May 29, 2022 Launch
 

We had plenty of fun at the launch field on Sunday afternoon.
Perfect weather and fourteen rockets to fly.
I got an Astrocam for my birthday and was eager to try it out.
Perfect shots of grass and no flight video thanks to my fumbling fingers.
Everything flew great and we only had two casualties.
Photos credits to my better half as usual.
A super day out!

Here's the lineup:

Nike-X
X-Ray
4FNC Retro
Der Bigger Red Max
Maxi Alpha
Maxi Alpha 3
Centurion 418
Mars Snooper
2X Challenger 1
Mercury Redstone
HMS Carlisle
LOC Viper
Semroc Ranger
Soyuz TMA-3

My Nike-X on a B6-4 got the nod for wind direction duty.
I always wanted one of these as a kid but missed my chance.
Years later I decided to clone one for the fleet.
Soon after I finished it Estes rereleased the kit.
A nice, straight flight and smooth recovery.

Flight #2 went to my X-ray, also on a B6-4.
No room for a chute in this minimum diameter bird.
A high, straight flight and tumble recovery.

Flight #3 would be my wife's 4FNC retro on a D12.
This one was sporting a tangle free chute with mesh in place of the shroud lines.
Great flight and it stuck the landing.

The 2X Challenger 1 on a D12 was flight #4 but missed being photographed.
Another stellar performance from my DBRM filled slot #5.
It had some nice altitude on an E12 and perfect descent into the top of the field.

Flights #6 & 7 to my Astrocam equipped Maxi Alpha 3 on E12 power.
Originally to be an E26 Q-jet flight, I toasted 2 igniters with no effect.
I swapped in the BP and got two great flights.

Flight #8 would have been some impressive Astrocam footage from my F23 powered Maxi Alpha.
This motor works perfectly in this model. Arrow straight and perfect deployment.
It was the second flight of the day to stick the landing.

Flight #9 goes to my LOC Viper on a trio of D12's.
Last time it flew the camera missed it, but we got a nice shot today.
It had some impressive altitude for only running on D power.

The maiden flight of my 4x18 upscale Centurion fills spot #10.
Speed off the deck was blinding. All four C5-3's lit on the first try.
It was a great flight and the dual chutes made it easy to spot.
Bonus points for it being the third model of the day to also stick the landing.

Flight #11 was the maiden run of my new Mars Snooper built completely from bench scraps.
A B6-4 provided a nice flight and the 8" silk chute brought it down with no damage.