Launch!

This post will have information on the next upcoming launch.

Our next launch is scheduled for 31 May in Acton. This post is being written one week ahead of the launch so we'll have to wait to see what the weather will be that day. If our streak continues or not, I'll make the call by Thursday night.

Whether we fly on the 31st or have to push out to a launch after that, we will dedicate our next Acton launch and our next Amesbury launch to the late John Harland. Some years ago, John distributed the bulk of his rockets to anyone who wanted them at a few of our launches. If you have one of these rockets, I'd ask that you bring it to the launch and, when you fly it, mention on the flight card that you got it from John. We'll do this at both locations so we can honor his low-, mid- and high-power builds.

Mother Nature strikes again. The late afternoon may be getting better; the Bandits may try it late in the day. Keep an eye on the Member Launches in the Private section of the Forum on the club website.

Eight days out from our next launch and the Weather Channel forecast doesn't look bad.

Stay tuned for further developments.

It’s because I’ll be out of town. You’re welcome ☺️

Don't worry Sam, WeatherBug forecast now shows 40% chance of rain Saturday

(#13 in a row!!) AND Sunday!

In honor of Father's Day, Linda will bring cake to the Sunday, June 15th launch. You don't have to be a Father in order to have cake.

I've created a shared photo album in the Gallery named 2025/06/15 (under the Acton Launches category). If you have photos that you want to appear there, create a member photo album, and contact either John Petrakis or webmaster to copy those photos to the shared album (note you want your member album to persist after the copy).

Unfortunately, the Club Express model doesn't allow for multiple members to upload to a single, shared album. The above is the workaround for that. More details here.

Sunday, June 15th was a Super Great launch. It was nice seeing everyone again.

As Todd stated, there is a new dated gallery for the last launch. I've linked Casey's and Rob's photos there. As a reminder, to make it EASIER for me or another coordinator to find the photos you've uploaded into a personal gallery (see: Uploading-Your-Photos) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE add a tag to your photo uploads that is some form of the date and your name... suggested forms are in the document linked here, and in the FAQ (FAQ -> navigating the website -> how do I post my photos to the gallery). The document is somewhat lengthy I'll admit, but it's not terribly difficult. There is no quick and easy way like the old days to do it, so simply adding proper tags to your photos on upload *would help immensely* when consolidating photos.

As Windy is forecasting winds out of the South and blowing towards Rte 2, I plan to set up near the South side of the field. I have printed out the Season Passes that I have a record of. Lanyards and clear plastic card holders are also available if you need them. Please pick them up at the RSO table. See you all tomorrow for a day of fun and safe flying!

Guy.

If you'll be attending the launch, please consider signing up* for a slot as LCO, safety check, pad assist, or setup/teardown to help spread the load.

If any of these opportunities are new to you, experienced folks are happy to show you the ropes (you must be a senior NAR member for LCO or safety).

A father and his two children contacted me to say that they are planning to fly their first rockets - they'll need a hand at the pads.

(*Some have experienced errors trying to signup for a slot, e.g. being returned to the home page with a popup "Error loading page". I'm currently chasing this down with ClubExpress, so please let me - webmaster@cmass.org - know if this happens to you, and I'll try and sign you up to the slot of your choice).

I've created a shared photo album in the Gallery named 2025/07/12 (under the Acton Launches category).

If you have photos that you want to appear there, create a member photo album by going to your profile (dropdown next to your name in the upper right corner!) and scroll ALL THE WAY to the bottom to "Your Website Functions". Click on "Photo Albums" to access your personal photo album manager. There are functions to create the album and from there you'll be able to upload photos by clicking on the pencil icon to the right of the newly created album name.

If you leave the photo album in a visible state, that's fine... if not please send me or the webmaster the album name, and if you'd like to to stay visible. (if I hear nothing I will remove the visibility after linking the photos to the share one mentioned above).

Contact me or the webmaster to link your uploaded photos to the shared gallery....

Hey John - I uploaded pix from the latest launch. Please feel free to stuff 'em in the existing launch gallery. Thanks!

Same for me John. My album is named 'Acton7-12-25Launch'.

Thanks.

The weather seems to be holding up for Saturday's launch on the 26th of July. There have been hints of possible thunderstorms. Keep an eye on the website for any updates.

Bruce Strong has very nicely taken over trailer duty while Guy is away this weekend. Without Guy there, we'll need lots of help in getting things out and set up; Tony and Scott can direct that part of the day. We will especially need lots of help at the end of the day to get everything back into the tailer in a semi-correct way. With the heat, humidity and chance for a storm, the pack out may happen sooner rather than later.

There are also 23 other volunteer positions still open as of this writing. The Pad Assistance spots worked out really well at the last launch. Helping out the new flyers really keeps things moving along.

Deb and I slinked outlast time because we were sun-wasted. But in all fairness, EVERYONE was similarly suffering. We doth suck. But we'll make the effort this Sat. to help out w/ breakdown...and if Bruce agrees to come along for post-launch chow, Deb and I will cover his tab... for being the hero du jour.

Spin-a-nator Drag Race!

We have our long-lived Frick-N-Frack Drag Race started by Jim Flis many years ago, and recently added Mega Mosquito Drag Race started by Deb and Rob. I'd like to add a third - Spin-a-nator. A few of us have them, so it should be a decent showing. And if you have a Spin-a-nator kit and haven't built it yet, now's the time.

If you want to take part, find me in the morning and I'll put a list together and try to get them launched in the mid afternoon.

Thanks.

I'm all-in on the spin-a-nator drag race...

Mosquito too.

We did Skeeters at the last launch. I was thinking of holding the next one at the Amesbury christening launch, in Sept.

If anyone needs a spin-a-nator kit, LMK. Special prices for CMASS members, and you if give me some notice I can engrave your name on it. Curtis

I will be unable to make the July 26 launch due to a family event. Mike S, I see from your FB post you are hoping to fly some events.

If you could forward to me your flight cards and those of an any other flights, I would be happy to enter the results. Alternately, you can post the results directly. Let me know what is easiest for you.

Regards,

Stephen

Spin-a-nator Drag Race.

I'll bring 3 built Spin-a-nators, donated by Curtis, to the launch tomorrow. Two small ones (18mm and 24mm motor mounts, $10) and one large Spin-a-nator (24mm motor mount, $20). The Spin-a-nators are ready-to-fly. So get yours and be part of the fun!!

With 20 volunteer positions still open, including set and teardown, we may have to have a shortened launch tomorrow.

Sign up to help out; without Guy there to work and direct, we'll need all the help we can get for the equipment and safety check.

I'll be arriving around noon today. I'm going to be at work from 6 to 11 this morning.

I can help with breakdown and I'm willing to take a turn at pad assistance also.

Rick

I'm planning on being there between 9:00 9:30 and I'll set up at the midpoint. It's going to be an interesting day.

I've created a shared photo album in the Gallery named 2025/07/26 (under the Acton Launches category). I have also created a global tag, which will be accessible via the photo upload sheet dropdown labeled "Tags" (oddly enough) named "2025-07-26 Launch"... by all means please add this to the parameters on the upload sheet and it will make it super simple to link your photos into the club 7/26 album.

As always please be sure to include in the data the name of the photographer (presumably you) and the date etc. Please be extra diligent when using the multi photo upload because it will let you leave all that info off and it won't make the person linking your photos into the gallery very happy if that's the case! ;-)

There is a link to the comprehensive guide to uploading photos under FAQ->Navigating The Website->How do I post my photos to the gallery.

JPP