Back to School means back to Rocketry! 
 
Middle and High School Students are encouraged to attend the Sept 6th launch. Now is the time to form Team America Rocketry Challenge Teams. The 2009 TARC Rules are now posted at http://www.rocketcontest.org/pdf/2009_rules.pdf!  Get started early — Registration begins on September 3rd!
 
The next SEARS launch is September 6th in Samson, AL. The event is Scale Day. Use a green flight card for any scale model of a space or military rocket and you will entered for a draw from the prize pool. 
  
Cliff Oliver plans to fly his Temporary Insanity rocket on an M motor. Cliff certifed L3 on this rocket at the Florida Winter Nationals in February 2008.

 
Click here for more launch info. Setup is at 8:30 and the waiver opens at 9:00.
 
If you want motors for the September 6th Samson Launch, please let Chris know two weeks prior. He also needs to know if you need loaner hardware. Christopher Short  www.csrocketry.com 850-554-6531 tbonerocketeer
 
Greg Lane
SEARS President

Justyn Palmer has joined Tripoli/SEARS. He had a successful Level 1 certification flight on July 27th with a rebuilt & modified “Turtleosis” on a Loki H100 Spitfire. He will be testing & attempting his Level 2 cert. flight on 9/6. Good Luck on L2 Justyn!

Chris Crews got his level three today in Samson on M1350 motor in his 6 inch Intimidator rocket. This is a the report from the field. Thanks, Greg. listen

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The July 12th launch was SUPER!
 
Jon Ward had a successful Tripoli Level 3 Certification. His rocket Red Robin Fireball flew on an Aerotech M1297 to 6166 feet. This was the first L3 cert flight at SEARS. Chris Short is now a Tripoli Tap Member.
 
There were three Level 1 Certifications. Rob Wilson flew his “Emily Grace” on an H123,  Ricky Nikolson  flew his PML Callisto on a H148.  and Richard Crews flew his Little Dog on a H123. Congrats to all!  
There were 23 glider flights. Daymon Campbell won the draw from the prize pool. He picked an Estes Eliminator. Alexa Stetson won the Glider duration with a 90 second flight. Her pick from the prize pool was a Quest Bright Hawk.
 
There we several Georgia Tech fliers. Lelia and Demetri had unsuccessful L2 certs but they will succeed next time. Both Lelia and Demetri are aerospace majors and will be on the Georgia Tech USLI team next year.
 
We were spared from the forecasted thundershowers until 4 o’clock. There was one storm threatening but it only cooled the air which was a relief. Another relief was the SnoCone Stand run by Alexa Stetson. I forgot how good SnoCones were. Thanks Alexa!
 
I had requested more launch help. The response was great and appreciated. By the way, Russ Roberts actually likes being LCO and does a great job.

There are pictures and videos in our gallery. 

We enjoyed having John and Sherry Stein back. John treated us to a flight of his R/C Centurian. Jack Kale came for a visit. He is being treated for cancer so keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
 
We will not have an August launch. So build some rockets in the air conditioning. See you on Sept 6th when the event is Scale Rocket Day. Thanks all for making the July Launch a great one!
 
Greg Lane,
S.E.A.R.S. President

Demetri’s skidmark launch

Alexa Stetson’s SnoCone Stand Read the rest of this entry »

The next SEARS launch is July 12th at Samson and the event is Glider Day. Fly any rocket that recovers as a glider and you will be entered to pick a prize from the prize pool. Use the green flight cards for glider flights. In addition, we will have a Edmonds Deltie B Duration Contest. There will be a pick from the prize pool for the longest Deltie B flight. You can make up to two “for the record” flights. Just announce it is for the record before the flight and it will be timed.

Multi-Stage Day - June 7th  2008

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

SAFETY NOTE: Every multi-stage rocket is a HEADS-UP Flight. So keep your eyes on the rocket and remember the booster will be descending separate from the sustainer.

Chris Short’s Two Stage HPR Rocket

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This is a test of the Jott notification I am doing this from my cell phone to the blog. listen

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Oscar Patterson Elementary in Panama City, FL is a NASA Explorer School. Their 5th Grade classes built Estes Alphas this year. They were launched in mass today at the school with the assistance of John Hansel and Greg Lane of SEARS.  John and Greg also provided a rocketry demo. The 5th Grade is fortunate to be taking a trip to Kennedy Space Center this year. The trip was arranged by Ms. Becky Pelton a Patterson Teacher in cooperation with NASA. Thanks to Ms. Candace Parker for inviting SEARS back for another event.

More pictures are available in the SEARS Gallery.

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John Hansel’s Report: We had a great launch. It was overcast early but the skies did open up somewhat as the day wore on.  I was almost summer hot and humid, everyone had to drink lots of water. We set up at the western most sprinkler hub and launch off the side of the road downwind from there.  The wind was 10 to 15 from the W to WS. 

There were a lot of people there. Randy Wiggins passed his level 2 written test and L2 flight, see videos. Great job Randy.  I think I was the only person to fly an upscale for the monthly event, I flew a 5 times upscale of a Totally Tubular.  Bob Mullins had a bulkhead fail in flight and lawn darted the upper section
and nosecone of one of his rockets. 

Chris Short and I drag raced LOC Minie Mags on I-161. I was first off the pad, flew highest and landed last.  Chris Short Rocketry was present as a vendor and was please with his sales.  Chris had Clark Word in tow from Birmingham.  Daymon was there with his wife and flew his first rockets with the club, he also lawn darted his first rocket with us.  We had some visitors who came to the launch, found out about us on the web site, name unknown but their 3 boys really enjoyed watching my Ultimate Endeavour go up on a AMW K-1000 sparky.

Chris Crews flew a Gizmo on a motor that had it vanish from the pad, what a liftoff!  Crews also flew his L3 project rocket on an L motor as a test flight.  That was really great seeing that 6 inch rocket come off the tower under an L.  There were ten or so of us ended up at Crews-BAR-B-QUE for dinner and rocket stories (lies).

Visit our gallery to enjoy more  photos and videos.

Randy Wiggins and his L2 Rocket

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Momma’s has closed. So we will work something else out. 

All,
 
We are having Rocket Lunches at Momma’s Place on Wednesdays at 11:40 or so. Mommas is at 6908 Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, FL. So come talk rockets or anything else.  There is plenty of room for guests. If you ride a Harley you will feel right at home. Mommas is the home of the BBQ Sundae. They also have the BBQ Potatoe at John Hansel’s request. Wi-Fi is available and I usually bring my laptop. So until further notice John Hansel and I will be there each Wednesday. Join us if you can.

This is not to take away from the gathering at Crews BBQ in Samson on launch days after the gear is packed up. Crews is on Hwy 87 about a mile South of Hwy 52.

Greg