***RE-POSTPONED***

Due to ongoing red flag fire conditions, we will be unable to conduct our launch in Amesbury on the 16th of November. We will see what we can do to reschedule in December.

To make it absolutely clear, CMASS does not allow "sparky" motors at any of our launches.

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Nov 7, 2021, Launch in Amesbury; 283 Launches!

Details
Published: Tuesday, 16 November 2021 19:58
Written by Claude Maina

amesbury nov7 21 20211108 2028230395The next to last launch of the season was a great one. Virtually no wind the entire day and what little wind we had blew away from the power lines for most of the day. Sunny skies and temps in the 50's. Although the temperature did start dropping late in the afternoon and the winds started blowing toward the power lines late in the afternoon as well, such that high power launches were shut down at around 3:00. We had a large crowd with a number of first-time families, a scout troop from Melrose and two college teams. I estimated there were well over 100 people at its peak.

283 flights ranging from 1/4A up to I. Twelve high power flights, with one successful L1 certification - congratulations to Tim Dawson. We did have some trouble with the HPR pad mechanics. That and the winds changing direction at the end of the day did limit HPR flights; otherwise, I'm sure there would have been a lot more. We had several competition flights, a lot of first-time fliers and one CATO that I remember. Not wanting to let the holiday go, Scott Clement and Rob Thomas both launched a few post-Halloween, Halloween rockets. Curtis launched at least one Deuce's Wild (there can't be a launch without one!). Deb Zeigler launched her Mary Poppins Bumbershoot, which had more of a tumble than a bumbershoot recovery; but still a bird of prey 20211109 1555370492fun rocket. Harry Woodell had his own personal drag race with two of his pyramid-type rockets. Steve Kranish launched his R/C glider three times with each having a really pretty glide back. A lot of scout launches and a lot of 'I have no idea of what I'm doing' launches. All making it a fun day. But - the 'Comment' of the day goes to Frank on his card for his Hurricane II, flight # 273 - 'I'm Cold'

The pads were broken down at around 4:00 and the night launch pads were set up. By this time, the sun had set and the temperature dropped dramatically. It got cold. There were about a dozen flights ranging from A to G, with both kits and scratch built rockets - all pretty imaginative! Pictures are in the Gallery.

Thanks again to everyone who attended for abiding by the Covid guidelines. Thanks to Guy for manning the launch controls and everything else he did that day; to Matt and Linda for their food service duties, and all those that stepped up at the last minute to handle LCO and RSO duties.

Our next launch is this Saturday in Amesbury with another night launch. This will be our last launch of the season. Be there!

October 23, 2021 Launch, Amesbury - Where have all the flyers gone?

Details
Published: Sunday, 31 October 2021 21:54
Written by Kenn Blade

Our second October launch took place on its scheduled day despite some apprehension earlier in the week. And what a great day it turned out to be. The cloudy weather early in the day may have dissuaded many from coming out but for those who did the reward was some of the best conditions we’ve had in Amesbury. We only had 211 flights for the day including a heaping handful of high-power flights with a few each of H- and I-impulse motors putting rockets aloft. For some of these and many of the mid-power launches, the fliers used the Jolly Logic Chute Release – a great device for a field like ours with sometimes short distances to recover a rocket.

There were many Halloween themed rockets; Scott Clement is having an influence on the creative juices of our club members and others. Kevin Cespedes showed off some more of his 3D printed rockets with great success. A group of students from Olin College flew a number of G74’s and WPI was on the field, too. For those who had motors that misbehaved, please remember to get the date code off of the motor and report it on motorcato.org so we can keep track of these incidents. It’s not just for CATO’s on ignition but delays that are too long or too short or don’t occur at all.

Stephen continues to run the NRC event for those who want to participate in contest flying this year; there’s still plenty of time to work on rockets for entry into the contest as it runs through the winter and spring and into the summer.

A word of thanks to the volunteers who helped with the contest flying, food service, safety check and launch control. Big thanks to all who helped with set up and teardown, too. Remember, our next launch is on Sunday, 07 November, and will include a night launch for lighted rockets after the regular launch is over. Volunteer for some of the work at the launch and you’ll get a warm feeling inside which you may need now that the winds of November are upon us.

  1. October 9, 2021 Launch, Amesbury - Wind to the West is not the Best
  2. Sept 26, 2021, Launch in Amesbury; And Then There Was Cake!