My occasional flying buddy Zog got a line on a local cornfield that might be available for the occasional launch, so we headed down to check it out yesterday. It's very close to Big Bone Lick State Park where my brother in law and I launched once back in 2001.



A beautiful piece of bottomland with 1/8 mile + on each side.



There was a bit of a breeze, though.

Camera issues all day, but I think I wound up making 11 flights. Six of those were E9-4 flights, and a lot more would have been without the "breeze". The Sunward Galactic Wave was first on an E9-4. Major corkscrew all the way up. The only shot I got was of the landing.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

We had some spectators, including a 3 year old, so I decided to go with the Estes Death Star for the second flight.



Hard not to like this one when it works right. C6-3 with a big windcock, but the Death Star part performed flawlessly. The actual rocket nosed in because someone forgot to check the chute which had spent several months wadded up inside the body tube. DUH!!!!



Nice grouping on the Death Star pieces.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

The ever-ready FSI Sprint upscale was next on an E9-4. This set the tone for what I flew the rest of the day. It immediately went sideways in the wind and was pointing down when the ejection charge fired.



I wound up with a 1" zipper, but no other damage. Should be an easy fix.


I brought half of my big Goony collection, but only flew two, both of which came home damaged. First was the Sky Shriek on an E9-4.





Windcocked some, but a lot less than I expected. Ejected as it was slowing, then began heading back at us on the "breeze".



Impact looked pretty tame, but obviously wasn't. Clean breaks. It'll fly again.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

__________________
I love sanding.

Lucas chose the Centuri USS America for the next flight. E9-4 looked great leaving the pad. This was one where my camera brain-farted. I got nothing. Ejected at apogee, just like it was supposed to. Recovered fairly deep in the field, but without a scratch. One of the better flights of the day.

Wizard upscale on an E9-4. More camera problems. (Guess what will be on my Christmas list.) Another big windcock and slight zipper after an almost horizontal flight. This one leaves the pad with authority, but when those big fins catch the breeze........ CYA!!!!!

At this point I tried to fly the Sunward Gravity Rider on two C6-3s with my keychain camera onboard. Camera was armed and rolling and I was just about to punch the button when

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGjVB1quWVw

Wouldn't have bothered me as much if the impact hadn't shut the camera off. I didn't think to check and got nothing for the flight. All 30 feet of it.

Flew the Edmonds Tinee on a 1/2A3-2T. The flight was great, but flying a corn colored rocket in a cornfield is one of those things you shouldn't do. Tough lesson for me to learn for some reason.



Zog got a line on it and as I tromped several hundred feet into the corn, I heard "Off to your left!" I looked left. There it sat.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Hell, I've been there! And I drove past the Beaver Lick Baptist Church on the way to the corn.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

My second big Goony flight was the Missile Toe on an E9-4. Flight was fine, although very much into the wind. Recovery was less than fine as the landing ripped the First Aid tube off. Not the first time that's happened.

Then a miracle occurred! The camera started working again!

The Estes Screamer upscale was my next to last flight on an E9-4.



The flight itself was decent, also into the wind, but the parachute stripped at ejection. No damage despite the 500' free-fall.

At this point, I was done, but Lucas wanted to see the Estes Y-Wing fly. Going against my better judgement, I loaded it with a C6-3 and gave it a shot at glory.





It looked great leaving the rod, and flew with authority several hundred feet. The chute was packed tight, so that had me worried, but in the end it was an almost perfect flight. Rough landing, but only some mud stuck to it. I might give it a go on a B6-2 the next time I hit B6-4 Field.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Heh, you beat me to it. I was going to give Bill grief because years ago he used to tease me about Bong Recreation Area where we launch up here.

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
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