It's October again already, and time to head back to the flying field.
Crops are in, grass has been cut, weather is perfect, and the autumn foliage is at near full blaze.
I packed up eleven rockets and made around twenty flights.
Photos courtesy of the Mrs.
The day turned out to be full of surprises.

Here's what we brought along:

Fat Boy
Goblin
Star Wars Proton Torpedo
Super Big Bertha
Aero Dart
Challenger-1 upscale
Moon Glo
Solar Sailer
Renegade
Centuri Mars Project
Blue Bird Zero upscale

Attached Thumbnails

   

First into the sky was my Estes Fat Boy on B6-4 power.
This rocket hasn't seen the launch pad for at least ten years.
It was always dead reliable to the point of being almost boring.
I thought I'd dust it off and see what happens.

A nose that suddenly doesn't fit anymore is what happened.
That white stripe at the top is actually the cone shoulder.
Otherwise a nice flight and short recovery walk.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Next in line was the vintage Goblin on a C5-3.
Everyone loves the ten foot streamer and I never have to worry about thermals.
The 24mm mount really allows me to stretch out my engine choices.
Boost was great on the Super C for a high, straight flight.

Attached Thumbnails

   

Third in line was my clone of the Proton Torpedo.
Last time it flew on an A8-3 like all good starter set models from the seventies.
I wanted a little more octane on this run so I gave it a C6-5.
Great flight and the eight inch silk chute brought it back to within walking distance.
I have a spare fin can so I thought I might build the Star Trek version.
Along with my original Challenger-1 it would give me the complete set of starter models.

Attached Thumbnails

   

My Super Big Bertha on an E12 occupied the next slot.
I expected it to break a fin but it returned intact four times.
Soybeans are more forgiving than cornstalks.
While walking to the top of the field to retrieve it for the last time I noticed a bright red spot in the soil.
Too bright to belong there.
It was the remains of my Mercury Redstone tower from the May 29 launch.
Amazing to find it again in a field that big.

Attached Thumbnails

         

Fifth rocket to go was my orange Aero Dart on E12 thrust.
It flew perfectly three times, or so it seemed.
When I gathered up all the models to leave I noticed the shock cord was snapped.
The thin Kevlar safety line I had installed parallel to the cord had saved the day.

Attached Thumbnails

     

Number six on the roster was my BT-60 Challenger-1.
It missed being photographed last time out.
A D12 provided lift into the cloud canopy.
A smooth flight and easy recovery.

Attached Thumbnails

     

Lucky seven goes to the Semroc Moon Glo.
Unlucky was more like it.
I didn't think it was going to fly at all.
Three dud igniters and an alligator clip that popped it's hinge pin.
My luck returned after it finally took flight.
Ten more feet to the right and it would have a new home on the roof of the barn.

Attached Thumbnails

   

Really like the paint/color schemes on the Super Big Bertha and Aero Dart.
What paint system do you use ?

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.

Eighth in line was the Solar Sailer on a C5-3.
Continuing my igniter misadventures I actually managed to almost set this one on fire.
I kept the current flowing so long that the paper separating the leads burst into flame.
It looked like an upside down candle sitting on the pad.
Strangely enough the exact same thing happened to this bird in 2009 with a B8 engine.

The C5 works better in this model than any other engine. A super flight!

Attached Thumbnails