Another
rocket
launch weekend arrived. Toni decided to attend the launch at the
last moment. We left early in the morning to sneak across the
Bay
Bridge before the August beach traffic. We were not successful
as the
traffic was worse than anticipated. We managed to slowly make
the
crossing with much horn honking and colorful expletives uttered
out at
those that obviously do not know how to drive across a bridge.
We
immediately baled off on the back roads of Kent Island and made
our way
to Holly’s for some breakfast. After breakfast, we killed some
time at
some antique shops where Toni discovered a deal on some old wine
glasses while I talked shop with a fellow trunk restorer. We
then
headed to the Sod Farm to help set up.
We set the launch equipment up in the back field on the hard
dirt that
remained after the freshly harvested sod. Many rocketeers helped
and
set up was completed in no time. The skies were cloudy with a
constant
threat of rain. The day was cool for an Eastern Shore August day
which
brought many rocketeers out of their air conditioned living
rooms to
fly some rockets. I was no exception.
I soon had the newly repaired
Shaken, Not Stirred
prepped and with an eye to the sky, had the rocket sitting on
the pad.
The enamored LCO once again expressed his praise for such a nice
rocket
before finally pushing the button where the Loki H144 pushed
Shaken, Not
Stirred
1,280 feet into the overcast skies.
Shaken, Not Stirred
gently arced over where the drogue deployed.
Shaken, Not
Stirred quickly
descended and majestically deployed its mains at 400 feet.
Shaken, Not
Stirred
came to
rest in the nice soft sod. This was one of the nicest flights
for
Shaken,
Not
Stirred in a long time. I took my bows and proudly made
the
short walk to retrieve the rocket.
Witness
this
nice flight here.
I cleaned the engine while the rains came. I packed everything
in the
Highlander to keep it dry. It rain just long enough to make the
field
muddy. After a short downburst, the club was back in business
sending
rockets into the
air. I filmed some other flights and lent a hand where I could
before
it was time to head home. We arrived home muddy but satisfied in
the
day’s launch.
Ben and I left early Sunday morning to fly some more rockets but
the
rains never relented and we ended up closing the field during
the small
break
in clouds that the rocket gods provided. Until the next launch .
. .