Copyright © 1964-2023 Tripoli Pittsburgh, Tripoli Rocketry Association, Inc.
TRIPOLI Pittsburgh
Launch Report
November 5, 2023
Page 8
Flyers: 29
Flights: 68
Biggest - John Haught
John Haught filled his big truck with big rockets for the big launch in November. After flying a bunch of beauties, he loaded up the biggest of the day.
John loads up the Howler 75 for a flight on a 38mm 4 grain I-303.
Photo:Ernie Marsh
Launch Area
The Howler tilts off line to the northeast (at left).
A couple of drone flights and another day was required to bring the Howler home.
Howler 75
Competitor
John Haught makes all of his own motors. And he makes a lot of them.
A motor batch will sometimes yield extra grains that don't get used in a particular motor. And sometimes the extra grains don't get labeled.
When the unlabeled bin gets full enough, John will assemble a motor with the unknown grains and fly it as the "Mystery Motor".
At the November launch, John loaded his Competitor rocket with one of these 54mm Mystery Motors.
The Competitor was slow to build up sufficient thrust to leave the launchpad. Once it did get moving, it turned east.
It appeared to stabilize itself toward vertical.
Note the change in smoke color characteristic of the mixed grains in a Mystery Motor.
The color change looks pretty cool until the Competitor turns over.
Pointing down is rarely something that rocket flyers like to see. And unfortunately for John, the Competitor became a lawn dart punching into the Dragon's Fire Field.
The parachute deployed after impact.
And no drone flight was required for location.
Pain Killer
John Haught and his son Austin ready the Pain Killer for flight.
The Pain Killer coasts upward in the picturesque sky.
Sumo
John Haught took off the gloves in November bringing out one of the biggest motor/rocket combinations ever seen at the Dragon's Fire Field. (First N motor ever is under dispute).
His Sumo N is an upscale from an Aerotech kit with a 12" diameter and a length of somewhere between 6 and 12 feet.
Photo:Ernie Marsh
"We now have the premier event of the day....", acting RSO Dave Ratliff announced.
Photo:Eddie Zelenick
Photo:Dan Heinlen
John Haught with his jumbo Sumo N, an upscaled version of an Aerotech kit.
A team of people are required to assemble and ready a rocket as big as the Sumo N.
TRIPOLI Pittsburgh long lens specialist Dan Heinlen captured this great shot of the lift off of the Sumo N.
Ooohs and Ahhhs were heard from the crowd watching the Sumo N heading skyward.
John rigged the big Sumo with separate parachutes for the nose cone and rocket booster.
Both were successfully recovered near the pond. While the nose was in a tree, the large size and long lines meant that it could be pulled down without issue.
John Haught's Howler takes to the air off of one of the high power pads.
Recovery of the Howler was easy.... once it was located with a drone.
Howler
John Haught always adds to the great show at TRIPOLI Pittsburgh launches and 2023 was no exception. John has already begun work for 2024 and more can be expected for next year.
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