The next monthly S.E.A.R.S. Launch is Saturday June 13th at Samson, AL. We setup at 8:30 AM, the waiver opens for launches at 9:00 AM. We usually go untill about 4:00 PM. Beginners are welcome. Bring the whole family!. Everyone is also invited to Crews BBQ in Samson after the launch. For more info see http://www.sears572.com/sears-launch-info

Jun 13, 2009
        General:  Multi Stage Day
        Youth: fly a two stage rocket and find both the booster and sustainer
        Challenge: fly a three stage rocket
        Advanced: fly a four stage rocket

Use a green flight card for any multi-stage rocket and you will entered for a draw from the prize pool.

Note: We depend on everyone’s good judgement about keeping their rockets safe and stable and on-the field. Most but not all multi-stage commercial kits are good designs. If you are scratch building be sure to research the principles and tips that will keep your rocket safe and stable. We will require a check by a RSO for multistage stage rockets at this launch to identify rockets that should not be flown or need to be flown at the away cell.  Low power multi-stage need an RSO by a Level 2 club members. Mid and high power need an RSO by a Level 3 club member. Every multi-stage rocket is a HEADS-UP Flight. So keep your eyes on the rocket and remember the booster will be decending separate from the sustainer.

Gary Goldenbaum’s cluster two stage.

Tip: CHAD (Cheap and Dirty) Staging is direct staging and requires no
modification to an existing rocket. This is where you add a booster
motor with a -0 delay behind the ususal motor. This is done by attaching
the top end on the booster to the bottom on the usual motor. You can do
this with one wrap of cellophane tape. I would use CHAD staging where
the weight of the extra motor does not change the CG that much. Remember
CG must be forward of the CP. I have  found that the Estes Snitch can be
CHAD staged C6-0 to C6-3.

Greg Lane

SEARS President

All,

The May 9th launch in Samson is cancelled due the number of regulars not attending. We will resume on June 13th. See you then.

Greg Lane
SEARS President

The next monthly S.E.A.R.S. Launch is April 18th 2009 at Samson, AL. We setup at 8:30 AM, the waiver opens for launches at 9:00 AM. We usually go until about 4:00 PM. Beginners are welcome. Bring the whole family!. Everyone is also invited to Crews BBQ in Samson after the launch. For more info see http://www.sears572.com/sears-launch-info

Events:

General: Peep Spot Landing

The peep landing closest to a target on the field (about 60 feet from the pad) will win a draw SEARS prize pool.  You may make as many peep flights as you like. Use Official Peeps of any variety. Multiple Peeps are allowed on one flight. Peeps that are ejected must have a recovery device for their/our protection.

Youth: Launch three different kinds of peeps
Challenge: Deploy four or more peeps. The more the better
Advanced: Fly a peep to as close to 1500 feet as possible based on an altimeter 

Greg Lane

SEARS President

On 21 March, 2009, SEARS conducted their monthly club launch.  The skies were cloudless most of the day as can be attested to the number of people who looked like lobsters come the end of the day.  Temperatures were cooler than most had expected but most of us survived wearing T-shirts, I don’t think the temperature got much into the 70s F.  The wind was another matter.  When we set up the launch pads at a little before 0900 the winds were light and out of the east.  As soon as the range was set up the wind picked up and blew any where from out of the east to out of the south.  I think some of the early launches of C and D motor rockets landed in the sand pit and we were set up east of the Porta Potty location.  Those of us wanting to fly larger and higher projects waited until about 1600 to fly.  By then the wind was backing off and mostly out of the east.  At altitude the wind were much less than they had been all day.  There was a real rocket festival of large projects the last hour or so of flying time.

Due to the recent shootings in Samson we will not hold the club launch this weekend on March 14th and research launch on March 15th. We all agreed that with Samson in a state of shock and morning that it would not be appropriate to “play” in their backyard this weekend.

We will move the regular SEARS launch for March to Saturday the 21st. There will be no research launch on the 22nd.  This
should give the USLI teams time to work out problems and fly rockets.

Please keep the kind people of Samson in your thoughts and Prayers.

John Hansel
SEARS 572 Treasurer
NAR 83131
TRA 10910

The next SEARS monthly launch is March 14th in Samson, AL.  The events are:

General: Maiden Flight Day, first flight of any rocket.

Youth:  Decorate A Rocket Contest

Challenge: Kit Bash, build a rocket using parts from two or more commercial kits.

Advanced: Fly a Rocket on a hybrid motor.

All event flights are on a green flight cards and will be used to draw a winner for a prize pool pick.  

Note on hybrids: the club has the nitrous oxide tank and Kendall has the hybrid launch controller. The hybrid gear has been under used lately. Lets change that this launch. Kendall is willing to share his hybrid expertise and assist on your launch. I have a complete set of SkyRipper 38mm cases and several fuel loads. I am willing to lend a case out to anyone wanting to get hybrid experience (let me know before the launch). One advantage of hybrid launches is that there are no ATF regulations for the oxidizer or the fuel. Remember you must have electronics for recovery deployment with hybrids.

SEARS welcome beginners and their families to watch or launch rockets. You do not have to be a member to launch. There is a porta-potty provided. Bring your lunch, sunscreen, and camera. Fliers 19 and older pay a $10 range fee. Do not drive off the road and onto the sod except where the parking signs indicate. See this page for directions.

Greg

SEARS President

www.sears572.com

Hybrid Launch

The Alabama Aerospace Week rocketry demos at Landmark Park near Dothan were enjoyed by several hundred enthusiastic students over the course of four days. Each student got an introductory lesson in rocket science through a talk about forces and watching actual model rocket launches. We hope some will pursue careers in science and engineering. There were many home schoolers among them. Several parents expressed interest in having their children get involved with rocketry to get a feel for engineering before they head for college. Thanks to SEARS members making this possible including Randy Wiggins, Marty Wiggins and Tom MacPherson. The R/C folks put on an excellent show as always. Ft. Rucker flew in a helicopter. This is always a rewarding event. We look forward to next year. You can see more pictures at http://sears572.com/gallery/2009-02-24.

Greg Lane S.E.A.R.S. President

Tripoli will be hosting a research launch at the Sears field in Samson Al, on Feb 28^th. You must be a Tripoli member to fly at the launch, and L2 or higher to fly research motors. Everyone is welcome to come and watch. We are expecting two USLI teams to come with their university rockets.  The launch will start around 9:30, and will last all day. Please note, research launches are more laid back, less rockets launched, and mostly high power stuff. Something could go boom too. We will have at least a high power pad with small rail and probably a large rail as well. If you wish to fly Estes, bring your own pad please. There will be a $10 range fee.

Chris Short

TRA 10247 L3 TAP

Prefect #38

The February 7th launch was held under beautiful blue skies and comfortable temps. However, there was a stiff wind which caused a number of rockets to drift into the woods. Congratulations are in order: Kendall Brent achieved his level 3 Certification on his 7.5 inch diameter rocket flown on a Loki M2550 Loki Blue. Russ Roberts made a successful Level 2 flight on his 4 inch Star Breaker on a K550. Eldon from Tuskegee made his Level 1 with a Loc rocket on an I357. Good job guys!

We enjoyed having Doug Harrell and two TARC students from Liberty County High School in Florida. They got some experience egg lofting. Also Justin Sanders instructor at Dothan Technology Center attended and got plenty of info for using rocketry in his pre-engineering program.

Applewhite monocopters were debuted at SEARS by Rick Gutknecht and John Hansel. Roy Houchin won the special event drawing.

The picture album for the the Launch is at http://sears572.com/gallery/2009-02-7  and videos at http://sears572.com/gallery/2009-02-07Vids 

Thanks for a Great Day!

Greg

Kendall Brent’s L3 Launch

Russ Roberts Star Breaker L2 Cert Rocket

The next SEARS monthly launch is February 7th in Samson, AL.  The events are:

General: Egg Loft Day: Launch egg or eggs in your rocket

Youth: Decorate eggs as Eggstronauts and have them flown.

Challenge: Egg Loft Duration - Timed single egg loft with 18mm C motor. Recover rocket/egg as one piece. Egg must not crack. Longest time wins bragging rights.

 Advanced: Billiard Ball Loft. Note must be flown from away cell. Consider this practice/demo we can have a duration contest in the future. See rules at end of email. I will bring some billiard balls for those who would like to try the event in the future.

Since we did not have a January launch you can do any of these events as well.

       General: Anything but a Chute day.
       Youth: Make a colorful streamer and fly in a rocket
       Challenge: Fly a helicopter rocket
       Advanced: Fly a monocopter rocket. 
 
All event flights are on a green flight card and will be used to draw a winner for a prize pool pick.  SEARS T Shirts will be available for pickup if you requested one.

Greg

Greg Lane’s and Tom Racker’s Egg Lofters

Billard Ball Bonanza Rules:The winner will be the longest time aloft for the ball. The launches will be from the away cell at least 500 feet from cars and spectators.The launch rod will be tilted slightly away from the flight line. You must announce that the launch is for the record prior to the the countdown. NAR Safety code will be enforced.4 to 1 minimum thrust to weight. Parachute must be sized so no part descends faster than 21 f/s. A standard billiard ball is to be used, approx. 2 1/4″ dia. 5 1/2 to 6 oz. The ball may not be cut up or modified other than drilled for retention. Rockets must pass RSO and conform to all site rules. Ball must be drilled to retain it. A thru hole with bolt /eyelet. Rockets will be launched from tower, rail, or min. 1/4″ rod. *Total Impulse shall be less than or equal to 40 newton-seconds.* (Note minimum thrust to weight above) Timed from rocket liftoff to touchdown of the ball or loss of sight by the timer.Only one timer required who is not the flier. No maximum size or number restrictions on parachute(s).