Date: May 15, 1999

Location: Bear Creek Lake Park, Denver CO

Club: CRASH

You couldn't ask for a much better day for flying. Sure, it was a little breezy, but I've flown in worse! I got out to Bear Creek Lake Park at about 10 o'clock, and not many folks had showed up yet. I waited around for about a half-hour because I didn't want to commit to prepping any rockets if the equipment didn't show up. Bruce finally showed up with the equipment and got it set up.

My first choice was easy -- my black and red LOC IV [bad pic - too quick with the camera...] that didn't get to fly last time I brought it with me. I got a lot of compliments on it while I was prepping it. For it's second flight I loaded it with another G64-4. The first time Bruce pushed the button it didn't go, because the launch system didn't have enough juice to light the Crapperhead. I started chatting with a friendly fellow named Ed and he volunteered his pad for my LOC IV. Ed's pad had more than enough juice, and she finally went on the second try. She lifted off nice and slow, the G64 impressively loud. Ejection was right on time, and she floated down and landed in the grass on the other side of the creek. She received an appreciative cheer from the crowd. When I retrieved her, I noticed she had cracked a fin on landing, despite my efforts to beef up the fin joints. Oh well, it's very repairable. Besides, it was a great flight, so I can forgive a little damage... After I get her repaired, I'd love to fly her on an H128!

Next was my 4" Goblin upscale. After cleaning out my motor casing, I loaded it with a G33 -- my first Black Jack. I used Ed's pad again, and had no problems getting her off the pad. She lifted off slowly, the Black Jack motor nice and smoky. She tipped a bit upwind after leaving the pad, presumably due to the light breeze and the low takeoff speed. It was a nice, arcing flight to about 1000 ft, with ejection just past apogee. She floated down pretty quickly, the 30" chute just a little too small. I chased after her, and she landed about 20 feet in front of me. Even then, I still heard the slight "thud" she made when she landed, making me wince. I was almost afraid to see how badly it was damaged, but when I picked it up, all it had was a little chip in the edge of the fin. Luckily for the Goblin, I built the fins with tabs that extend all the way to the motor mount. The G33 is a great flight for the Goblin, another crowd-pleaser. I'd like to try her on a G64 now!

Now, is it just me, or do these rockets descend faster in this thin Denver air? Both the LOC IV and the Goblin recovered unscathed when they landed on the hard earth of the dry lake in Vegas, using the same parachutes.

My final flight of the day was my Estes Python on an E15-7. This was the second time I flew it on an E15, and it really screams! It refused to budge on the Crapperhead three times in a row. I finally replaced the Crapperhead with an NC Lazerfire -- which, by the way, did not work when I tried to launch it in March. Go figure... She screamed to about 1500 ft, and I nearly lost her in the clouds. Ejection was right on cue, and I noticed she seemed to be falling a bit faster than normal, the 'chute appearing to be tangled. When I retrieved her, I found that the 'chute had been singed and melted together in a couple of spots, and the shock cord had a few more scorch marks in it. The 'chute is still useable, I'll just have to use more wadding.

There were lots of exciting flights on Saturday; most notably perhaps was Tom Bell's "Royal Flush." This was one of them rockets where you look at it and say, "There's no way it's gonna fly!" It had a plastic toy toilet as a nose cone, and when you pressed a button it made and electronic flushing noise. This is something that only Tom could get away with! Most amazingly of all, it actually flew! Nobody could help laughing the whole time before, during and after its flight. First, the "Mad Cow," and now the "Royal Flush" -- I can't wait to see what Tom comes up with next time!

Thanks to Bruce, Todd, Jim, Ed, Greg, and everyone else from CRASH who helped me out on Saturday. A very friendly and helpful bunch of flyers.

Motor Count: 1/2A - 2, A - 3, B - 1, C - 4, D - 5, E - 3, F - 5, G - 3, H - 1