February 22, 2020
 

And it looks promising to be my first launch of the year. Weekends around here have just been brutal from a weather standpoint, but after some chance of light snow this afternoon, the forecast is sunny until Sunday. This is a cornfield launch, but for the most part I'm focusing on first flight rockets and a couple of others that haven't flown in a few years. The lineup of birds I've prepped is pretty ambitious, but all they will need is an ignitor and a plug and they'll be flight ready.
*Estes - Red Nova D12-5
*FSI - Dart C6-5
*Estes - Astron Apogee II B6-0/B6-6
*Estes - Farside X C6-0/B6-0/B6-6
*Semroc - Point B6-2
*Semroc - Penetrator C6-5
Estes - Andromeda C6-5
*Estes - Star Warrior D12-5
*Ebay - Cobra Kai 3xC6-5
*Estes - Beta (Ebay) A10-0T/A3-4T
*Fishhead Rocketry - Maverick XL D12-5
*Fishhead Rocketry - Mega Mighty Moe D12-5
Fishhead Rocketry - Satellite Interceptor 1.36X D12-5
*Fishhead Rocketry - Sky Jart D12-5
*Stickershock - Mystery Max E12-6
*Centuri - Zebra II B6-4
*Estes - Goblin 18 C6-5
*Semroc - Midget A10-0T/A3-4T
*Semroc - LAUNCH Missile C6-5
Semroc - Squire C6-5
Semroc - Thunderbee A10-3T
Estes - Satellite Interceptor cluster 3xC6-5
U.S. Rockets - STUB 2.2 E12-6

I've got my eye on a weekend launch too also the first of the year. Sunny, low winds and a high of 48.
No quite as ambitious though ... probably burn about 10-12 motors.

Launching a FSI Dart on a measley C6-5 is almost ILLEGALLY low-power based on design intent. :D
Last summer I launched my Astron Beta on a 1/2A3-0T to 1/4A3-3T. Flight was great.

:o I know, but it's an original FSI bird and the 24mm motors don't fit without peeling. I have enough issues with 24mm motors, so I made myself an adapter. I think I've had this bird for five + years, so I've gotta do something to get it off the unflown list.

Actually, I cloned a Dart several years back and flew it at NARAM 55 on a C11. (It was going to be an E9-8 flight, but the winds kicked up and the field was fairly small.) Dead straight boost and push your luck recovery. I tried it again last year on an E12-6 and it took a turn at 150' mark and went horizontal into a grove of trees behind the flight line.

I launched mine on a 1/4A3-0T booster. It staged before it cleared the rod! :cool:

The original FSI Dart had an oddball 21mm mount.
Did not realize it was an original. Figured it was a 24mm clone.

I have an original motor that came with it as part of the display base, but I kinda like having it. Just an A4, I believe.

The Mach1 Dart used a 27mm F100-0 "thruster" with fins glued on the casing for a 'booster' directly plugged around a 21mm D20-8 sustainer.

Anyhow, we flew. The day didn't turn out like I'd hoped with 20+ flights, but then I never really figured it would. I managed seven, with an eighth that sat on the pad with continuity for several frustrating launch cycles. I flew four new ones, the Estes Red Nova, Estes Astron Apogee II, Fishhead Rocketry Sky Jart and Estes Goblin 18mm. Also flew the Andromeda, Satellite Interceptor upscale and Alien Space Probe with the Sky Warrior sitting on the pad with ignition issues for three cycles. Good was the Red Nova, bad was the Apogee II, (failed to launch the laundry,) and ugly was the Alien Space Probe, which augered in.