Monthly Archives: July 2017
July 2017 Launch Report
What a magnificent day it was today at our "Flames, Smoke & Noise" Spectacular launch! We could not have asked for more perfect conditions with next to no clouds, cool dense air and absolutely no wind until almost lunch time. Conditions were so perfect for flying in fact when we arrived on site to setup there were EIGHT hot air balloons aloft! We’ve not seen that many up before.
There were large numbers of public in attendance with vehicles lining both sides of our access track all the way out to the gate as well as down the side of the road, and with 108 launches for the day, the many members that attended did not fail to entertain!
The Fly it Take it program was once again a big hit with all 50 rockets selling out quick and there was a good spread of motor sizes for the day with 50xA, 5xB, 24xC, 8xD, 1xE, 3xF, 10xG, 2xH, 4xI, 2xJ, 2xK and 1xM. The largest motor for the day was Ari Piirainen’s “Oz Thunder” on an M1500 Mojave Green to 4500 feet and the smallest motor for the day (excluding the 50 FITI) was actually a draw between five members with B6-4’s.
Jim Lawes launched his “Katana 3” on a J357 Blue Streak for a picture-perfect Level 2 certification flight. Well done Jim!
Thanks to Australian Rocketry for kindly donating a “MFR Model Rocket Set” that was raffled off and won by lucky spectators Gia and Hugo, their dad will soon become a rocket scientist helping them assemble it.
Phil and Julie were surprised when they were called up to LCO table and presented a plaque each in appreciation of their continued support to the Queensland Rocketry Society. Congratulations Phil and Julie and thank you!
Thank you to all members for ‘showing up and showing off’ and making todays launch a fantastic success! Also a big thank you to those members that tirelessly worked behind the scenes at the gate, on the barbeque, manning the FITI stand, running the raffle and those that arrived early to help setup and remained behind to help pack up.
See you all next launch!
June 2017 Launch Report
Despite very wet conditions with intermittent rain all morning, we had over a dozen members in attendance along with a small handful of spectators and it turned out to be a good day for rocketry with 31 launches for the morning.
Due to the low cloud cover and healthy winds it was predominately a LPR day with motors being — 9xA, 4xB, 7xC, 4xD, 1xE, 3xG, 2xH and 1xI.
Mark O’Donoghue launched a small fleet of spectacular shaped odd rockets including a conventional flying saucer shape, various cubes, a pyramid, a pentagon, a shuttle cock and even a toilet paper roll.
Mark Johannessen's “Big Daddy” suffered a spectacular motor CATO on an Estes E9-6 before even clearing the rod, luckily the rocket appears undamaged and will fly again!
Smallest motor for the day was Mark O’Donoghue’s “Cubit” on a 1/2 A3-4 and the largest for the day Jim Lawes’ “Katana 3” on an I303 Blue Streak.
Thanks to members who attended and helped setup / pack up despite the weather.
May 2017 Launch Report
What an incredible day it was today at the launch. There was "pea soup" type of fog all night and also in the morning but as I left my home on the south side of Brisbane the fog was lifting fast.
By the time I got to half way to the launch site there was fog again and same at the launch site. We could only launch LPR till about 10am due to it and finally it cleared .
Amazingly also for so called club launch, we had around 100 people present. Two Scout groups came with parents and many other visitors. The quiet launch turned out to be real busy. There were many new members join on the day. 😀
Awesome day of rocketry indeed and LPR launch count must be fairly high.