Date: June 19, 1999

Location: Bear Creek Lake Park, Denver CO

Club: CRASH

You just can't ask for a much better day for flying -- warm and windless. The winds picked up later in the afternoon, but for the first few hours, the weather was perfect.

Arrived a little after ten and started prepping a G54 for the Norad and a G64 for the Goblin. When they were done, I popped an F20-4 into the Initiator for my first flight of the day. Those F20s are a lot louder and smokier than I remember. It also boosted the Initiator a lot higher than I recalled! After watching the Initiator streak to a good thousand feet or so and almost out of sight, I suddenly doubted whether I should put anything larger than an F in it. I recovered the Initiator undamaged about 200' from the launch site. Neat rocket, that Initiator. I might have "outgrown" it in size and power, but you just can't beat it for solid flying and prepping ease!

Next was the Norad on a G54-S for it's maiden flight, as well as my first use of the 29/100 case. The G54 was nice and loud, a surprising amount of power out of that little case! I don't know how high the Norad went; I would guess about 1000 ft. or so. Ejection was right on time, and she landed in the grass under her pink 'chute. I lost sight of where she landed, and spent a few minutes wandering around til I finally found her. No damage, just a few scrapes on the primer. Nice little rocket! Next time, I might actually have the painting finished, instead of just an ugly gray primer job...

For my next flight(s) I put both Goblins on the pad -- the original-sized clone and the upscale. They looked awfully cool sitting next to each other! I was too chicken to put a D in the little Goblin, so I used a C6-5 (with adapter) for her first flight. Nice flight, ejection well-timed, and she fluttered down on her split streamer. I tracked her to where she landed in the grass so I could find her later. Next, it was time for the big Goblin. For her third flight I used a G64-7. Nice, fast, loud boost to 1200' or so, with ejection about 2 or 3 seconds past apogee. She was aimed nearly straight down at ejection, and it was apparent right away that something was wrong. She was headed in nose-first with the 'chute flapping behind it. It didn't look good... I was hoping that the partially-opened 'chute would slow her down enough to avoid total disaster. But she made a nice "thud" when she hit the ground. Of course, she had to aim for the only paved road for hundreds of yards around! When I got to her, I saw that one of the shroud lines had tangled around one of the fins, and about 6" of the b.t. was crumpled. Not pretty, but she can be repaired. Next time, I think I'll try a 4-sec delay! Thanks to the nice couple who retrieved my little Goblin and brought her back to me -- sorry I didn't catch your names.

My Estes Patriot clone was next with a C6-5 for her fourth flight. Steady, stable flight, with ejection right on time. I got smart this time and put a spill hole in the 'chute, and she landed just at the bottom of the hill this time (instead of almost in the lake!)

I wanted to fly my Big Daddy 'cuz I bought an E15-7 for him, but I was all out of wadding! So I decided to try the Initiator [check out the dramatic sky in this one...] again, this time with a G35-7. I was out of Crapperheads long enough to fit the G, so I used a LazerFire. She flew nearly out of sight to a guesstimated 2000' altitude, and I lost her until ejection. I took my eyes away from her long enough to lose her again, and I completely lost sight of her. Thankfully, Kathy (club president Todd William's wife) tracked her all the way down, and we walked out together to search for her. We found her on the side of the hill, about a quarter-mile from the launch site. If it weren't for Kathy, I never would've seen my Initiator again. Thanks a bunch, Kathy!

Six flights in one day -- not bad for me, when you consider how much time it takes to load those RMS casings and clean them up afterwards. I also had relatively good success with the Crapperheads this time. I had a little trouble getting the Norad to go, but that was it. Even the Lazerfire worked! Maybe it's just me, but I seem to have better luck with the Crapperheads in the reloads, and the Lazerfires in the single-use motors.

As usual, I keep meeting more people and making more friends at each launch. Hello to Martin, Dave, and Davey! What a great bunch this CRASH group is! Hopefully, I'll make it out to Hartsel this Saturday for my first launch with Tripoli Colorado. I'll let you know how that goes...

Motor Count: 1/2A - 2, A - 3, B - 1, C - 6, D - 5, E - 3, F - 6, G - 6, H - 1