Again the weather was cold overcast and windy, but this did not stop over fifty mad rocketeers turning out to launch a whole range of rockets, and for the first time this year gliders too. With so many launch pads Peter was kept very active going from one end of the field to the other organising launches. One of the first casualties of the day was Laurie who’s rocket left the pad, arched high and descended straight into the lake. It was later recovered with only minor damage. A scratch built balsa model built by Dave attracted a lot of attention, was first seen at the last meeting, powered by clustered D’s, the body had been extensively re-worked but still had a Jules Verne look to it. Despite the conditions Dave decided to send it skyward, it flew straight and true but disintegrated at the top of the flight, again apart from fins all parts were recovered in a serviceable condition. By now rockets were leaving pads thick and fast, a few Cato’ed in the process. We also began to get the first people descending to the cafe having succumbed to the cold wind. Those who stayed on the hill witnessed a very impressive take off by a Phoenix glider, its path shown by a black smoke trail. Most people were having recovery problems now because of the constant wind and several people lost smaller rockets which proved difficult to track.
Bob Shipp our very own Arkwright (open all hours) did a very brisk trade in engines, kits and spares. He does prove very useful for those last minute bits you forgot to pack for the meet. ( That should be worth a good discount).
A large grey homemade AMRAAM was mounted onto a launch pad ready for its maiden D powered flight. Peter shouted a “heads up” warning, all eyes were on the pad listening to the count down, slowly the grey shape lifted away from the pad, at about twenty feet it became a javelin and imbedded into the ground nose first fifty foot from the pad. I did say that Fatima Whitbread has been known to throw them further. Thankfully again not too much damage. For my comeuppance my Phoenix for the second time in its short life blew up on the pad, yet again down to a faulty D engine. Dave’s R2D2 made several wavering flights in the wind taking the launch rod with it on one occasion. Mike even launched his Black Brant on a smaller engine quite successfully. At this point we all decided to adjourn for hot drinks, leaving the gliders a free sky.
In the warmth of the cafe small groups discussed the morning and exchanged tips as they thawed out. Most people now they were warm decided to call it a day and head for home.
Mike, Stewart, Alex and myself returned to the hill for a last session. Mike tried a rocket powered by a C engine, it left the pad so fast that we did not see it go, it was only the ejection charge that gave its position away. Stewart and Alex were sometime recovering his custom design which although on a streamer had drifted well into the field across the lane. For my last flight of the day I flew a prototype two stage model I have been itching to test, for this flight the two stages were flown as one on a D12-3. Its stability was untested but it achieved a good height, the ejection charge deployed both the streamer of the first stage and the parachute of the second, but again it drifted a long way and took some time to recover. The wind now seemed even stronger so we left the site and set out for home.