Launch Pictures

August 28 the Blue Mountain Rocketeers were host to a rocket launch that drew model rocketry enthusiasts from all over the Pacific Northwest. Nearly 60 flyers were on hand for BMR's monthly club launch, held at the new "Lone Tree" launch site on Whetstone Road. This event was made possible through the generous support of Dan McKinley and Broughton Land Company, who allowed our group access to their alfalfa field to conduct our launch activities from. Many who attended the event remarked at how great a launch site this location is. Our heartfelt thanks to Broughton Land Company for their support!

Temperatures in the mid-90's with variable winds 5 to 15 miles per hour restricted flights to low impulse models throughout the morning. While waiting for the winds to die down, several rocketry enthusiasts took the opportunity to do what many of us do while waiting for winds to die down…..we flew kites. By far the best show of the day was John Reynolds of Seattle, who flew a large acrobatic kite performing many rolls, spins, dives and other stunts to the delight of many of the kids. By late morning the winds had died sufficiently to allow rockets to be flown in earnest.

Scott Binder of Lowden, WA logged 4 flights for the day. Scott had been busy the past few months, and came armed with several scratch-built rockets of his own design. The Diablo made a great opening flight on an F62-4 Darkstar motor. The second flight attempt the rocket suffered a cato on the pad with a G35-4 Econojet. The motor adapter was destroyed in the mishap, but the rocket suffered no damage. Scott's 4-inch Apache made an impressive flight on an I211, but a separation resulted in a broken fin on the booster when it landed without the parachute. The nosecone and parachute were recovered several hundred yards down-range. Another 4-inch model named The Relic also flew on an I154. The rocket looked like something out of the old Flash Gordon series, but flew well.

Jim Downey Jr. of Benton City, WA logged 2 flights for the day. Jim first tested the waters with his scratch-built rocket named Stinger on a F40 reload. He then punched the envelope with a scratch-built Amraam 4 on an I211.

Paul Eiternick of Monroe, WA made 4 flights for the day. Paul first tested the waters with a Big Daddy on a D motor. He then made 2 flights with his PML Phantom on a G64 and H112 respectively. He then wrapped up his day with an Aerotech Arcas on a F25 single use motor.

Dave Emery of Orofino, ID made 6 flights for the day. His Super Fat Boy flew twice on D and E motors. The VBR Stretch Blobbo also put in another appearance on an E30. The Aerotech Astrobee D and Initiator also flew well on G impulse motors, as did Dave's Binder Design Thug on a G125-10 single use.

Pat Floyd came over from the coast armed with a wide assortment of interesting rocket vehicles and high power rocket aspirations. Pat spent most of the day preparing for his Tripoli level 2 certification attempt, and his first electronics flight. His large and impressive Rocket R&D Corporal went nearly out of sight on a J350 reload, but was recovered intact for his level 2 certification. His scratch-build upscale copy of the old Estes Trident kit was launched from a 10-foot rail launcher on a I284. The on-board electronics performed flawlessly for another successful flight.

Mike Grindel of the Tri-Cities made 8 flights for the day on a wide assortment of models. His LOC Aura suffered a separation on an E15 motor. Mike soon got into the swing of things however, and made flawless flights for the rest of the day. His Machbuster and Big Daddy flew well on D motors. His Aerotech Wart Hog also flew well on an F. Mike's NCR Patriot was a crowd-pleaser on a G, as was his unique "Pumpkin Eater". His scale IQSY Tomahawk flew well on a F20. Mike also logged a flight on another unknown type rocket (forgot to put the name on the flight card Mike) on a G35 Econojet. Mikes 2 son's Stephen and Jeffrey Grindel also came prepared to fly. Both logged a total of 6 flights. Jeffrey flew an Estes Firebird and Big Dawg on B motors, and a Big Daddy on a D. Stephen flew an Estes Venom on an A8-3, and a Big Bertha and Prowler on C motors. Kimberly Harms, back from her recent trip to LDRS 18 in Argonia, KS came over from the coast with a couple of ambitious rocket projects. Her scratch-built Community 3 made a great flight on a J350 reloadable rocket motor. The rocket featured on-board electronics with 2-stage parachute deployment and on-board altimeter. Upon recovery, the altimeter recorded an altitude of 1,868 feet. Kimberly's other flight was with a scratch-built 2-stage high power rocket named Community 5. The rocket was to have boosted on an I300, staging to a H123. Unfortunately, the second stage failed to ignite, but the on-board electronics deployed the recovery system, and both stages were recovered successfully.

Buddy Hope of Orofino, ID logged 8 flights for the day. Buddy's Estes Big Dawg suffered a separation on a C5-3 motor. He flew his Estes Banshee 3 times on C motors, and his CRC Redliner 4 times on B and C motors.

Bruce Johnson of Newcastle, WA made 2 flights for the day. His LOC Lil' Nuke made a great flight on an E30 single use motor. He then wowed the crowd with his black and gold LOC Magnum on a J275.

Tom Ledgerwood of Clarkston, WA logged 4 flights for the day. His vintage Estes UFO flying saucer made an entertaining flight on a C. Tom then turned up the volume with his Aerotech Initiator on a F50, followed by his LOC Graduator on a G80. His last flight was a real screamer with a LOC IROC on an I284 rocket motor. Tom's son Kevin had some real tough luck. He made one successful flight with his vintage Estes DART on a B6-4. He then tried the rocket again with a D21-4 composite. The motor cato'ed at ignition on the pad, and damaged the motor mount. Kevin then attempted to put up his repaired NCR Patriot on a F62-4 Darkstar motor. This rocket augured at the June club launch, sustaining heavy damage. The rocket had been expertly repaired however, and was making a return flight today. The rocket boosted well, but failed to deploy the parachute. The rocket core-sampled behind the LCO table, causing irreparable damage.

Madge Marbach of Washtucna, WA made 2 flights with 2 Estes Big Daddy's on D12-3 motors.

Tom and Laurren Nirider of the Tri-Cities made 3 flights for the day. After 3 igniter failures, Tom finally got the F12-5 motor to light in his Aerotech Cheetah for a good flight. Laurren made 2 flights with an Estes Egg-Streme on a C motor, and an Estes Bandit on an A8-3.

Jake Peters of Dayton logged 7 flights for the day. His Estes Snitch flying saucer flew 3 times on C motors. Jake also logged successful flights with an Alpha, Code Red, and 2 scratch-built rockets on a variety of A, B and C motors.

Johnathan Quigg of Dayton made 2 flights for the day. His scratch-built Star Wars Y-Wing fighter flew well on an B6-4, as did his Edmonds Deltie glider on a ½ A3-2T.

Yours truly, in-between a couple of tours of duty as Launch Control Officer, was able to log 1 flight for the day with my scratch-built Area 51 on a E18-4 reload.

When John Reynolds of Seattle, WA wasn't busy helping out at the All Hobbies tent, he was either flying kites or launching rockets. His bright orange Archer 38 suffered an early ejection on an H123 and was heavily damaged. His PML Amraam 3 faired better on an H180.

Robert Riley logged 2 flights for the day. His CRC Lamprey flew well on a C6-3, as did his Rocket Vision Check Six on a D12-5 motor.

Kayla Rodriguez of Dayton made 3 flights for the day. 2 were with her Estes Meteor on B motors, the other was with an Estes Hijax payloader on an A8-3.

BMR Board member Josh Scoles of Washtucna, WA logged 2 flights for the day. His new Estes X-Flyer made a great flight on a C6-5. It was lost down range for some time, put persistence paid off, and the rocket was recovered. Josh also logged a good flight with his orange Alpha on a B8-5.

Chris and Traci Scott of Gig Harbor, WA made 5 flights between the 2 of them. Chris started out with a modified Estes Prowler he aptly named "Howler" on a D12-3. He next flew an Aerotech Mirage on a G64 reload. His final flight was on a PML Amraam on an H180 reload. The flight featured the use of an on-board electronic altimeter with 2-stage parachute deployment. Very nice! Chris's wife Traci launched a Quest UFO on a C6-0, and a Silver Comet on a D12-3.

Steve Sexton of Moses Lake, WA made 2 flights for the day. His PML D-Region Tomahawk flew well on an H242 reload. Steve had several problems with his PML Quasar, however. This rocket featured on-board electronics with 2-stage barometric deployment. The vent holes for the barometric sensor were apparently too large, allowing the 5 to 7 mile per hour breeze at the launch site to trick the sensor into thinking it was flying. Both ejection charges went off on the pad. After taking a few moments to re-arm the system, the rocket was on the pad again. It screamed skyward on an I211, and was promptly lost on the backside of a hill to the south of the range. 3 hours of searching produced no trace of the rocket. The next day (Sunday) I went hiking for the rocket, and found it laying in the bottom of a canyon ¾ of a mile away, where it had drifted under parachute into a thicket. The $300+ rocket was returned the following week to a very grateful hobbyist.

Dave and Justin Smith of Benton City, WA made 3 flights for the day. Dave's pretty black LOC Forte with a unique flame paint job screamed on a G80 single use motor. His son Justin first tested the waters with an Estes Flash on a C6-5. He then made an impressive flight with his scratch-built monster rocket named Giant Red on a cluster of 4 G35-4 Econojets. The flight was great, and upon recovery, Justin found he had got all 4 motors to light; a very difficult task.

Dean Smith and his daughter Kim of Prescott, WA logged a total of 5 flights for the day. Dean made a very pretty, very successful NAR level 1 certification flight with a LOC Minnie Magg on a H238 reload. He and Kim then followed up with back-to-back flights of the scratch-built Flying Jenny bi-wing gliders on A8-3 motors. Dean plans to up-scale this very successful design to fly on 24mm reloadable rocket motors. Kim also flew her Estes Jinx on an A10 motor, which suffered a separation with all parts recovered. Kim's final flight of the day was with the new Estes Exo-Skel replete with "Greedo" the alien on a C motor.

By the end of the day, a total of 90 flights had been logged. It was a very successful launch and everyone appeared to have a good time regardless of the heat and the wind. Our thanks to Chris Scott, Jim Downey, John Marbach and Bruce Johnson for their time as Launch Control Officers. And a special thanks to the gang at All Hobbies for coming all the way from Puyallup, WA in support of our launch providing us with rocket motors, kits and supplies.

Our next launch is Rolling Thunder 5, a model rocketry competition event geared towards kids. The event will be B motor streamer duration. The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 18 at the Whetstone launch site. Bring a picnic lunch and the kids and come join the fun!

Bruce Johnson of Newcastle, WA launched this pretty black and gold LOC Magnum on a J275.

Lowden, WA resident Scott Binder's 4" scratch-built Apache boosting under I211 power.

Another one of Scott's great scratch-builts. This is the "Relic", a Flash Gordon-like rocket lifting off on an I154.

Yet another one of Scott's rockets. This one is a 4" shorty named "Diablo" on an F62-4 Darkstar.

The kids in the Blue Mountain Rocketeers love to drag race their models. Here's an example of the great fun the kids have! Just wish we knew who's rockets these are! Can anyone help us out?

Kim Smith of Prescott, WA tried out her new Estes Exo-Skell on C6-3 power. She gave "Greedo" the alien quite a ride!