April 2025 – Tripoli Central Virginia

The first weekend in April featured our last launch of the 2024-2025 season and the Battle of the Rockets competition. This weekend was by far the busiest of the year, and featured nearly 250 flights of the the course of the three day launch. This is particularly notable as the weather forecast for the three days was much less than ideal, with rain and a VERY low ceiling forecast for each day. Thankfully, this did not materialize and each day saw times where conditions that were not only flyable bud darn near perfect. This weekend really had it all, several very large projects to include a 1/3 scale Sprint Missile on M power, IREC test flights, a fantastic two stage flight to over 5,000′ by Virginia Tech’s OLVT team, drag races, a full K hybrid motor and more. Saturday alone saw nearly 130 flights with 57 F motors flown. The F motor is a favorite for ARC teams and also a required motor for the Battle of the Rockets target altitude competition. The wind came up in force on Sunday forcing us to shut the range down at about 1:45. Many thanks to all who helped clean up the range, we had everything off and put away in record time!

Details and pictures below:

Friday April 4th: 39 low and mid-power flights with 17 high-power and 10 or more Battle of the Rockets contest flights.

Saturday April 5th 68 low and mid-power flights with 25 high power and over 20 Battle of the Rockets contest flights.

Sunday April 6th: 31 low and mid-power with 15 high power.

Great crowds all weekend. This was taken in the early afternoon on Saturday.

The RSO was busy all weekend. Huge thank you to all that helped over the three days of flying!

Thank you to Burnt Ends BBQ for coming out on Saturday to provide both breakfast and lunch!!!

Liftoff of a very cool rocket using almost entirely 3D printed parts. The flight on an Aerotech G80 Blue Thunder motor was 100% successful.

A 4″ upscale of the famous Estes DER Red Max dubbed the IRON MAX thanks to the Iron Man themed decals taking to the cloudy skies on an Aerotech H148 Dark Matter.

This weekend saw a TON of ARC test flights and qualification attempts. The vast majority of these flights were successful and some of the qualification scores were VERY impressive with a few scoring below a 10. Great job to all the ARC flyers!!!

The Finland Flyer lifting off on an EX H150 Turbo.

An absolutely beautiful LOC Precision Minie Magg taking to the skies over BattlePark on an Aerotech I357!

Test flight of a CanSat rocket on an Aerotech I245 Mojave Green. All three pieces recovered successfully.

VCU was out in force to fly their IREC rocket “Still Baking” on an Aerotech L1256 Super White Lightning. The flight from the away cell was fantastic! Up close picture provided by Pat from Virginia Tech.

The next series highlights a very unique project. This is a 1/3 scale Sprint missile that was launched out of a tube style launcher for a very authentic flight. The Spring is a two stage Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) that was designed to intercept incoming nuclear warheads. This scale version used an Aerotech M4500 staging to an Aerotech K560. Due to a slight tilt coming out of the launcher, the on-board electronics did not allow the sustainer to fire. The flight was still very impressive and hats off to the flyer for an incredible project!

Another large project was flown by OLVT from Virginia Tech. This large two stage rocket used an Aerotech K2050 Super Thunder motor in the booster and an Aerotech J250 in the sustainer. This flight to just over 5,000 feet was 100% perfect with both motors performing as anticipated and all recovery events occurring right on queue. Close up pictures courtesy of Pat from Virginia Tech.

No Limits lifting off on an EX K1500 using a propellant the flyer calls “White 357.”

“Flame Thrower” taking to the skies powered by an Aerotech H123. …not the typical flame we see from this motor.

A beautiful WildMan Rocketry Journey 75 dubbed ‘Crystal Hammer’ leaving the rail hard on an Aerotech H128 White Lightning. The flight was 100% successful.

A very aggressive EX J550 “Moonshine” pushing Mach Shock off the rail to over 2,500 feet.

The “Super Alpha Three” turning gracefully into the wind as it makes it way to over 2,700 feet powered by an Aerotech K780 RedLine motor.

This one was REALLY COOL, the “Space Shuttle” powered by an Estes 1/2A 3-4T. Don’t need a huge motor to have a lot of fun!!!

An Estes V2 lifting off from a custom “mini rail” on an Aerotech E18 White Lightning.

The picture does not do the metallic red finish on this rocket justice, it is absolutely stunning! The flight on an Aerotech G76 Mojave Green was just as good!

Check out the flame from the Aerotech H283 Super Thunder! This L1 cert attempt was a success, congrats to the flyer!

An Estes Pro Series II Door Knob lifting off on an Aerotech G72 Dark Matter.

Ignition of an Aerotech I357 Blue Thunder in the “G3 Express!”

Liftoff of a LOC Precision Hyper Loc 1600 on a MASSIVE Contrail K555. Ignition and liftoff of this huge hybrid was visceral!!!!

The “Big Bertha and a Half” lifting off from the low-power pads on a Quest D20 for a beautiful flight.

An Estes Pro Series II Star Orbiter taking to the sky on an Aerotech F63 Red Line for a very nice flight.

Liftoff of “Hoo-Rizon” a custom build for the University of Virginia on an Aerotech J350 White Lightning. Unfortunately, recovery was not ideal, however, confident they will be back better than ever!

A re-built Estes Mega-Sizz. This Estes classic is taking to the sky on an Estes D12-5 for a fantastic flight.

Our long time member and board member Elaine out with her Nike Smoke. Flew it on a CTI I212 SmokySam for a beautiful flight!

A favorite of the BattlePark crowd, the Ugly Duck! This storied 43 pound rocket has been owned by a few different flyers in the Virginia and Maryland area. Here she is being readied and flown on an Aerotech L1150 Red Line motor. The up-close pictures courtesy of Pat from Virginia Tech.