Date: September 5, 1999

Location: Bear Creek Lake Park, Denver CO

Club: CRASH

Great day for flying, but I was a half-hour late thanks to the slow-pokes at the Burger King I stopped at on the way...

I immediately prepped my Nike Smoke, Big Daddy, Python and Li'l Goblin while chatting with everyone. I hadn't flown the 'Smoke since my first post-BAR flight way back in January. It had been so long since her last flight I decided it was time to put her back into the air. I flew her on another B6-4 this time. Nice, respectably high flight for a B. At ejection, the chute took a while to unfold, but I wasn't too worried because on her first flight the chute got tangled around the fins and she still landed with no damage. None to speak of this time, either.

The Big Daddy was next on a D12-5 for his fourth flight. Nice, slow, low flight (compared to them E15s, anyway...), slightly downrange (towards the East). Ejection was right on time and he drifted back towards the range, landing in the grass right at the edge of the gravel lot. I retrieved him with no damage.

Next was the Python, also on a D12-5. Good, fast, stable boost, good ejection and she floated down on her bright green nylon 'chute. She landed about 50 yds. away, just at the bottom of the slope. I gotta get some more E15s for these two rockets. She still gets a decent flight on the Ds, but the Ds really make me appreciate the Es.

It was starting to get late (about three or four or so) and I had only put in three flights so far. It was very crowded at the launch this time, and you had to wait a couple of racks before you had a clear spot for your own rocket. Anyway, I prepped a G104T for the big Goblin. This would be the second time I've used the 29/100 casing, and the Goblin's first Blue Thunder for her sixth flight. I knew the Blue Thunder would light okay on a Crapperhead, so I didn't waste one of my precious few "Karpinski specials" ;-)

I put both Goblins on the pad together. They just look way cool sitting on the pad next to each other. First was the li'l Goblin on another C6-5 (I still haven't had the nerve to fly her on a D...). Nice flight, and she fluttered down on her red split streamer. I would've chased her, but I wanted to keep my eyes (and camera) on the big Goblin, whose turn was next. Fortunately, she landed in the grass just a few feet away from me.

As expected, the Blue Thunder lit immediately and the Big Goblin leapt off the pad. The G104 didn't have quite as much punch as I'd hoped, and she only flew to about 800 feet or so -- about the same altitude she got on her first flight on an F40. The medium delay was a bit too long, and she was coming in nose first when the chute popped. She was moving pretty good at ejection, and I feared she was going to zipper. But I retrieved her with no new damage. When Steve brought back my li'l Goblin, she had a cracked fin, but that's easily repairable. I guess if I want to fly the Big Goblin on a decent Blue Thunder, I'm gonna hafta try an H238...

YTD Motor Count: 1/2A - 2; A - 3; B - 4; C - 7; D - 8; E - 4; F - 7; G - 9; H - 5