Hoschton Launch Report

A big crowd today at the launch at TurfSouth Sod Farm in Hoschton. Many scouts and new people attending. A conservative estimate would be 160 rockets launched, but it could have been close to two hundred. Thanks to Hudson Classic Hobbies for being our on-field vendor, and to Steve Bellio for bringing pizza for those of us that worked range shifts so we could give all the scouts a chance to fly.

Remember in September we have two chances to fly: In two weeks at Mill Springs Academy, and in four weeks we'll be back in Lilly, GA for our next high power launch.

The SoAR launch Saturday at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center featured the successful launch of Everett Stowe's 1:48 scale Saturn V. More details of the entire launch are forthcoming, but here are photos of the Saturn, courtesy of Steven Donahue.

Everett has a website you can go to for more information on the project.

Now that Quest Q2G2 Igniters are available from local vendors (with Quest motors, and separately), it is probably a good time to remind everyone that when using an Estes launch panel (the ElectroBeam), these igniters will fire when the safety pin is inserted. If you have a Quest launch system, or the Aerotech Interlock, or are using SoAR's launch equipment, you will have no problem. In fact, they are great igniters! But when you are using an Estes system, or another one that uses an incandescent light bulb as the continuity check, be very careful. Forego the continuity check and use the safety key/pin as the launch button.

We had a good time at July's "Make it, Take it" event at Hobbytown USA with all the kids: lots showed up, we even pulled a few off the sidewalks and got them to build. In all, we probably built 25 or so rockets, and sent a few more home. Thanks to Paul, Jorge, Roy, Glenn, Bob, Leo, Steve and Andrew! It was a good chance to show off rocketry, and definitely expect a few of these kids (and a couple of the adults) to show up at upcoming launches!

It was amazingly hot and humid at the SoAR Summerfest in Lilly, GA on June 26 as a pretty decent crowd of SoAR and GAMMA members gathered to fly rockets. A number of certifications were attempted, including the successful attempt of Concepción Blanco, Jorge's mom, to become the oldest (to our knowledge) Level 2 certified flyer. She flew her "La Gaviota" (The Seagull) on a short, simple, but perfect flight. Her granddaughter, Laura, passed the Level 2 test but was her flight suffered early ejection, deploying her parachute at high speed and ripping it. Her rocket suffered little damage though, and she should be trying again soon. David Klinkman successfully executed his Level 2 cert flight with a 4" AMRAAM missile on a J350.

The highlight of the day was to be the launch of Everett Stowe's 1:48 scale Saturn V. Everett has been trying to launch the rocket for nearly a year now (it was originally supposed to be launched as a salute to the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission last year) but was delayed each time by weather. The liftoff occurred at 2:28pm. As David Klinkman said later, "The up part was 'glorious'." Unfortunately, the rocket did not survive the down part.

Video of the day's highlights will be posted tonight, right here.

If you were at May's launch at the TurfSouth sod farm in Houschton, you may remember a couple of people with recording equipment hanging around. SoAR was being recorded for a feature on "City Cafe", WABE 90.1 FM's noontime show. Well, today that story aired Monday, shortly after 12:45PM!

If you missed it, here it is on WABE's web site

When Kevin Scholberg arrived at Mill Springs early Saturday morning, he expected to see an empty field, ready to be transformed into a model rocket range. Instead, he found a field full of lacrosse players, and a lacrosse workshop going on. He called Jorge to report this, as Jorge was about to leave home with the club equipment trailer in tow. Figuring there was nothing we could do about this, Jorge decided to cancel the launch, and called Roy to have him post it on the website and on the mailing lists.

Then Kevin noticed other cars were pulling in that weren't expecting lacrosse either. This was a group of cub scouts and their parents who had come to fly their rockets with SoAR. Another call to Jorge, and Kevin made the suggestion that maybe we could go over to Garrard Landing Park in Roswell (where SoAR used to launch a few years ago) and give the scouts a chance to launch. Jorge agreed, and called Roy to say the launch was back on!

Many people had already seen the cancellation notice and didn't check back with the website to find the new news, so turnout at Garrard Landing was light, but the scouts did get to fly, and a few SoAR members and others flew up to 3:30PM

Here's a little video of what went on, mostly after the scouts had left.

The first SoAR Technical Workshop was held Thursday night at the Hobbytown USA in Cumming, and fourteen members attended. We got started with Paul Cotcher explaining the reasons for having the meetings and what he hoped they would accomplish. Then we went around the room and everyone got a chance to introduce themselves and give a little show and tell about their latest projects.

Steve Corrigal showed us a couple of his very nicely finished rockets, Jorge Blanco passed around a couple of altimeter bays to see how they are constructed, and others described their projects and their motivation for rocketry.

Special thanks to Hobbytown USA at Market Place in Cumming, GA for the space. Afterwards the discussion moved over to the Taco Mac for another hour. We'll do it all again on Thursday, June 10.

"Okay, so some of us went up the the Scout Camp and launched rockets. 500 of them! It was awesome, and a lot of work! Thanks (from me) to all who came out and helped. Thanks to Jorge for getting everything together and running the show. Thanks to the scouts for a LOT of enthusiasm, excellent tacos and pineapple cake, and for letting us help out."

SoAR's March Launch at the TurfSouth Sod Farm in Hoschton was very well attended. Here is an image of the launch at around 1PM Saturday. Details will come later!

SoAR now has a presence on Facebook. If you're on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Area-Rocketry/295200619273?ref=nf and become a fan of SoAR. It doesn't take the place of this website, but it is another way to keep connected.

At each SoAR launch, there will be a bucket (white, about 12" diameter) that is designated as Dale Windsor's Bucket O'Rockets. Land any part of your rocket in that bucket and you'll win a jackpot of rocket kits. If no one gets in the bucket at a launch, the prizes will roll over to the next launch, and another prize will (occasionally) be added!

The current list of prizes (as of February 1, 2010):

• limited edition Roachwerks Saturn IB kit
• Estes SpaceShipOne
• ASP WAC Corporal
• Estes Scissor-Wing Transport (the newest re-issue)
• NOVA ASP