Welcome to Tripoli-San Diego
June 2008 Launch Report
Hi everyone,
It turned out to be an interesting launch weekend. Jim D. was good enough to pick up the trailer Friday afternoon, so it was on site when I arrived. There were about 8 others already there when I arrived early Friday evening, including some people new to high power. Jim and Sparky broke out their guitars and entertained us after dinner.
Saturday morning we had a few UCSD students swing by early. Like ant scouts they left and returned with cars and cars of other students. Bonnie woke up and found the rise behind her a regular student parking lot. There were 40 students taking an Aero class, armed with 10 HyperTEK J motors and PML rockets. They had some interesting instrumentation, measuring pressure, temperature, etc. Apparently the PML instructions don’t mention the need for a vent hole to keep the nose cone from popping off. They all had to drill a vent hole. A few others had to remove a screw that was interfering with the launch rail. In all, they did a great job building their first high power rocket. There were even some very nice paint jobs.
As one could imagine, there were some issues and mishaps getting all these hybrids flying. Luckily there was some backup equipment available. About half the student hybrids were successful flights. There were some partial fills, failed ejections, and other mishaps, but no CATOs.
Jack showed up early with his What’s Up Hobbies trailer. He was fully loaded with kits. Other members and newcomers also arrived. The weather was warm, but clam. I don’t remember any dust devils. We also had the sound crew show up to record launches. It was very odd to remain quiet during a launch so they could get a clear recording. There were some good flights, so I believe they should have some good results.
I offered my Tomahawk to Jack to use with his M1419. We prepped it and had it ready to go about noon. The Tomahawk is 10” in diameter and 18’ tall. It was a successful majestic flight to 4008’. Thanks to those that retrieved it after landing.
There were multiple K, I and other flights. We also had a new rocketeer earn his Level 1 certification on his first flight. Way to go Mark! Another student group put together a nice 5.5” diameter rocket to fly a HyperTEK M1000. Unfortunately they were advised by the manufacturer to double up the thickness of the cardboard tubing instead of glassing it. As a result, at or near Mach, it began to experience structural failure (the speed of cardboard, as Val would say).
Towards late afternoon most club members decided to hang it up after a day. I guess everyone got used to single day launches after all the wind this season. The last, but certainly not least, launch was the final UCSD student rocket. This carried an ambitious payload. The payload compartment was split in two lengthwise and held together by the payload couplers nesting inside body tubes above and below the payload compartment. Upon ejection, the payload compartment was to open, causing in-flight inflation of multiple balloons (similar to Mars landings). The rest of the rocket was to descend under conventional parachute. The rocket was a bit wobbly due to short coupler tubing. The team met in Jack’s trailer and came up with some quick on-site improvements that paid off. The ascent was very good, and the ejection and balloon inflation went off as planned. The team rejoiced like they just made Level 3.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a good way to communicate the decision to forego the Sunday launch. One member drove out to launch Sunday and found the site deserted.
Thanks this month to Jim D. for towing the trailer one way, Mike W. for arranging the waiver, Bonnie for collecting launch fees, and everyone who helped set-up and tear-down the launch equipment (including the UCSD students). Watch for a Plaster Blaster planning meeting announcement soon.
Paul
About Our Club
Tripoli-San Diego is a Prefecture of the Tripoli
Rocketry Association(TRA). Tripoli-San Diego was formed in the late 1980's.
Tripoli-San Diego works closely with DART promoting rocketry in the San Diego area. Both clubs are non-profit organizations
comprised of individuals and their families from all walks of life. Club members
are committed to conducting rocketry related activities and instructing groups
in the sport of Rocketry.
Tripoli-San Diego conducts monthly launches from September through
June at the Plaster CIty launch site in the desert near El Centro CA. The club,
in cooperation with DART, conducts an annual regional launch, Plaster
Blaster
Monthly launches are open to spectators. Rocketeers wishing to
launch must be certified by either NAR or Tripoli for high power launches. Certification
is not required for sport rocket launches. A launch fee of $5 is charged for
each family that is launching rockets .We operate in compliance with BATF, FAA, CPSC, Tripoli Rocketry Association, and California State Fire Marshall regulations. This means the maximum motor size you may fly is an “M” (10,240 N-sec), and the maximum total power of all motors is an “N” (20,480 N-sec), as long as the altitude waiver is not exceeded.
If you would like to become a member of Tripoli-SanDiego you can download a membership application
in .pdf.
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