B&M Rockets Launch Report

October 20, 1998

Pine Bluffs, Wyoming

Launch Conditions:

Temperature: Mid 60's

Winds: Light, 5 mph

Launch Time: 4 p.m.

Weather: No clouds in sight

Rocket	Engine	Result
1. Estes Zinger	A8-3, B6-4, C6-7	Normal flight/recovery
2. Estes Sizzler	C6-7	Almost a Prang
3. Estes Black Brandt	D12-5	Chute Deployment Abnormal, problems
4. LOC Aura	F50-5	Prang, rocket damage
5. Estes ?????	B6-4	Great flight

Launch Summary:

The day of this launch was perfect.   Mid 60's, no clouds, no wind, etc.   We started the day off by shooting an Estes Zinger on an A8-3.   The flight was fine, recovery deployed, and landed 40 meters from the launch pad.   Second flight on a B6-4 yielded a flight that was quite high.  We almost lost sight of the rocket, but recovery deployed, and the rocket landed about 100 meters from the launch pad.   Last flight of this rocket was on a C6-7.   The rocket went so high, we completely lost sight of it, and only by sheer luck, found the rocket when we were leaving the launch site, whew!   Since then, the rocket has been destroyed by a large Saint Bernard that claimed it for his toy!!

The next flight was the Estes Sizzler again.   This flight almost ended up in a disaster when we used a C6-7 engine.   The long delay allowed the rocket to almost crash!   It was going down at a high rate of speed when the chute deployed at 10 meters!   Due to the rockets speed, the chute was destroyed, but the rocket survived the flight somehow.   At this point, the conversion to 18 mm D power is underway!   Look for further updates in the future.

The fourth flight of the day was an Estes Black Brandt II.   This rocket is a very nice rocket when completed.   It was launched on a D12-5.   The ascent was awesome, but the Estes parachute decided to stick together and did not open!   The rocket continued to fall until at an altitude of approx. 10 meters, the parachute deployed, and the rocket landed perfectly.  The rocket did not receive any damage.  We discovered that the ejection charge had not fired correctly.  From now on, no more Estes parachutes!

Fifth flight of the day was a LOC Aura on a F50-5.  This flight was quite a surprise, as the rocket did not fly as planned.  When the rocket motor ignited, the windage adjustment on the launch pad decided to move also.  The rocket flew at a 45 degree angle and ended up in the side of a gravel pit!  The nose cone, body tube, and one fin suffered damage.  Needless to say, a new launch pad was built!  However, it was impressive to see this rocket doing a great impression of a cruise missile and impacting a gravel pit, it looked just like the real thing, ha!

The last flight of the day was our unidentified rocket.   I built this when I was a kid, and I have no clue as to what its name is. However I do know it was made by Estes.   If you know what it is, please drop us an email and we will put your web pages graphic up on our sight for a month or two!   The flight was almost perfect, the rocket developed a small corkscrew during the last part of the flight.   The chute deployed and was recovered without any damage to the rocket.

Launch Photos

The Zinger moments before the C6-7 Launch

Thats our unidentified rocket ready for a great flight

The Estes Black Brandt Recovered

Club members doing the rocket talk