalstorm sparky motor.  We raked combustibles away from the launch pad, and wet the area down with Tibbif firefighting equipment.  Scott, welcome to high power!

Frank Peeters certified Level 1 with an Apogee Rockets Zephyr using an H180 White Lightning motor.  Frank, welcome to high power!

Nathan Pine certified Level 1 flying an Apogee Rockets Enceladus named Fingers Crossed on an H550 Super Thunder.  Jolly Logic deployed the main chute at 500 feet.  The H550 produces a peak thrust of 144 pounds; this rocket scooted off the pad!  Nate, welcome to high power!

Frank Thompson certified Level 1 with his Estes Mega Der Red Max on an H115 Metalstorm, with Jolly Logic deploying the parachute at 400 feet.  Frank, welcome to high power!

Chuck McNeice was a frequent flyer!  His LOC/Precision Mystic Buzz flew on a sorbitol I300 motor, and the split fins did indeed make a pronounced buzzing noise on the way up to 1831 feet.  Max speed 310 MPH, peak acceleration 14.7 G.  His MAC Performance Scorpion on a sorbitol H125 flew to 1956 feet and deployed its chute at 400 feet.  And his PML Smokin Sugar flew on a sorbitol H125 to 1562 feet, 252 MPH, 12.2 G.  Just for fun, Chuck flew a fourth time off the D cell with Miss-N-Match on a D12-5.  After the launch, Chuck provided this link for photographs he took:  https://mega.nz/folder/BEpkyaxK#qGyWD4iJg3HTqMhlYEIz9w.  Chuck, thanks for all the post-launch data!

Another heartwarming Trackimo success story:  Vice Prefect Jeremy Smith flew his Wildman Darkstar on the biggest motor of the day, a CTI J410 Red Lightning.  Instead of dual-deploying at 500 feet as intended, the chute was ejected near apogee, and she landed off-airport near Dodge Road.  The onboard Trackimo GPS tracker allowed for rapid location and recovery of the rocket undamaged. 

Honoring our new web site:  Secretary/Treasurer Bob Schultz flew a blue 3D-printed rocket made by Jeremy Smith named Awesome New Web Site.  The D12-5 took her to an estimated 800 feet, and she landed in good shape about 300 feet to the north of the D cell. 

Justin Stotter flew his brand-new beautifully finished scratch-built Black Brant XI on an H148 staging to a G57, pulling about 11 Gs on its way to 2571 feet.  A cool onboard video is available at https://youtu.be/Wv4JYFY-hX4.

As always, many thanks to those who helped set up and take down ground equipment. 

Flight outcome stories are always welcome, just respond to this Discussion Forum entry and share with your teammates.   

We look forward to our next launch event on July 18th, see you then! 

Respectfully submitted,

Bob

zxcv