Washington High Power Rocketry
Launch Reports
MAY 25-27, 2002
FIRE IN THE SKY LIGHTS IT UP!
BSD High Power Rocketry Fire in the Sky 2002 resulted in a three day rocket-launching marathon full of sun, fun, and AP on the run! Ursula Gilkey was on hand with her mobile All Hobbies tent all three days (even Greg Wilson showed up-oh yeah!) and Pacific Northwest Concessions was present with their famous slurpie machines (it wouldn’t be a Fire in the Sky without the slurpies). As a special treat local Washington High Power member Randy Bishop brought along his country western band “Trespasser” and they played excellent music Saturday night after the range was closed for over a three-hour show, live aboard a semi flatbed truck stage. Everyone enjoyed the show as well as the PA system Randy provided for use during the entire launch. As rockets went up and down into the agricultural fields throughout the launch rockets got lost. However, Scott Binders neighbor flew in on a custom built helicopter and was able to hover over the recovery areas locating over a dozen rockets for flyers who were happy to get their rocket projects back. This added a new twist to the term “helicopter recovery”. There was also a NAR Sanction local contest going on during the event. And all of the scaled BSD Thors from WHIP’s project page made an appearance too. All of these Thors were finished, decaled, and displayed during the event (see our project page). Flyers came from all over the Pacific Northwest, including folks from Western and Eastern Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and as far a way as Arizona. Well let’s get on with the actual launch report like who flew what…
Most remembered was the persistence of Bill Clugston and Andrew MacMillen as they worked and worked to get a hydrid rocket into the sky on Saturday. These flights stirred up a lot of interest by many of the flyers present. In the course of leaky nitrous equipment and a number of scratched attempts Bill and Andrew’s persistence paid off. Andrew put up two Hypertek I205 motors in two separate flights his RDS Thunderbolt (both were successful flights) and he also flew a RATT H70 (in his Nebulizer rocket) and a RATT K240 hydrid in a modified BSD Thor. The Thor flight was most expressive (see photos of it on our photo page). Bill Clugston also put up a RATT H70 in two separate flights in his LOC Graduator (perfect flights Bill!) and Bill was very successful flying his modified BSD Horizon on a Hypertek I205. Bill also flew a few AP motors and Andrew even put up his downscaled 10.5mm Thor (see this little guy on our Thor project page).
Andrew's
daughter, Kate Lehman, flew here scratch Hydra and a LOC Legacy on a
F23. Bill’s
children Kaitlyn and James also got into the rocket fever flying six rockets
during the three-day event.
Kent Newman put up a number of impressive flight but most memorable was his scratch built “Doorknob” on a K700 with two outboard G40’s and a project flight in Scott Binder’s 5.5” BSD Horizon using a K400 motor. Can you say Kosden motors rock??? Kent’s son, Erich also had two impressive flights in his Aerotech IQSY Tomahawk on F22 and F40 motors.
Randy, Becca, and Steve Hall went crazy put’em up at Fire in the Sky. Together they logged 20 flights. Most memorable was Randy’s Fat Cat Ringleader on a F62T motor and Steve’s LOC Norad on a I-366. Steve certified Level 1 on his LOC Norad Pro with a H73J motor and Randy certified Level 1 on a BSD Thug on a H210R motor. Congratulations guys!
Dave, Beth, and David Woodard also had a number of flights, including a BSD Horizon 54 on a H238T and an Estes Orbital Transporter (wow!) on a C5-3. Dave also certified Level 2 successfully with his BSD Horizon on a J570W motor. Congratulations out to Dave!
Hard core rocket maniac Dave Bradley had an amazing number of flights for one person putting up 14 flights during the weekend event. Dave flew motor impulses from 1/2A all the way up to a J350 during the launch.
Jim and Chris Pommert entered the NAR sanction contest and both took 1st place in their respective divisions (C and A). Jim won a BSD Intrepid kit and Chris took home a CD player as an extra bonus to the contest. The Pommert’s made a healthy 16 flights during the event flying an array of C, F, G, H, and I impulse motors.
Keith Stormo from Moscow Idaho took 2nd place in the NAR Sanction contest in C Division. Unfortunately the same rocket he used to complete a successful egg loft duration on a G motor broke up when Keith attempted a Level 2 certification on a J350W. In-flight fluttering occurred on one of the fins on his BSD Sprint and the fin ripped away in flight. Keith wasn’t bothered by this and were sure he’ll be back (since he won a Diablo kit from the contest...wink..wink…right Keith?).
And speaking of the contest Ashley Christenson took 2nd place in the NAR contest in the A Division (she also took home a CD player). In addition to the contest Ashley made a NAR record flight with her BSD Sprint with a G impulse Dual Egg loft duration in her age Division. Congratulations Ashley!!! Her Dad, Craig Christenson also had an impressive flight with his BSD Intrepid. This was a two-stage flight with a J350 in the booster and a J570 in the sustainer. Both motors lit and both sections of the rocket were successfully recovered by electronic deployment. The flight profile curve shown on our photo page shows approximately where both motors lit in fight and the maximum altitude of the sustainer recorded at 7,910 feet AGL.
Jack Anderson took third place in the NAR contest by flying only one rocket entry. His Diablo won the drag race beating Jim Pommert winning him a Night Hawk night light starter kit (thanks to BSD for providing the Division C prizes!). Jack had a number of impressive flights including his Scatch built ¾ scale AMRAAM on a K550 and a LOC Minnie Magg on a I-435. Jack also made a two-stage attempt but unfortunately the G-Wiz he used to perform airstart and deployment of his Rocketdyne Orion failed and the rocket suffered some damage. Jack shrugged it off as a learning experience and pledged to repair the Orion for a future flight.
Idahoan, Dave Emery graced the launch with his presence and gave quite ashow with his LOC 7.5 inch V2. He flew the V2 on three separate occasions using a H210R, I-435T and H180 motors. Dave also flew his BSD Iris on an I284W motor and his PML Endeaver and PML Patriot on I200 and I218R motors.
Steve and Melissa Thatcher also attended the launch making eight flights for two out of the three launch days they attended. Melissa flew most of these but Steve was most remembered by his “Hairy Potter” tee shirt (a bear holding a potted flower plant). Thanks Steve for all the LCOing you did for the event!
Bob Yanecek flews some great flights using his tower launcher. Heaven knows how he tracks his rockets coming out of the tower. You will see Bob following his rockets trajectory with binoculars with his back lying on the ground. How does he do it?
“Buck” Buckles had a bunch of flights too. Buck made 11 flights with impulse from D to I., including his scratch built “Miss Fire” on a H242T motor and his scratch built “Cloud Buster” rocket on an I300T reload.
Larry Morgan (call him Mr. Thor) had ten flights during the event including one on his Baby Thor with a C6-7 and another on his BSD 4” Thor with an I300. Larry also displayed his 6” Thor he built for his Level 3 project. (it’s getting ridiculous to try and remember the diameters of all these Thors!!!).
Father and son combination Dave and Gabe Deupree (love that Beatle sweat shirt Dave!) were back this time too flying a total of eight rockets G through J impulse. And Mike Harris brought a cool looking Flintstone type of graphic rocket (a 7.5 inch LOC) he appropriately called “Yabba-Da-Ba-Doo” flying it on a I357T (Mike had a couple of other flights too).
Rob Clemet made five flights during the launch including his Public Enemy Rocket he appropriately called “Watch out Bin Laden” flying on a I-161. Rob teamed up with Tom Van Etten flying their PML “Rotweiller” (a PML 7.5" Bull Dog) on a K550. Tom Van Etten also made three flights using a H97J in a LOC Hitech and a J350 in a scratch J-Rock.
Team Eiternick (Paul and Patti) were at the field all three days. Paul flew his BSD Apache on an H242for a most expressive flight and Patti flew her BSD Diablo on a G35. Together they logged 12 flights during the launch.
Team Layton (Iain and Chuck) made a number of flights too. Chuck’s “Bruce the Dog” (named after Scott Binder’s Labrador) flew to about 8,000 feet on a I195J . Chuck also flew his “Flobbergoshghendoodle” (is that safe to say in the presence of children?) on a J420R and together team Layton logged 12 flights also.
Team Saunder (David and Doug) flew 11 flights during the launch including a PML Calisto on a H123W and a PML AMRAAM 2 on a G80T (what no BSD rockets?-Make a note of this Scott!! hehe).
Team Beland (Matt and Keri) flew five flights. Keri Beland made a Level 1 certification attempt on a BSD Diablo (this was the Diablo with the crazy purple cow motif) using a H180. Unfortunately during her first flight the chute tangled and the certification attempt was not successful. Keri shrugged it off and loaded another H-180 again in the purple cow Diablo and the flight was successful. Congratulations!!! Keri proves it that if at first you don’t succeed, go fly a purple cow. Matt also certified but Level 2 style with his BSD Horizon on a J420 redline motor. And Congratulations to you Matt! (these guys also got into drag racing PML IO’s with Dave Bradly..hehe; Matt stated that "hey, my Io might have lawn darted into the wheat - but I recovered it intact!").
Team Edwards (Blaid and Tim) made five flights during the launch including Tim’s BSD 38 Special on an I211W motor and several model rockets on other various impulses.
John Hawkins and Steve Cutonilli also made some impressive flights including Johns RSD Quasar on a K700W and Steve’s PML Sudden Rush on an I285R. John also put up his Vulcanite twice on a I357T and his brother Chuck Brewster did a Level 1 certification on a 3 inch Diablo with a H128 motor. Congratulations Chuck!!
Randy Bishop put up some heavy stuff too, including a BSD Thor on a I200 (twice!-yes!), and a BSD Horizon on a I218R. Mario Panebianco made five flights as well.
There was excessive model rockets flying at Fire in the Sky too. Andrew Krrause put up 14 flights, Josh Bowers logged 9 flights, Ian Nelson flew 7, followed by Mattew Shute with three.
Mike Anderson made a successful Level 2 certification flight on a BSD Thor with a J570W. Congratulations Mike! Mike also flew his BSD 3” Canadian Sprint (why don’t they just call it a “Canadian Bacon”?) on a H-238T. Les Friend also made a successful Level 2 attempt on his home built “Sugar Daddy” using a J350W motors. Congratulations!!
Paul Nelson also completed a Level 1 certification flight on his NCR Phantom 4000 burning a H220. Welcome to Level 1 Paul!
Scott Binder teamed up with his nephew Jack to fly a BSD Horizon on a H180 and his nephew Jacob with a BSD Horizon with a I211. Scott also teamed up with Chuck Layton, John Hawkins, and Mario Panebianco flying Scott’s 5.5 inch BSD Horizon on a K695 redline.
And finally, there were some equally nice flights by Greg Wilson (Neubaurer Freedom!), Roger Ressmeyer (PML Black Brant X on I122W), Buddy Hope, Nicole and Laura (the Spatchula Twins!), Justine Johnson (we like the Silver Comet), Steve Bloom (we liked your flight later in the day!), Rob and Jim Jopson (PML IO and Phobos dudes), Scott Johnson (38 Special with a I 357-did you find it?), June Stubbs (True Blue it was cool), and Evan Korbuszewski. Wheew…That’s a long flight report!
Completing the three-day launch with a total of 304 flights (120 flights on Saturday, 121 flights on Sunday, and 63 flights on Monday). 97 of the motors burned were high power impulse motors. There were 5 successful Level 1 certification flights and 4 successful Level 2 certification flights. The impulse tally for launch flights for the weekend are as follows (individual cluster and multi-staged motors are each counted separately): Impulse A-18, B-17, C-45, D-26, E-11, F-41 G-60, H-36, I-39, J-15, K-7.
(Note: This launch report is made from a compilation of sources including the flight cards that were filled out during the launch. We work off the flight cards and our memory, which isn’t that great. So if your flight card information isn’t written clearly then we can’t report the fight information clearly. However we encourage you to send us an e-mail if we’ve made any mistakes. We make mistakes too and can't always blame the flight cards! Sooooo......updates and/or corrections for this launch report can be made via e-mail to the WHIP Webmaster by clicking here.)
