UKRA 2003 Meeting at Pete's Farm
NWR report by Mark Robinson (UKRA No.1312). All images curtosy of Bob Arnott and Adrian Hurt (thanks Bob and Adrian!)
Dave Thomson could not make it to UKRA for the first time ever due to working abroad. Andy Issott and I decided to travel down to Heckington early Friday morning. "I'll meet you at 0600", which meant we were actually leaving bleak and dismal Chipping by about 0700. Eventually got to the farm mid- to late- morning, but at least the campsite wasn't full and we managed to get a table in Hangar 18. Pitched the tents in the dry, and the weather got better from then on. When Sean turned up he asked if Richard (Parkin) was here yet. "He said he was getting to Pete's farm early". No sign of Richard until about teatime - a long story involving much chain smoking!
We didn't do any flying on the Friday, but just took stock of things and went to meet & greet a few people. It was hoped that I might do my Level 1 with the AMRAAM, but we found out that 29mm motors were thin on the ground (and in the air for that matter). Sean decided to set up his (Dave Thomson's) launch rail at the HPR site. What a long trek that was! 4x4 vehicles next time please!
Sean chillin out......
Saturday dawned and turned out to be a scorcher of a day, despite the heavy rain in the night. At least my tent didn't leak. I forget the exact timetable of our flights, but seeing as it's my report I'll detail my flights first (so ner!). Due to the lack of appropriate motors for my AMRAAM, I flew 3 of my model rockets for the first time:- Rogue Aerospace Standard ARM on a D12-5, nice performer, but the recommended 18 inch 'chute meant a long walk into the wheat field behind the HPR range. At least the 'chute stayed on top of the crop. In addition we recovered another rocket (HPR) which came to earth in two separate parts (REAL dual recovery!) and got a lift back to the launch site in the guy's 4x4. He was that chuffed about getting his rocket back that he wasn't bothered over my profuse apologies for getting muck on his nice clean car mats! I then flew my Estes "Delta Crapper" (Longshot with a Delta Clipper paint job) two stage, D to C6-7. Great flight, which thanks to streamer recovery landed in the field behind the marquees. The last model I flew was my Estes Fireflash. It's a great looking sounding rocket design, but single stage with a hell of a lot of weight in the nosecone and forward body tube. Despite all the clay it launched and flew well on a C6-5, reefed its 'chute all by itself! (snapped a shroud line) and then impaled the heavy nose into the HPR range with thankfully no damage.
In between these proceedings, Andy, Sean and Richard all flew rockets on the HPR range. Sean's upscale Thunderhawk ripped the sky apart and flew beautifully to a dual recovery on a J400 Smokey Sam to an altitude of 3315 feet. Later that afternoon, his modified upscale Optima now with die-bond fins and cluster motor mount took to the pad. "See lads, these scratch built rockets are designed to be stripped down and modded". The Optima sported 4 motors up its backside - the main being a J570 airstarting a G80, G40 and F25, "just to tickle it" was Sean's wonderful explanation! What a final HPR flight of the day. If the thunderhawk ripped the sky apart, then the Optima tore the remaining pieces asunder and spat them out of it's exhaust flame - SCORCIO! Then, whilst it was rapidly gaining height, another roar was heard - the airstart. In the event it was only the G40 which lit up, but it brought a cheer. Now what goes up must come down, unless it has achieved the escape velocity of whichever planet the vehicle was launched from. The Optima hadn't quite managed this so it decided to return under its drogue 'chute.
Sean's upscale Estes Thunderhawk
Sean's Thunderhawk 'smokin' the sky
Sean, Andy Issott and Mark Robinson getting the Upscale Optima ready to fly
Unfortunately, the main 'chute didn't deploy thanks to the G-Wizz not working and the heavy landing bashed the base of the nosecone and bent one of the fins - easily repairable.
Andy flew his freshly finished PML Explorer, modified for dual recovery, which seared of the pad on a Pro 38 I212 smokey sam. You know, those smokey sams remind me of a corporation bus setting off from its stop, although a damn sight quicker! Nice recovery in the next field without its beeper. It seems the ejection charge burned through the kite string holding the beeper on. At least it was still working after it hit the floor!
Richard flew his Canadian Sprint from BSD - his kit review was in the last issue of 10..9..8.. The motor was a Pro38 H143 Smoky Sam. He used altimeter deployment but with the motor as backup at 13 seconds. Top flight to 2k feet ;-) The beeper detached itself on deployment, but it was recovered OK; a little bit of mud but no damage. Hmm... Seems to me that beeper attachment deficiency is contagious!
Richard Parkins BSD Sprint on a H143
Many other great flights, both HPR and model, were made. Yes a few flights ended not quite according to plan, but I doubt there will ever be a rocketry meet with 100% perfect flights. Tripoli NL were here in force too, putting on a good show of big, bad, lock-and-lose type launches. One of our european visitors (apologies for not knowing which nationality he was) managed a flight of 7200 feet approx. altitude with a small, beautiful, metalflake silver rocket using a 6-grain Pro 38 motor. It had some of the most gorgeous looking carbon fibre fins I have seen to date. The finish seemed to be 10 feet deep! Initially he couldn't grab the data off his altacc, but with Richard and Andy's help it was soon downloaded.
I believe George made a great comeback flight with his Enterprise 2 hybrid model, although it was doing a bit of tail wagging on the way up. It had a wonderful new chrome paint job with orange fins - a big change from the original which energetically disassembled itself on the pad at Largs last year. Colin Rowe presented an unusual 2 stage design in which the second stage had conformal flip fins which should have deployedafter it left the booster; unfortunately it never did leave the booster on the flight which I witnessed. However, it was beautifully engineered as usual though Colin!
With the flying over with we retired back to Hangar 18, initially for the AGM. One of the points raised was that of financial contributions towards the fireworks display, both at UKRA and K-LOB. My worry was that if we rocketeers provide money, thus letting the creative juices of the firework people flow, then the display might escalate into battlefield tactical nuke territory! Now, where's my wallet :) When darkness fell, we were treated to a great display with plenty of loud explosions although we didn't quite feel them in our chests (K-LOB last year!). Any chance we can have a simulated B-52 saturation bombing run next time lads? It was disappointing that the catherine wheel of DOOM turned into the catherine wheel of partial defeat & uncertain destiny after it refused to spin up properly. Another point to note that UKRA read backwards doesn't have the same childish appeal as K-LOB :) Speaking of childish appeal, Mr. Davey managed to sell me some Astrojax after an impromptu display from him and Mike Crewe. Pete, check out their website and get some tune-up kits in for next time!
Well, that's basically the end of my report of UKRA 2K3. As usual a great time was had being in the company of like-minded nutters..erm sorry, individuals. More of the same at Largs and K-LOB please. What about Sunday you ask? Well, Andy and I needed to set off early afternoon so no visit to the range was made. That decision was quite fortuitous because a tropical storm decided to blow in. We just managed to manhandle Andy's tent into Hangar 18 as the rain hit. The noise was incredible. Unfortunately more than a few people were at the range frantically hanging on to the marquee and presumably trying to shelter.
Perhaps an eyewitness report will turn up in 10..9..8..? The storm soon blew over and we said our goodbyes and left in pleasant sunshine.
My thanks go to everyone attending and making the meet what it was, UKRA council members for their organisation, the Burger man, Rockets & Things and of course the Davey family. God, sounds like an Oscar award ceremony doesn't it?
See you all at Largs........
