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Photo by Tsolo T.
Tsolo from RocketShots! © 2006
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XPRS
2006 was divided into a
three day long event for flying commercial motors on Fri-Sat-Sun and then a one
day "research launch" for flying experimental motors on Monday.
I was
four for four with successful flights at XPRS and had a really fun time!
I'm already looking forward to next year!
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Photo by Oksanna Pope |
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Photo by Vern Knowles |
Photo by Vern Knowles |
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The weather got
better each day at this launch. It was a little windy
on Friday but there were still quite a few flights made. The launch
pads were very busy on both Saturday and
Sunday as both were very nice days with clear sunny skies and low or
no wind. By Monday, when most people had already left, the
weather was perfect! The photo at the left is of a weather
station that showed the
zero wind speed and 76 degree temperature on Monday. It sure
was hard having to return to the "real world" on Monday and leave
this "rocket paradise" on such a nice day.
Click on the photos
on this page to see larger versions. |
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Panorama of the XPRS
flight line |
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Photo by Vern Knowles |
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This view is looking
towards the flight line from the 500 foot pads. It was taken
on Friday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2006. The full panorama is even
wider. Click on the links below to check it out!
Click here to see a large high resolution version.
(1.0 MB jpeg file.)
Click here to see a smaller low resolution version.
(234 KB jpeg file.)
NOTE: Some web browsers will automatically fit the panorama image to
match the width of your computer window. If yours does that, then be
sure to expand the image to full size. You should be able to pan
across the large image and get a good look at the whole flight line as if
you are standing at the 500 foot pads. |
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Aerial view of the XPRS
flight line |
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Photo by Vern Knowles |
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If you look closely you can
see the entire flight line near the bottom of this photo. (Click on the
photo for a better view.) This photo was taken by a digital camera in
Starfire. Starfire was flown Sunday morning in virtually ideal
conditions and reached 8,416 feet. This view is looking due
south. The small mountain just to the left of center is 7.2
miles from the flight line. You can also see that same mountain from a
ground perspective in the panorama image further up on this page.
The small town of
Gerlach is 18 miles from the flight line (as the crow flies) and is
off the upper right hand edge of this image. More aerial photos like
this can be found at the Starfire link
below. |
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My flights at XPRS 2006
I made a total of four
flights at this launch. A couple of photos from each one are
presented below but there are many more to see. Each flight has its
own page with lots more photos, videos and flight data. Just click
on any of the photos below and it will take you to the page for that
flight.
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Photo by Oksanna Pope |
Photo by Vern Knowles |
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Click on either photo above to see lots more about Starfire at XPRS.
Starfire was launched on a combination
of seven motors. An
Animal Motor
Works M2200 "Skidmark" boosted Starfire smartly off the pad in a
shower of titanium sparks, black smoke and a very loud "crackling" sound
that is pure power and excitement. Once you "experience" one of
these motors it will become an instant favorite! After the Skidmark
burned out, at four seconds into the flight, four
Aerotech
J350 motors were ignited. Then after those burned out, at seven
seconds into the flight, the last two
Aerotech
J570 motors were ignited. Starfire cruised on up to an apogee at
8,416 feet and deployed two large parachutes for a picture perfect
recovery. This was the 15th flight of Starfire.
Read more about it and see lots more photos and some great videos by clicking
on either photo above.
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Click on either photo above to see lots
more about Angelfire at XPRS.
Angelfire was flown on an
Aerotech
M1939 motor to an altitude of 15,576 feet. It carried my
homebrew GPS downlink
system in the nosecone and was transmitting information during the
flight. A friend was reading it off a handheld display in real time.
He was yelling out altitudes as the flight took place, both going up and
coming down. It was fun to see the actual heights and hear the
altitudes live as it happened. The main parachute
deployment charge went off at 1000 feet but the chute was not ejected
until the backup charge went off at 800 feet. The canopy also took
quite a while to inflate so there were some tense moments until finally
Angelfire swung in under the main and slowed its descent just seconds
before touchdown. Fortunately there was no damage but it was a
very close call! This was the eighth flight of Angelfire. Read
more about it and see lots more photos and videos by clicking on either
photo above.
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Photo by Oksanna Pope
Wildfire was
launched on an
Aerotech M1297 motor and reached 6,187 feet. It carried my
homebrew TV transmitter that sent
back color video and sound to a monitor on the ground. It was fun
watching the flight from the ground and at the same time seeing it live
from the rocket's perspective. Wildfire came of age with this
flight. This was the 21st flight of Wildfire. Read
more about it and see lots more photos as well as the transmitted video by
clicking on either picture here. |
Photo by Vern Knowles |
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Photo by Vern Knowles |
Photo by Vern Knowles |
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Click on either photo above to see lots more about Nike Dart at XPRS.
I launched my Nike Dart
on an Aerotech
K185 on Monday morning during the XPRS "research launch" since
TRA rules now allow
commercial motors to be flown at research launches. The boost was
perfectly straight up reaching a new altitude record for this rocket at
11,349 feet. Recovery was normal and it landed safely about 0.25
miles from the pad. It was pure coincidence but like Wildfire this
was the 21st flight of my Nike Dart. Read more about it
and see more pictures by clicking on either photo
above.
This was my last flight at XPRS 2006 and it was like
icing on the cake. I was four for four and feeling very good about all
four flights. I sure had a great time at this launch. I can hardly
wait until next year! |
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Tripoli Idaho members at
XPRS 2006 |
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Photo by Vern Knowles |
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Tripoli Idaho
was well represented at this launch. Nine of us made the long drive
from Boise. Back row left to right is Neil Pyke, Shon Heiner, Greg
Spohn, Greg Fannin, Priscilla Plafcan, Rich Boltizar and Mark Plafcan.
Kneeling in the front row are Frank Ross and Vern Knowles.
These folks have been coming to Black Rock for years and I bet they will
all be back next year too. We always have a good time! |
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Heading home.... What a great launch!
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See you all next year!
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