Jan 21, 2023, Launch in Acton; CMASS Winter Follies 2023!
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 25 January 2023 06:46
- Written by Claude Maina
The day was overcast, temps in the low 30's with virtually no wind in the morning and picking up slightly blowing toward the trees in the early afternoon. There was a really good crowd for a Winter Follies launch, with an estimated 30 to 40 cars and around 50 people at noon. There was the usually three rod and one rail set-up with no PA system and no launch cards. So an exact number of launches is not known but it had to be close to 100. That's a lot for a launch in January! There was the usual crowd plus a couple of Dads with their kids and one first-timer (me!). Motors ranged from A through G. There was an unusually large number of CATO's for both black powder and
AP motors, a couple of lawn darts, core samples and tree'd rockets! All making for an entertaining day! Pictures are in the Gallery. Please post yours. Thanks to all who helped set up and take down.
The next four scheduled launches are all TARC launches in Acton. Keep an eye on the banner and Forum for updates. Come by and help out. It's always fun!
At the last launch of the CMASS season, Mr. Kenn Blade of Amesbury, MA launched a mid-power rocket. Your intrepid reporter from the CMASS Picayune was there to record the event. It was a cold day, temperatures in the 30's for most of the day with clear skies. The winds were light to moderate, although blowing toward the homes on the northside of the field, which limited high power flights.
Mr. Blade's launch was one of 212 launches that Saturday with motors ranging from 13mm A to I. There were 9 high power flights and, as yet unconfirmed reports of three CATO's. There were close to 100 people in attendance at the maximum, and included the U. Mass Amherst SL1 team and the Westboro High School TARC team. The Westboro team had several practice TARC launches and sold baked goods as a fund raiser for their team. Other notable flights that day included a drag race of two Upscale Deuce's Wild, each flying on two CTI F79 Smokey Sam motors by Curtis H. A somewhat tipsy Princess Leia was launched by Scott Clement. Howard G. launched his Aerobe Hi as an initial try at using the Apogee Components new RC Gliding Parachute System. Unfortunately, the rocket lawn-darted; hopefully the electronics survived for another try. Your reporter took time out from his journalist duties to launch several rockets including his 'Bird of Prey'.
The field closed down a little earlier than usual so as to set up for the annual CMASS Night Launch. The night launch is a joint launch with NORG and was a well-attended. The skies were clear as the temperature dropped after the sun went down. There were about a dozen launches with motors ranging from A through F. 
