photo40 |
Flight A-1, February, 1972 |
My very first amateur experimental rocket flight... |
photo41 |
Flight A-1, February 1972 |
After a short, ballistic flight to about 40 feet.. |
photo42 |
Flight B-1, April 1972 |
After completion of the A-series of flights... |
photo43 |
Flight B-1, April 1972 |
Although the recovery parachute deployed, it did so
prematurely... |
photo44 |
Flight B-3, May 1972 |
This rocket was equipped with an experimental "pendulum
switch"... |
photo45 |
Flight B-6, July 1972 |
The rocket for Flight B-6 was equipped with the D-II motor... |
photo46 |
Flight B-8, August 1972 |
This rather handsome rocket had a length of 45 inches... |
photo47 |
Flight B-8, August 1972 |
Liftoff ! The rocket was equipped with a "mercury switch"... |
photo48 |
Flight PT-1, January 1973 |
The PT series of flights, which followed the eighth and last of the
"B" series... |
photo49 |
Flight C-1, March 1973 |
The moment of liftoff...the rocket for Flight C-1 begins... |
photo50 |
Flight C-6, June 1973 |
Silhouetted against a twilight sky, the rocket climbs |
photo51 |
Flight C-6, June 1973 |
My friend and "launch assistant" Ray Bodnar... |
photo52 |
Flight C-6, June 1973 |
Immediately after liftoff, the rocket swerved quite sharply... |
photo53 |
Flight C-7, August 1973 |
After the loss of the rocket from the preceding flight... |
photo54 |
Flight C-7, August 1973 |
Boosted aloft by less than ½ pound of KN-Sucrose propellant in the
B-200... |
photo55 |
Flight C-7, August 1973 |
After descending gracefully for nearly a minute... |
photo56 |
Flight C-9, August 1973 |
The nosecone for this rocket was made up of three sections... |
photo57 |
Flight C-9, August 1973 |
Liftoff...view from a ringside seat!... |
photo58 |
Flight C-9, August 1973 |
After departing the launch pad, the rocket rapidly climbed... |
photo59 |
Flight C-12, July 1979 |
The rocket for Flight C-12 was, without question, the oddest
looking... |
photo60 |
Flight C-9, Aug. 1973 |
The parachute ejection triggering (PET) module used for Flight
C-12... |
photo61 |
Flight C-14, July 1979 |
Launch Assistant Ray Bodnar skillfully adjusting the launch pad
legs... |
photo62 |
Flight C-14, July 1979 |
A pencil-thin smoke trail attests to the swift acceleration of this
rocket... |
photo63 |
Flight C-14, July 1979 |
Due to a moderately strong wind, the rocket drifted far
downrange... |
photo64 |
Flight C-16, September 1979 |
Beginning with this flight, my rockets were painted fluorescent
orange... |
photo65 |
Flight C-16, September 1979 |
The parachute ejection triggering module that debuted aboard Flight
C-16... |
photo66 |
Flight C-16, September 1979 |
The rocket for Flight C-16 attained a similar peak altitude to that
of... |
photo67 |
Flight C-17, June 1980 |
The rocket for Flight C-17 awaiting launch... |
photo68 |
Flight C-17, June 1980 |
With just a few hundred feet left to descend... |
photo69 |
Flight C-17, June 1980 |
"Recovery Assistant" Brenda (my sister) closely examines... |
photo70 |
Flight C-18, July 1980 |
The "Launch Director", carrying his trusty tape-recorder... |
photo71 |
Flight C-18, July 1980 |
Shortly after liftoff, at an altitude of some 50 feet, an ominous
puff... |
photo72 |
Flight C-18, July 1980 |
The propellant grain shatters into several still-burning
fragments... |
photo73 |
Flight C-18, July 1980 |
The upper fuselage was split wide open by the sudden
pressurization... |
photo74 |
Flight C-19, July 1981 |
A new rocket and motor were constructed... |
photo75 |
Flight C-20, July 1981 |
The rocket for Flight C-20 was fitted with somewhat larger
fins... |
photo76 |
Flight C-21, August 1981 |
Liftoff! As well as certain changes to the rocket... |
photo77 |
Flight C-21, August 1981 |
Safe ending in a grassy field... |
photo78 |
Flight C-23, September 1981 |
My orange rocket standing out against a pallid sky... |
photo79 |
Flight C-23, September 1981 |
A gentle descent provides contrast to a dramatic sky... |
photo80 |
Flight C-24, September 1981 |
By this time, the physical appearance of the rockets had pretty
much... |
photo81 |
Flight C-27, September 1982 |
Outstanding in his field. My father posing next to one of... |
photo82 |
Flight C-30, October 1982 |
Stick out your tongue. The "tongue" is actually... |
photo83 |
Flight C-30, October 1982 |
Inaugural flight of the C-400 motor... |
photo84 |
Flight C-30, October 1982 |
Resting in a bed of cattails... |
photo85 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
Conducting a pre-launch checkout of the rocket... |
photo86 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
The rebuilt electronic module, which consisted of the PET
circuitry |
photo87 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
A view of the "back" side of the electronics module... |
photo88 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
Ray Bodnar genuinely adjusting the launch pad while my brother,
Blair... |
photo89 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
The 5 lb. (2.3 kg.) rocket for Flight C-31, powered by... |
photo90 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
Literally in the blink of an eye, the rocket catapults itself
skyward... |
photo91 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
Due to a near absence of wind, the rocket descended with minimal
drift... |
photo92 |
Flight C-31, September 1983 |
Uh, Rich, maybe next time you should park a bit further away... |
photo93 |
Flight C-32, September 1983 |
The C-400 motor takes to the sky for a second time... |
photo94 |
Flight C-33, July 1984 |
Final checkout of the rocket prior to commencement of the
countdown... |
photo95 |
Flight C-33, July 1984 |
3 - 2 - 1 - Liftoff of Flight C-33! Perfect launch conditions... |
photo96 |
Flight C-33, July 1984 |
The rocket gently descending not far from the launch pad, from where
it... |
photo97 |
Flight C-34, July 1984 |
Preparing for the third flight of the C-400 motor... |
photo98 |
Flight C-34, July 1984 |
A puff of smoke signals ignition, which soon swelled into a column
of... |
photo99 |
Flight C-35, August 1984 |
Back to aluminum fins for this flight... |
photo100 |
Flight C-35, August 1984 |
Shortly after clearing the launch rail, something went awry.... |
photo101 |
Flight C-37, November 1984 |
Setting up for a launch under winter-like conditions... |
photo102 |
Flight C-38, November 1984 |
The last flight of the "C" series... |