February 2024

Two Launches this month! scroll down for details and pictures from the second February launch!

Unfortunately the weather cut the first February 2024 launch to only one day, and that day was filled with overcast skies and an occasional drizzle, however, that did not stop a large crowd from logging 88 flights over the course of the day. We saw rockets using 1/4A to L taking off from the pads at BattlePark, and even a few gliders, and a static test of a 98mm EX M motor. Several ARC teams got in practice flights, honing their models to fit the parameters of the contest. Of the 88 flights 51 were Low and Mid-Power, and 37 were High-Power.

A few pictures from Saturday February 10th:

An ARC rocket lifting off on an Aerotech F23 for a successful test flight.
An Aerotech F67 coming to life on the close mid-power rail.
Custom built ‘Lander 7’ constructed from many 3D printed parts lifts off on an Aerotech I245 Mojave Green.
Beautiful lift off of a WildMan Rocketry Ultimate Darkstar on an Aerotech L1256 Super White Lightning.

The overcast skies were a perfect canvas for “sparky” motors. Below is a Formula 150 lifting off from the away cell powered by an Aerotech K990 Dark Matter. This 20 inch long 54mm motor powered this rocket to just over 2,000 feet and was followed by a perfect recovery.

Up close with a custom build lifting off on an Aerotech K1100 Blue Thunder

An absolutely beautiful 4″ MAC Rocketry BlackFly tearing off the pad on an Aerotech H550 Super Thunder
A very unique rocket being tested for the upcoming Battle of the Rockets competition in April. This flew on an Aerotech J500 and had a perfect flight and recoverty.
A Loc Precsion Laser Loc 313 taking to the sky on an Aerotech I364 Fast Black. The liftoff was followed by a perfect “dual deploy” recovery.
“Hyperloc’s Revenge” lifting off on a 54mm EX K850 ‘blue.’
A very nice Loc Precision Hi-Tech powered by an Aerotech G61 White Lighting.
Sun setting on the range… Next launch is February 24th and 25th. See you then!

February 24th dawned a cloudy and windy day. Winds were “confused” all day and could not decide what they wanted to do, calm or blowing, from the East or from the North… Unfortunately both directions yield a “small field.” The clouds were similar, either a thick covering at 3,000′ or sporadic spots at 5,000′ with some blue sky. In most troubling fashion the first flight of the weekend landed in a tree! Thankfully this was not a bad omen or indication of things to come. Sunday was MUCH better with few clouds and winds blowing in the most favorable direction. Over the course of the two day event, more than 100 flights too to the skies over Battlepark ranging from an Estes mosquito on a 1/4A to a 6″ WildMan Rocketry kit on an M1300! We also had a VERY impressive, and successful, L1 cert flight to over 6,300′! Flight statistics and pictures below:

Saturday 2/24: 20 Low and Mid-Power flights, 18 High-Power flights and 2 High-Power static tests

Sunday 2/25: 45 Low and Mid-Power flights, 36 High-Power flights, and 1 High-Power static test

The first flight of the weekend, an Estes Great Goblin on an Aerotech G74. This one drifted into one of the few trees we have around the range. Thanks to the club’s fiberglass lineman’s pole, it was retrieved unscathed.
A BEAUTIFUL Bul Pup heading for the sky powered by an Aerotech K550 White Lightning.
The Bul Pup descending under its main parachute. No matter how many times you fly, its hard to beat the feeling when you see the main chute open!
A large and very impressive two stage rocket leaving the away cell powered by an Aerotech K1999!!!
“Warp 4” heading to the sky on an EX J580 “purple”
A very nice pink and copper rocket named “bullet Barbie” taking to the sky on the power of an Aerotech I280 DarkMatter.
A large NASA SLI rocket taking to the skies over BattlePark powered by an Aerotech K1275 Redline.
Up close with a WildMan Drago 4 named ‘EX-1127’ powered by a 38mm EX J500 “slow red.”
Beautiful liftoff of a very old kit powered by an Aerotech J270. The successful flight earned the flyer a TRA L2 certification. Congratulations!!!
A scale Honest John powered by an Aerotech K550 White Lightning.
Large rockets on large motors are a regular occurrence at BattlePark. Here is a large custom rocket lifting off on an Aerotech L1420.
An Aerotech Mustang leaving in a hurry powered by a G74!
Its hard to beat the classic Patriot Missile! This one is lifting off on Aerotech I161 White Lightning Power.

It’s said that two stage rockets aren’t twice as hard as a single stage, they are 10 times as hard. Well this team got it all together for a spectacular (and successful) flight. The booster was a CTI K1200 and the sustainer held a 450. Job well done!