The first launch meeting of 1998 was on a cold and windy day, just our luck after having two weeks of warm and sunny weather in February.
I tried to launch the first rocket of the meeting but when I put my Phoenix on the launch rod the launch lugs came off.
The first launch of the meeting went to David with his Skydive rocket on a A8-3 engine this rocket did a nice flight and landed on the side of the hill.
Sam launched his "S@G Special" on a D12-5 engine. the rocket launched perfectly but the parachute failed to open properly and the rocket landed with a thud.
Sam then launched a weird looking glider which was an actual copy of Estes's very first kit called the "Astron Invader". Chris said it was on its 4th launch - the first 3 launches it crashed but he had retrimmed it for its 4th try. But unfortunately on launch the glider did a large loop and crashed for it's 4th time.
Members soon started to turn up thick and fast and we soon had over 25 people on the hill.
Jake - one of the H.A.R.T. junior leaders launched a homemade rocket out of a old mongoose kit on a A8-3 engine and then unfortunately came back to each with a bump as the parachute failed to open.
David's next launch was his Whiplash rocket on a C6-5 engine. this rocket powered it's way to the heavens before opening it's recovery parachute and drifting a long way.
Gary launched a "Banshee" on a A8-3, the rocket did a nice flight but when it was recovered he found that two fins were loose
A new member to the club "Sam Choudhury" came to the meeting with a selection of rockets. He launched his "Corkscrew" rocket on a B engine and the rocket did a nice flight and landed on the side of the hill with him in hot pursuit.
Marc launched his bright green "Big Bertha" on a B6-4 engine, the parachute failed to open but luckily the rocket landed in some long grass and no damage was done
Laurie arrived and soon launched a number of weird looking rockets, his first was his "FAB TOY", this rocket was first launched on a B6-4 engine and after having a perfect flight and recovery it was soon rearmed with a C6-5 engine and launched again.
Gary then launched his Alpha 3 on a A8-3 engine and even though it was on a parachute is landed just 10 yards from the pad
I was determined to launch a rocket at the meeting so I decided to launch my only flyable rocket that I had with me, my "Rat Roc" This rocket was powered by a F36-5 engine and I was sure I would lose it in the high wind. The rocket launched perfectly on the second try and reached a height of around 1500 feet before the parachute deployed and the rocket landed with just bit of damage
Sam launched his Venus Probe on a C6-3 which flew really well and after drifting over our heads landed close to the launch pad. Sam then launched a "Firebird" on a B6-4 and this rocket almost got wet as it landed near the edge of the jets lake.
After nearly 3 hours of launching the weather turned on us and it started to rain but by that time we had around 25 people turn up, 10 members launched and around 30 flights - not bad for our first meeting of the year.