All,
 
The next SouthEast Alabama Rocketry Society (SEARS) launch is April 12th 2008 in Samson, AL. The event is Peep Spot Landing sponsored by Sunward Aerospace Group.

The three rocket flights that place a peep closest to a target on the field by 3 PM will draw in order, closest first, from the special Sunward prize pool.   The remaining Sunward prizes will be given out by random drawing of green flight cards. The prize pool includes four Sunward kits and lots of components. You may make as many peep flights as you like and multiple peeps are allowed on one flight.  Use Official Peeps of any variety. Peeps that are dropped must have a recovery device for their/our protection. Thanks to Sunward who provides high quality model rockets kits, parts, and accessories for the Rocketeer.

SEARS 572 held its month launch on March 1, 2008. The day started out a little cool, but turned into a beautiful day to launch. The high was about 65 F and the winds were mainly light.

Jim Flis day was the main event. Anyone who launched a Fliskits rocket had their name put into a hat for a prize. Jim Flis was very generous to send rockets for the prizes. 25 Jim Flis creations were flown and there was a mass launch of Fliskits.  The Fliskit Decaffinator and the Frick & Frack flew. They are both impressive and will make excellent demo rockets.  See pictures here and a video of the mass launch here.

There were many high power launches. There were two J motor drag races and 2 L motor launches. The Auburn team had an exciting L motor launch. The video can be seen here.

The quick flight stats show 98 flights from 19 flyers. Marty Wiggins was the “Frequent Flyer” of the day with 16 flights. We are missing a couple of flight cards, so the total is probably 101 flights. Here is the motor breakdown.

Read the rest of this entry »

SEARS supported the Alabama Aerospace week at Landmark Park in Dothan, AL Feb 20 - Feb 24. We provided a Newton’s Law talk and rocket demo flights. The activities at Aerospace Week also included a R/C Airplane demos and landing/takeoff by an Apache helicopter. This year, rain starting on Thursday limited the number of demos. Thanks to Jack Kale, Randy Wiggins and Marty Wiggins of SEARS for doing the demos.

See photos below and more in the gallery.

The crowd on the 20th

Read the rest of this entry »

Peep Spot Landing Event at the April 5th 2008 launch will be sponsored by Sunward.

The Peep landing closest to a target on the field will win a draw first from the special Sunward prize pool.  Then we will distribute the remaing Sunward prizes by random selection from the green flight cards for peep flights. Use Official Peeps of any variety. Multiple Peeps are allowed. Peeps that are ejected must have a recovery device for their protection.

Sunward Rockets Kits are high quality model rockets kits, parts, and accessories for the Rocketeer. Currently A-G powered with most of the model rocket kits being A-D engine powered.

SEARS 572 had its monthly launch in Samson, AL on Feb 2nd, 2008. You could not beat the weather as it warmed up nicely with high clouds and low winds. Our event was Egg Loft. Zachary Wilson won and chose the Exoskell from the prize pool. The Auburn SLI Team brought their 6 inch rocket with a instrument payload. They launched it on L motors. Greg Lane had a successful M flight with the Mighty Mo to 5352 feet. He also launched his new X15 rocket on a K550. Launch was fine but the chute did not fully deploy. It can be repaired. We were pleased to have Rob Wilson his wife Corinne, their three children and his Father and the In-Laws, Roger & Connie Leete. Thanks to John Hansel for the setting up the heavy duty launch gear and Randy, Kendall and John for the LCO support.

Rob Wilson with kids.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Flis lives in New Hampshire. He has many interests including rocketry, pumpkin carving, fishing, boating, hiking, alaska, reading/writing,  and cardboard boat building. Fortunately for the rocket community, he is the principle partner of FlisKits. FlisKits are an excellent alternative to Estes and Quest. They are designed to be fun to build and fun to fly. Jim introduced a new classic called the Deuces Wild with two canted motors.  Jim is very involved in rocketry based education in New England. He has created several rocket kits for youthful builders.

In recognition to Jim’s contributions to rocketry we are having a Jim Flis Day Event. Fly any Fliskit or upscale of his kits and you will be entered to win a Fliskit or other product Jim is donating. There will be as many winners as there are FlisKit donated items.

The next SouthEast Alabama Rocketry Society (SEARS) launch is February 2nd 2008 in Samson, AL. Our event is Egg Loft Day. Use a green flight card for any egg loft flight and you will entered for a draw from the prize pool. We will also have Egg Loft Duration contest for 18mm C motor egg lofters. The rocket bearing one raw large egg must come down as one piece and the egg must not crack. This contest is for bragging rights and a mention in the launch report.

We are announcing an on-going Young Rocketeer Event for any person twelve or under. Make a launch on a blue flight card and you will be entered for a draw from the prize pool. Please let the young rocketeer do as much as possible in building and launching of the rocket.

Read the rest of this entry »

SEARS has done a Newton’s Laws talk and rocket demo for the Alabama Aerospace Week program at Landmark Park near Dothan, AL each year since 1999. The Alabama Aerospace Week program typically involves three or four demos a day over the course of four days. This reaches about 600 young people each year.  This years dates are February 20-23, 2008. 

Read the rest of this entry »

SEARS 572 had its monthly launch in Samson, AL on Jan 5, 2008. The day started out cool, but warmed to the upper 60s in the afternoon. The winds were mainly light.  They got up to about 10 mph around noon, but fell as the day wound down.
 
The day was one of the biggest attended in SEARS history.  There were 18 vehicles at the launch.  The totals were 18 fliers and 102 flights.

Many came to see the flight of the “Hewes Space Special”.  The maiden flight was not great, as the rocket nosed in.  John says it is repairable.

John Hansel and Heather Parker with the the Hewes Space Special. Heather did the excellent artwork.  Read the rest of this entry »