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We are pleased to announce that Bill Robinson has been appointed to the Tripoli Technical Advisor Panel.  This is a major coup for our Prefecture, Tripoli Fort Myers.

The Technical Advisor Panel (TAP) conducts pre-flight review of rockets having high or total impulse in the M, N and O ranges.  In addition, Bill will be able to provide technical assistance and guidance to Tripoli Members desiring to design, construct and fly rockets having a high or total impulse in the M, N and O ranges and Certifying to Level 3.
 
As a TAP member, Bill has been recognized as having appropriate engineering credentials as well as having proven his competency in the design, construction, pre-flight and recovery of high impulse rockets.

Let’s all congratulate Bill on this recognition in our hobby.

 
 
The next High-Power Launch will be Saturday, 3/3/2012 from 10 AM - 4 PM at our LaBelle location.  This will be a Tripoli Research Launch.  All power levels may be flown.  We have a FAA Waiver to 15,000-foot altitude, Research is 75% of that.  Tripoli liability insurance in effect.  Watch for future launch announcements.

For directions to our LaBelle launch site, click here
 
 
The next NAR launch will be Saturday, 3/10/2012 from 10 AM – 4 PM at our Cape Coral location.  The NAR Model Rocket Safety Code will be in effect.  Watch for future launch announcements.

For directions to our Cape Coral launch site, click here
 
 
We had five hearty souls launch rockets last Saturday and a few spectators to boot.  For all the masses that wimped out, you really are missing a lot of fun.  Our model rocket launches are casual, in-town and fun.  As Bill Robinson knows, it can be a fun afternoon just for the rocket chit-chat.  How’s that Estes Omega clone coming along Bill?

Donald B showed up to fly his Rocketarium Mega Vortico with an Aerotech F27 composite motor.  An attempted Drag Race with Marc S was derailed by a "Crapperhead" igniter.  Marc has a nice flight nonetheless.

Danny R came by to talk-up rockets and visit.  We also spied him picking up an order of Rocketarium Model Rocket Kits, so be sure to check out the latests of Marc's oddroc offering at Rockets"R"Us.

Harold S graced us with his presence and wry humor.  He actually flew two rockets and tested the limits of the field by finding the tree line in 2 for 2 recoveries.

We ended the afternoon with more new guests, Finn and Paxton flew their Estes Eliminator on a C11 motor and kept the recovery in the field.  That 24-inch parachute sure is big on a windy day.

We had twelve flights for the day and quit early as the wind gusts were picking up.  We seem to hit all the weather fronts for 2012 launch days.  Let's look forward to a calm winter-day in March for all you others to join us.

See you on the field.
Mike O’Malley
 
 
We are Go for Launch!

It looks like the front pasted last night with a bit of rain.  It should be clear today and breezy.  A NW wind gives us a short field, so watch out for the Rocket Eating Trees.

See you on the field.
Mike O'Malley

For directions to our Cape Coral launch site, click here
 
 
The next NAR launch will be Saturday, 2/11/2012 from 10 AM – 4 PM at our Cape Coral location.  The NAR Model Rocket Safety Code will be in effect.  The weather forecast is iffy with showers and thunderstorms in the morning; otherwise, mostly cloudy with gusty winds from the north and a high temperature of 73 degrees.

Check the website before you drive to the field.  If all is well (dry) then we’ll see you on the field…

Mike O’Malley

For directions to our Cape Coral launch site, click here
 
 
A quick report to the Club, Jimmy and Ben made it official and laid out the big bucks to join the swamp rockets.... I mean Tripoli Ft Myers.
 
It was windy but the high thrust to weight rockets were true, Danny tested a blue mix with three Kn's, they all looked good.
 
Ben was flying like it was his last day on earth. All perfect flights, he caught the power lines on his first flight and was settling in for a day of spectating and then it came loose with no damage.
 He also had a blue recipe from Marc that was a perfect Blue from the nozzle to tip, very nice, I’m going to try it next mix party.
 
Zack brought out his test stand, he and I are going to work through some of the electronic issues but this is going to be really nice when done.
 
Danny flew the Nike solo on an F; really neat up part...... it's good those cups are cheap!
 
We had a few spectators stay around a good part of the day.
 
About 3 pm the winds died down enough to fly my Nike, thanks to Zack and the Twins for help loading the Beast, low and slow to just under 4000 ft.
 
Ben got a launch off as the waiver closed; you could see the chute charge blast go off. Time to end the day.
 
We live to fly another day!
 
Bill Robinson
 
 
_The next High-Power Launch will be Saturday, 2/4/2012 from 10 AM - 4 PM at our LaBelle location.  It's too early to predict weather, but the fire folks continue doing controlled burns, a good sign.

This will be a Tripoli Research Launch.  All power levels may be flown.  We have a FAA Waiver to 15,000-foot altitude, Research is 75% of that.  Tripoli liability insurance in effect.

For directions to our LaBelle launch site, click here
 
 
_We had a great day Saturday, with nine flyers and quite a few spectators.  Cold or hot, it looks like any day is a good day to fly rockets.  We had 32 flights for the day and had a lot of fun.

We had a bit of wind, but not too much trouble.  We’ve been at our field for over a year and have a good sense of where the rockets will go.  Iron Mike has nailed down the ejection delay for his Estes Region-D Tomahawk.  It flies nice on a D12-3 in the wind.  With a bit of weathercocking and modest altitude, the model gives a great flight and easy recovery.  Mike’s Mega Mosquito was a big hit flying slow and long on an E9-4.

We had a new guest Saturday.  Bryan K showed up with his parents for his first flights with our club.  He had some great flights with his Estes Astron Elliptic II, a sleek two-stage model, BT-20, flying on 13-mm motors, A10-0T to A3-4T.  Next, Bryan stepped-up with his Custom Rockets Equinox, a 78-inch long, BT-60 model rocket, which looks like an Estes Mean Machine.  The Range Safety Officer (RSO) was a bit skeptical with the long rocket and gusty winds, but this model was a trooper and flew straight and true on a D12-3.  Bryan finished off with his Estes SnapShot.  The C6 motor is a good choice but the 7-second delay was a bit long.  First flight had a shock cord malfunction and the nose cone camera was recovered in the field.  The second flight was less than nominal, weathercocking over the Youth Center, another shock cord malfunction with a hard landing on the parking lot.  The nose cone was not recovered.  Lesson learned about long-delay motors in windy conditions.

Aly and Bella flew their rockets with their father, Danny R.  It’s great to see the family out for the day, and we always enjoy the booming launch announcements from the girls.  Aly had a great flight with her Purple Patriot and Bella’s Estes Seeker had an excellent flight with a C6-5 motor.  Danny showed up with his new creation, the Nike Solo, an ingenious odd-roc made with red Solo drinking cups.  First flight was a heads-up with an E9-6.  The model is draggy and had a nice slow liftoff and 3-second boost (you gotta love those long burn BP motors).  The 6-second delay was a tad long, with an exciting deployment about 20 feet above the field.  With the 10-foot shock cord, the model made a “bounce” recovery with no damage.  Second flight with an E9-4 was excellent.  We’ll try to get a photo on the website for all those that missed this unique design.  We wonder if there is a new kit in the offing.

Jimmy LaF showed up with his Aerotech Mustang, a mid-power design.  Jimmy flew the Mustang on a D12-5 for a nice low and slow flight.  An on-board video-cam could have a nice shot of our launch field.  Again, we’ll try to upload to the website.

Marc and Max S showed up to test some more new kits and prototypes.  Rocketarium Model Rocket Kits are expanding their line of odd-rocs with some attractive hexagon saucers and some new fan-blade, twirler, saucer-like models.  We’ll have to get the technical name from Marc.  All good flights and Marc even braved the gusty winds for a two-stage saucer launch.  Let’s just say the first-flight was “interesting” albeit safe.  It’s good to see the experts make small mistakes from time to time, just like the rest of us.  Maybe Bryan K could give some pointers about loading two-stage motors with nozzles at the aft-end.  ;-)  Second flight was flawless; even with a bit of weathercocking into the wind, the two-stage flight was nominal.  Marc did quite a bit of product testing with low thrust and high thrust composite motors.  Those little twirler buggers sure make a lot of noise on a composite motor!

It was a good day all-round.  The RSO is getting better about questioning long-delay motors, and all flyers are getting a sense that shorter delays are required in windy conditions.  Let’s hope for fewer cold fronts this winter, but we showed you can still have fun on any launch day.

See you at the next launch.
Mike O’Malley
 
 
_It should be a nice winter-day in Florida for our first model rocket launch of the New Year, Saturday, 1/14/2012 from 10 AM – 4 PM at our Cape Coral location.  The NAR Model Rocket Safety Code will be in effect.

It may be a brisk 55 to 60 degrees in the morning so bring your woolies.  NNE winds at about 10 mph which should be OK as long as Mike uses a shorter ejection delay.  :-)

For directions to our Cape Coral launch site, click here

See you on the field.

Mike O’Malley