2010-02-15T15:59:21Z tag:,2010:/2 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2010, bobble 2010-02-15T15:59:21Z 2010-02-15T15:56:24Z tag:,2010:/2.265 2010-02-15T15:56:24Z

Special thanks to Mark Howe for providing a full set of new(er (OK they have been used)) batteries !! These look like new and are similar to the ones they will be replacing. 2010 NAR section renewal paperwork has been...

bobble absworld@cet.com Special thanks to Mark Howe for providing a full set of new(er (OK they have been used)) batteries !! These look like new and are similar to the ones they will be replacing. 2010 NAR section renewal paperwork has been received and will get mailed back out this week. 2010 FAA waiver filing process is underway. Our first launch of the season is scheduled for Saturday April 17’th (Jeff Halstead = Launch Director). We will also host a CLASS-1 only launch to support Whitworth University’s physics class on Tuesday April 27’th (exact timing TBD). As of Valentines Day, the club trailer remains mired in a pool of gooey slushy mucky mud so it’s a good thing we don’t need it ;-) Stay tuned for a trailer/GSE maintenance event sometime prior to the first launch. This maintenance will only occur if members volunteer to pitch in and help, otherwise we’ll just wing it on launch day. We currently have 17 members in SPARC_2010. President Bob 2010-01-20T15:55:59Z 2010-01-20T15:44:09Z tag:,2010:/2.264 2010-01-20T15:44:09Z

2010 membership is now at 14 and we have 2 definite launch dates identified. Jeff Halstead will serve as launch director on Saturday April 17. Joe Cooney will perform launch director duties for a Halloween themed launch on October 30....

bobble absworld@cet.com 2010 membership is now at 14 and we have 2 definite launch dates identified. Jeff Halstead will serve as launch director on Saturday April 17. Joe Cooney will perform launch director duties for a Halloween themed launch on October 30. Wheatchex remain scheduled for June but the exact date(s) remain uncertain due to the proximity to WAC's Fire in the Sky launch scheduled over Memorial Day weekend. president bob 2010-01-04T14:18:56Z 2010-01-04T13:19:27Z tag:,2010:/2.263 2010-01-04T13:19:27Z

2010 has arrived and SPARC is alive and kicking. Current 2010 membership is at 12. We currently have 3 launches planned....

bobble absworld@cet.com 2010 has arrived and SPARC is alive and kicking. Current 2010 membership is at 12. We currently have 3 launches planned. In April Jeff Halstead will serve as launch director. In June Midway Elementary will on-site for a Friday launch and there is talk of extending it to include Saturday and/or Sunday. In October, Joe Cooney will once again serve as launch director for a Halloween themed launch. Exact dates will be announced soon. Annual membership remains at $20. If interested, just download a membership/waiver form and mail it in or you can always sign up at a launch. President Bob 2009-11-08T21:51:02Z 2009-11-08T21:50:12Z tag:,2009:/2.262 2009-11-08T21:50:12Z

The last launch of the SPARC 2009 season has come and gone…Boooooo. It was pushed a week from the originally planned 10/31 Halloween launch…Booooo. Weather forecast was real sucky….Booooooo. It was windy all day…Booooooo. Did we have a good time...

bobble absworld@cet.com Launch Reports The last launch of the SPARC 2009 season has come and gone…Boooooo. It was pushed a week from the originally planned 10/31 Halloween launch…Booooo. Weather forecast was real sucky….Booooooo. It was windy all day…Booooooo. Did we have a good time anyway? You betcha’!!! While the wind was present all throughout the day, the rain never arrived, so least we were dry. I arrived at the site ~9:15 and setup was extremely easy…especially since it was already done by the time I got there. Joe Cooney (this months’ launch sponsor) arrived earlier than planned and along with Ray (who had spent the night RV camping) had everything ready to go by the time others started arriving. The normal rabble rousers showed up, which included Dave Glass and Marty Weiser, as well as newcomers and a bunch of scouts. I only managed to put up 5 flights, but that was one more than Joe, who had numerous igniter issues throughout the day. First up was my stretched Estes “36 D-Squared”, powered by a cluster of two D12-5’s. This was a departure from my norm of starting with 1/2A motors and progressing up the ladder to larger ones. Boost was fine but the wind caught the 24” chute and took it for a long ride. It was recovered about 10 yards from the cow pen to the northeast…mostly due to the wind dragging the rocket across the newly plowed & planted winter wheat field. I lost a fin…not sure if it happen during boost (it a little wobbly near the top), or during its’ “tour” of the wheat field. Next up was my Estes “Pop-Fly”, a miniature (2’) baseball bat with a ball on top. It flew on a B4-2 with no issues. Third in line was the Sunward “Box Racer”. You’ve all heard of rockets with tubes for fins, well this model has square boxes for fins! It flew on a B6-4 and was recovered close to the pads. Joe chastised my next flight, which was an Estes “Hi-Flier” on an A8-3. Although it was not a true high flier in terms of pure altitude, I believe the height obtained was acceptable for that size motor. Joe really thought I went off the deep end when I pulled out my Estes “Scissors Wing Transport” glider for my last launch of the day. Of the 6 gliders I brought with me I figured this one would have the best chance of working in the windy conditions due to its’ wing design. Alas, the winds were too strong, and coupling that with a poor trim effort on my part since it’s last rebuild, the glide was less than optimal…more like a dive bomber that didn’t pull up in time. No damage was done, so once it’s re-trimmed I’ll try I again. Joe made a huge pot of chile that most fliers and spectators sampled (or in some cases gorged themselves). Joe also performed most of the LCO duties, although Marty and I did take a turn of two while he was away on recovery missions. Taylor, a teen whose been to a few launches this year, started his NARTREK journey, but missed capturing his streamer duration requirement by I believe a scant .61 seconds. Better luck in the spring! We had one large “I” powered bird auger into the southeast of us…the “thud” of impact was heard by all present. Tsolo put a few in the sky, including the first SkidMark motor flown at a SPARC launch…love those motors, but there’s no way they can be used during the Summer months around here… The brothers from Oregon who showed up in their old Plymouth “feather” Duster seemed to have 2 rockets on every rack that was flown…their glider fleet, along with most of mine, was grounded by the weather. I don’t think Ray put up any flights, and neither did PreidentBob who was only on-site for about 1.5 hours. We also had a visit from the newlyweds…Katie & Lou Bragg. The highlight flight of the day hands down was Marty’s Halloween themed “Jack O’Cooney”. Which looked like a squatting skeleton with a Pumpkin head. Check out the pictures on the NWR site. With a head full of candy that was dispersed to the remaining crowd when the chute deployed, it was truly a work of art. Teardown started ~2:20PM and we were all on our way by 2:50. See ya next year!!! Regards, Mark W. Howe (509-981-5200) 2009-11-08T14:07:58Z 2009-11-08T14:15:37Z tag:,2009:/2.261 2009-11-08T14:15:37Z

We held SPARC's last scheduled launch of the year today under reasonable conditions. Joe Cooney was our launch director. One of Joe's favorite holidays is Halloween and he was very happy to have signed up lead the launch on Halloween....

bobble absworld@cet.com Launch Reports We held SPARC's last scheduled launch of the year today under reasonable conditions. Joe Cooney was our launch director. One of Joe's favorite holidays is Halloween and he was very happy to have signed up lead the launch on Halloween. Unfortunately, some things came up and the launch had to be postponed until Nov. 7. When I heard about this I hunted down Joe's long lost evil twin brother Jack O'Cooney and talked him into coming to our launch to try to make Joe feel better. Jack and Joe finally met this afternoon and I have posted three pictures to the NW Rocketry Image Gallery. http://northwestrocketry.com/uploads/Jack_and_Joe.jpg http://northwestrocketry.com/uploads/Jack_on_the_pad.jpg http://northwestrocketry.com/uploads/Jack_in_flight.jpg The fight was good, but could have used an even shorter delay that the XS that I used in the I284. He broke a leg during landing which is what I was afraid might happen - easily repaired. I had a great time building Jack and most days was wondering if it was legal to have that much fun. Marty 2009-11-08T14:02:19Z 2009-11-08T14:01:32Z tag:,2009:/2.260 2009-11-08T14:01:32Z

Final Launch has concluded for 2009 and despite a bad weather forecast, the early morning hours were clear skies and winds to 10 knots. Set up began on a whim at around 0800 hrs and Ray & I were mostly...

bobble absworld@cet.com Launch Reports Final Launch has concluded for 2009 and despite a bad weather forecast, the early morning hours were clear skies and winds to 10 knots. Set up began on a whim at around 0800 hrs and Ray & I were mostly finished when the first cars started to show by 0845. All together we had 18 fliers accounting for 55 flights. There were also numerous spectators and a local Boy Scout Troop on hand. Actually that was a lot more people than I expected based on weather reports. I got the launch started with my Fly it before You can Buy it, clone of the Estes Super Neon XL, named “Bright Side of the Road”. It flew nicely on an E9-6. Due to technical difficulties beyond my control, I was limited in the number of flights I had. I tried to get my Mean Machine clone, “The Pride of Cucamonga” flying on an F39-6, but all I got was no go. Four times I tried and four times I failed, Marty helped me out with an Igniter and the 5th time she climbed high in the air. Longer walk than it should have been, since I walked by it and spent 35 minutes looking for it further out than it was. But it was recovered. My second flight wound up being my CC Express clone named, “CC Rider”, broken fin on the booster taped in place, flew nicely on C11-0 to C11-7, thanks to Brandon for Recovering it for me. My forth and final flight, yes final flight was my Lil' Alien Space Probe named, “Born Cross Eyed”. So much for flying I think the winds got the best of me and I just didn’t want to walk. Actually it might have been the two bowls of chili that slowed me down, I am not sure. Mark Howe finally got the best of me, although I had to sponsor an “I motor” flight as the owners cert lapsed I don’t take credit for it, actually the flight was nice, but the recovery was swift and fast and straight down. No chute! So Mark, with your paltry five flights I will give you all winter to bask in the glow that once again you are the “King of the Launch Pad” and on November 7, 2009 you out flew me. One of Boy Scouts, Darien K. had one of the nicest Big Betty’s I have seen, painted Gold it really shown both times it was flown. Tyler P brought out one of my favorite rockets, the Estes Storm Caster. He flew it three times the last being on an E15-7. It hopped several times while trying to come up to pressure and then it was off to the races. Dave and his brother Doug amassed 11 flights between them accounting for the last rack of the day. Sorry Mark, but Dave notched six flights so although you beat me fair and square; you came up just short on the most flown. I am not sure you can get credit for flying the Estes Hi-Flier aptly named “Can’t Come Down” on an A8-3. That really should be the “not quite so hi-flier” or maybe I just barely cleared the rod and should land really close to it. Tsolo threw a few in the air and if my memory is correct he used the first “Skid Mark” motor at a SPARC launch. I was out recovering my rocket and missed it. The highlight of the Launch has to go to Marty for his Halloween Themed rocket he named Jack O’Cooney. I am not sure, but I didn’t really see any family resemblance to the Cooney clan. A little know fact in the old country my name would have actually been O’Cooney. Marty’s skeleton creation was sent aloft on an I-284 complete with Red Hot candies in the Pumpkin Head. He flew nicely for the first half of the flight and than flipped in the air before gravity took over. The 4 second delay punched the 6 foot 12 inch chute out halfway to the ground. Perfect landing was followed by Marty chasing old Jack across the field as the chute was billowing in the wind. Marty thanks for the laughs that was certainly one of the best launches I have seen. Well that wraps up our final launch, thanks for all those who helped both set up and tear down. I hope to see all of you next year. Oh, and Bob sign me up for the October 30, 2010 launch date. I will definitely finish my Halloween rocket by then. Heck it has only been three years in the making and I only have two fillets left and paint. That shouldn’t be a problem. Joe Cooney, Jack O’Cooney’s normal twin brother 2009-11-08T14:12:41Z 2009-11-08T00:24:00Z tag:,2009:/2.259 2009-11-08T00:24:00Z

Our last launch of the season is now complete. Stay tuned for details on next years launch schedule. Thanks to all annual members for your support. Special KUDOS to our launch directors this year. Joe Cooney has once again stepped...

bobble absworld@cet.com Our last launch of the season is now complete. Stay tuned for details on next years launch schedule. Thanks to all annual members for your support. Special KUDOS to our launch directors this year. Joe Cooney has once again stepped up to be Halloween launch director for November 30, 2010. As before, any current member in good standing who wishes to serve as Launch director on the date(s) of your preference will have their 2010 dues waived. This offer ends 12/31/09. president bob 2009-11-07T14:38:54Z 2009-11-07T14:37:11Z tag:,2009:/2.258 2009-11-07T14:37:11Z

We are currently GO for our final launch of the season today Saturday November 7'th with Joe Cooney as Launch director. The latest forecast is much better than 24 hours ago with dry but breezy conditions expected. Set-up is scheduled...

bobble absworld@cet.com We are currently GO for our final launch of the season today Saturday November 7'th with Joe Cooney as Launch director. The latest forecast is much better than 24 hours ago with dry but breezy conditions expected. Set-up is scheduled for 0900. Battery charging sequence is complete. Waiver has been called in. Field has been mowed. Porta potty has been ordered. Since the original concept for this launch was a halloween theme, we will continue in that vein so please bring out any/all themed projects you might have. president bob 2009-10-27T15:25:34Z 2009-10-27T15:33:59Z tag:,2009:/2.257 2009-10-27T15:33:59Z

We are finally creeping up on our next and final launch of the season. Joe Cooney will be launch director for a 1-day launch on Saturday November 7'th. Note, we will be checking for current NAR/TRA/CAR membership cards to verify...

bobble absworld@cet.com We are finally creeping up on our next and final launch of the season. Joe Cooney will be launch director for a 1-day launch on Saturday November 7'th. Note, we will be checking for current NAR/TRA/CAR membership cards to verify proper high power certifications. The wheat stubble around the area where we will launch has been mowed. The 'rest' of the field has been plowed and planted so please be concientious when walking out to recover. president bob 2009-10-06T23:14:57Z 2009-08-30T19:40:09Z tag:,2009:/2.256 2009-08-30T19:40:09Z

Our final launch of the season has been slipped a week. It will now be on Saturday November 7'th....

bobble absworld@cet.com Announcements Our final launch of the season has been slipped a week. It will now be on Saturday November 7'th. 2009-06-09T06:51:35Z 2009-06-09T13:50:45Z tag:,2009:/2.255 2009-06-09T13:50:45Z

Wheatchex 2009, The weekend started out with great weather, Midway Elementary showed up around 1000 and things got started shortly afterwards. While the kids were gathering around I got things started with "Brightside of the Road", and Estes Fly it...

bobble absworld@cet.com Launch Reports Wheatchex 2009, The weekend started out with great weather, Midway Elementary showed up around 1000 and things got started shortly afterwards. While the kids were gathering around I got things started with "Brightside of the Road", and Estes Fly it before you can buy it, Pre-Clone. Flew nicely on an E9-6 and I managed to get 10 flights in the first day. I ended our time with the Midway kids by flying "Antwerp's Placebo" a scratch built plunger rocket on another E9. I ended the day flying my E9 modified Baby Bertha named "A to E Flat Jam". All in all a great day with weather being much gooder than last year. Saturday was Windy, Windy and Windy all day, pretty much left me flying not much at all. A third of my flights were on 13mm birds and I even managed to put one of those over the fence. Seven of my flights were small wire spools either 13mm or 24mm. I managed to completly kill the 24mm one by installing a streamer for the flight. A few flights later it was in pieces. I will definately rebuild these motor wasters as they can be some kinda fun. My big flight of the day was an Aerotech Sumo named, "Orange Tango Jam" I flew it on a G71-4. The delay was more like a two but it recovered safe enough. Dinner Saturday night was a great Potluck, filled with all kinds of food and fellowship. With night drawing near I put my Mean Machine Clone, "The Pride of Cucamonga" up on a pair of flights D12 & C11. The C-11 was a little low and under powered but it recovered nicely. Sunday was Windy but flyable, many flyers putting up a variety rockets on many different motors. There were 8 high powered flights and 15 additional mid power flights as well as a good mix of Models flying all day. I got 11 more flights in on Sunday while spending a few hours walking around looking for lost rockets. I flew the "The Pride of Cucamonga" twice once on an F39 and again on an E28. Both excellent flights with chutes at the top. My big flight of Sunday was my Estes Fatboy Clone, "Heaven Help the Fool" on a G71-10. Luckily I was watching as it was fired out of sequence since the leads were a little jumbled on the mid pads. Good boost and nice recovery just south of the field. Near the end of the flying day the Launch controller started acting up and that pretty much grounded the flying around 1500hrs for the weekend. Things were wrapped up and flight cards counted, over 100 flyers, flew 265 flights on some 300 motors. Looking forward to seeing everybody on Halloween for our last launch of the season. Joe 2009-06-07T18:50:09Z 2009-06-08T01:48:02Z tag:,2009:/2.254 2009-06-08T01:48:02Z

A very interesting 3 days of Wheatchex has concluded. Stack of flight cards was impressive at the least. I'm sure there are several lost rockets but the MOST important one is mine ;-) Missing one 24mm blue/yellow/orange + long streamer...

bobble absworld@cet.com A very interesting 3 days of Wheatchex has concluded. Stack of flight cards was impressive at the least. I'm sure there are several lost rockets but the MOST important one is mine ;-) Missing one 24mm blue/yellow/orange + long streamer rocket. If you were there, please feel free to send in a launch report. presibobdent 2009-06-05T05:30:36Z 2009-06-05T13:14:56Z tag:,2009:/2.253 2009-06-05T13:14:56Z

All systems GO for WHEATCHEX this weekend featuring Midway Elementary on Friday. Battery charging sequence is complete. Porta potty is on site. Fresh wheat is about a foot tall so bring beepers if you've got em. Overnight camping is welcome....

bobble absworld@cet.com Announcements All systems GO for WHEATCHEX this weekend featuring Midway Elementary on Friday. Battery charging sequence is complete. Porta potty is on site. Fresh wheat is about a foot tall so bring beepers if you've got em. Overnight camping is welcome. Be prepared for some potentially stormy weather. Tear down on Sunday whenever those in attendance have had enough. During the time Midway is on-site (approx 80 students + faculty + parents between 1000 and 1500), we will be running the range with the objective of ensuring all students get their rockets in the air. Specific range policies are listed below. Hopefully, the range will be set up and ready to go by 0930. While Midway is on-site, they will provide LCO service and control both A and B pads with the goal of loading and launching as fast and safe as practical. During this timeframe, the D pads will be available to the general public with all sizes of launch rod/rail/tower available for the smallest rockets up through low high power birds. We'll attempt to utilize just the D pads as that will provide additional safety distance allowing folks to prep rockets on the D pads simultaneously with Midway launching from A and B pads. We’ll have a dedicated safety observer associated with the D pads so folks can focus on their projects yet still be kept aware of any potential issues. Should there be enough fliers to warrant the C pads, they can also be incorporated. As with a normal launch, everyone must fill out a flight card and post it in the queue for the LCO who will launch all rockets in the queue (A – D) during the next available launch sequence. After Midway departs, the range will remain open and revert to ‘normal’ flight operation till 1900 or so). Marty Weiser and myself will be your launch directors. president bob 2009-05-11T06:19:50Z 2009-05-11T13:17:32Z tag:,2009:/2.251 2009-05-11T13:17:32Z

This is Teresa Luders. Our son Brian invited two of his friends to the event and it was a huge success. As is typical for teenage boys, we didn't see enough KATOs but David manage to burn a hole in...

bobble absworld@cet.com Launch Reports This is Teresa Luders. Our son Brian invited two of his friends to the event and it was a huge success. As is typical for teenage boys, we didn't see enough KATOs but David manage to burn a hole in one of the pads when his rocket ignited, flamed, then failed to take off. Very impressive! It was so nice to attend this launch as we haven't had the time for quite awhile due to scout obligations. Weather and launches were great. Hope to do this again! Thanks again for such a terrific Mother's Day event! Regards, Teresa L. 2009-05-11T06:14:55Z 2009-05-11T13:13:41Z tag:,2009:/2.250 2009-05-11T13:13:41Z

Weather was perfect both days, even if I spent most of Saturday watching my daughter play soccer. I got there late Saturday sometime around four in the afternoon. Judging form the flight card stack, Saturday was extremely busy....

bobble absworld@cet.com Launch Reports Weather was perfect both days, even if I spent most of Saturday watching my daughter play soccer. I got there late Saturday sometime around four in the afternoon. Judging form the flight card stack, Saturday was extremely busy. Most of the fliers had already packed up and left so the flightline was rather empty. I even scored a good parking area close to the pads (cuts down on walking). I pulled out the old reliable Pride of Cucamonga, my Mean Machine Clone, readied it for my first launch. I had some catching up to do with stories abound of a father and son who put up 25 flights earlier in the day. Congrats to Vince & Sean for wearing out the equipment. They flew some pretty cool rockets too, I would have liked to seen their Pemberton Kraken. I only managed to get 17 rockets into the air on Saturday, flying cut short for a great Lasagna dinner, courtesy of Ann Y. My last few flights were recovered by a brother sister who lived near by. There dad showed up in a little 4 wheeler and gave me a ride back to the launch area. They returned the Sunday and helped Prep and Launch two more of my flights. It is always nice to talk to the neighbors who live around the field and share rocketry with young kids. Food was great, thanks again Ann for preparing the Lasagna. After dinner I launched the last of my two flights, both small spool rockets. One on an A10 the other on a D12, everybody settled in around the fire by Bob. I had to leave around 9 to pick up my Dog Bandit, (He hates Rockets, but loves running the field), by the time I got back, everyone had called it a night. Coyotes hollered all night long and kept Bandit whimpering for a shot at going outside. Sunday morning I awoke around 7:30 and took Bandit for a walk and then took him home so I would not have to deal with him during the launch. With more great weather and practically no wind to speak of I pulled out an old Estes Scissor Wing Transport and let her rip on a B6-4, landed safely after a nice glide on the far side of the flightline. I also broke out my Storm Caster and let that go on an E9-8. Nice high flight with a short recovery. Next was Bad Bertha on an E9-8, nearly lost sight of it, but again recovery was close by. I had made repairs to my CC Express during the night (drilled hole in booster and glued fin back on) and decided to fly it again to see if I would have better luck. Worked as advertised so I figured a D12-0 to E9-8 should be good. I fell short of the 60 rockets I prepped for flight but still managed a full two days of flying. All in all there were 30 fliers accounting for 140 flights (98 on Saturday & 42 on Sunday), total impulse was about 5050ns (just shy of a small “M”). Here is the breakdown: Most Flights -- Joe Cooney, 32 Most Flights in one day -- Vince & Sean, 24 Most Flights by Kit -- Estes Big Daddy, 8 Most Flights by One Rocket -- Der Red Max (Terry Moore-Read and his Daughter Brianna & Son Jon) accounted for 6 flights Highest Impulse -- Ray Stoner “I284” Most Impulse -- Marty Weiser 1068ns, Joe Cooney 1028ns & Ray Stoner 621ns There were 8 Cluster Flights -- 3 two motor clusters, 3 three motor clusters, and 2 four motor cluster flights. There were 10 two stage flights, some of them were CHAD staged. 27 different motors used this weekend: 15 A’s A10 -- 4 A3 -- 1 A6 -- 2 A8 -- 8 21 B’s B4 -- 6 B6 -- 15 48 C’s C6 -- 42 C11 -- 6 40 D’s D12 -- 40 22 E’s E9 -- 20 E18 -- 2 8 F’s F12-- 1 F23 -- 2 F27 -- 3 F40 -- 1 F50 -- 1 4 G’s G38 G40 G71 G80 4 H’s H97 H220 H238 H242 3 I’s I195 I284 I366