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TRIPOLI Pittsburgh Launch Report
Saturday September 10,  2022
 
16 Flyers
41 Flights
 
Motor
Number
Flown
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
0
2
1
4
4
9
8
4
7
4
2
 
 
One of the biggest flights of the day (and this season) was Casey Andre's Performer 98 on a K1000 motor. Reaching a verified altitude of 4458' and landing nearly a half mile down range.
 
 
The L1 lifts off for its first of two flights on an H219 Blue Thunder motor.
Saturday Weather: Scattered, hazy clouds. Calm to light winds all day. Occasional patches of sunsine peeked out in the afternoon. Temps in the low to mid 70's.
 
Sunday's launch was cancelled due to foul weather.
The launch pads were busy enough to keep the rocket action exciting most of the day. Here we see the High Power pads being loaded with a variety of birds.
Casey even helps out with the field work!
Onboard Casey Andre's Performer 98.  This is the higest altitude video shot at the Dragon's Fire Field.
Casey Andre
 
After more than an hour of searching and multiple drone flights were conducted, the rocket remained unfound. The search/recovery crew returned to the pits to discuss strategy. Employing technologically advanced methods it was declared, "It went that way". And another search was initiated.
 
Rule #1 of Rocket Recovery: The rocket will always be farther out than expected.
 
Using the combination of "It went that way" and Rule #1, the drone crew was able to locate the rocket lying neatly on the ground within a small lot, See pictures below.
Off the launchpad, the Performer 98 tilted toward the river (west), which explains the long distance between launch point and landing point.
 
The ejection charge fired at nearly perfect apogee and the rocket began its freefall descent. After about 45 seconds the nose cone (with the camera) began to spin wildly.
Casey Andre's Performer 98 lays neatly on the ground as seen from the drone.
Onboard the Performer 98 at apogee. Note the launch site in detail below.
The frantically spinning nose cone distorts the images of the camera affixed.
Detail of the Dragons Fire field From Casey Andre's Performer 98
 
Dave Ratliff watches his doghouse lift off.
Pre-flight, Scott Kissinger said "Whenever I install the tracker in my rocket, it lands closeby."
 
Here Scott is ready, tracker in hand, while the rocket lands just a few steps away within the infield.
Larry Orange readies his Super Max for flight.
Ken Allen takes a break between the action.
Christine Rial
The WVU Experimental Rocketry Club
 
Members of the WVU Experimental Rocketry Club watch the launch of one of their rockets.
Members of the WVU Experimental Rocketry Club.