Launch Report: November 16, 2003
Pictures from this launch are on the Zia Spacemodelers launch page. Pictures from the static test event are on the Explodo page. We had a special event at the launch, designed to allow us to burn off old uncertified motors in creative ways without flying them in rockets. I spent most of my time running this event so I didn't have much chance to launch anything. I set up one of my Mantis launch pads as the static test firing stand for the event. To make sure the connections were good and what-not, I launched the Antari on an A8-3. The flight was good. For the first static test shot, I took one of my old FSI E60-4 motors that I got from Dan and duct taped it to the launch rod, nozzle up. Then I placed my Gnome (2) directly above it with an A10-3T inside. In theory, the exhaust from the E60 would light the A10 and off the Gnome would go. Well, it turns out that the E60 is an incredibly fast burning motor, and the exhaust came out with such impulse that no one ever saw the Gnome. There was just a loud noise and a plume of exhaust... and no Gnome. With no idea which way to look, no one saw it come down and we had no idea where to look for it. No one happened upon it during the remainder of the launch either. The remainder of the static tests didn't involve rockets, though there were some attempts to pop popcorn and to spray flour around... Once my Mantis had been destroyed by too many catos, I bought an H128W-S from Mark Hamilton and prepped the Nerd Magnet. It flew very well and there were no problems with the recovery system. There was even a kid at the launch with an ATV who drove off and retrieved it for me. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||