Unfortunately, poor weather and field conditions forced us to cancel the first launch weekend of February. Precipitation and lots of soft mud do not make for an enjoyable day at the range. Conditions improved significantly later in the month and the weekend of February 22nd and 23rd saw 127 flights take to the skies over BattlePark from 1/2A to L power. From NASA SLI and ARC test flights, to boost gliders, clusters, and large sport fliers, we had it all. Again, a huge thank you to Victor Newman, Matt, and all of our other photographers. Note pictures on BattlePark.org are the property of Victor Newman Photography and/or Tripoli Central Virginia and we request that you reach out prior to using them for any professional or advertising purpose.
Flight breakdown and pictures are below.
Saturday February 22nd: 45 Low and Mid-Power flights with 26 High Power
Sunday February 23rd: 29 Low and Mid-Power flights with 27 High Power
VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – 4″ LOC Precision T-Loc lifting off on a CTI J243 Blue Streak
A very cool cluster of 8 Estes A3-4T motors lit “flash pan” style with a 3D printed BP holder.
The same flyer came back with another cluster rocket sporting a pair of Estes F15-s motors. Sadly this one was not as successful as the previous.
Beautiful liftoff of a NASA SLI test flight “Calypso Flying A.T.L.A.S on an Aerotech L1520 Blue ThunderVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – A very nice boost glider taking off on an A-8. The flyer had this trimmed just about perfectly for a great glide event after the boost.VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – An absolutely beautiful Mars Snooper taking to the sky on a C11. Another NASA SLI test flight, this one lifting off on an Aerotech J800. The team turned this one around quick and flew it again on an Aerotech K375 “boost – sustain” motor (picture below).VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – A WildMan Drago 4 dubbed EX-1127 tearing off the pad on an EX K1500 to over 5,300 feet with a perfect recover. Seen under chute’ below.VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Time to get up close and personal with an Aerotech K456 Dark Matter! This one is in a 4″ MadCow Rocketry Go-Devil.
VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY 2025VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYLift off of an ARC practice flightAn L1 “shake down flight” on an Aerotech G61 White Lightning.
The Aerotech H73 BlackJack is a favorite L1 motor of many who cert at TCV. Below are a few L1 cert flights from February:
The KING KRAKEN lifting off on a CTI I180 Skidmark.Another NASA SLI test flight, this one lifting off on an Aerotech K1275 Redline.VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – An attempted drag race with both rockets using the same EX J600, unfortunately only one got off the pad. The J600 is a 6grain 38mm motor using a fairly aggressive propellant producing about 740Ns. A rocket named “Betsy Ross” lifting off on an Aerotech I245 Mojave Green“Not a Nike Smoke” with full power on from a CTI I215 Red.
A very cool series of a Nike Smoke powered by an Aerotech F40 White Lightning motor. Recovery was 100% successful.
VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYA Loc Precision Big Nuke dubbed “Marvin the Martian” tearing off the pad curtesy of an Aerotech K1103X!
A great flight turned in by No Limits powered by an EX K1212. Recovery was spot on from 3,400′
VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – “Side Hussle moving out on top of 4′ of White Lightning fire from an Aerotech I205!!!
Time for some hybrid action. This LOC Precision HyperLoc 835 left HARD thanks to a Contrail J642
VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHYVICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – The venerable Aerotech Mustang lifting off from a classic 1/4″ launch rod powered by a 24mm F24. VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY – A 3″ LOC Precision IRIS taking off under the power of an EX I300 Moonshine
Our final launch of the season is scheduled for April 4-6. The range will open at 10:00AM each day. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE EXPECT A VERY LOW CLOUD CELING ALL DAY FRIDAY. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY!!!!
