May 22, 2021 Acton Launch - Happy Birthday, Bryeth!!!
- Details
- Published: Monday, 31 May 2021 15:28
- Written by Kenn Blade
Summer came early to our May Acton launch with high temperatures but clear skies and gentle winds. We didn’t have to worry about the attendance restrictions we had last year and we had a great turnout. There were 169 total launches from MicroMaxx to G-impulse, everything the field would allow.
The highlight of the day was a group launch by Bryeth and eight of his friends celebrating his sixth birthday; all nine rockets whooshed into the sky much to the delight of all. His mom had bought a dozen Estes Firestreaks that the kids could assemble and launch at the party and she says we’ve inspired 12 future rocketeers. CMASS would like to extend thanks to all the grown-ups that brought the kids and had such a great party for them especially as they shared the treats with the big kids in our club. Bryeth’s mom would also like to thank the club and so many of its members for help and generosity (Ray sold many Fliskits rockets some of which were given to the kids at the party so they’ll have some more things to fly when they come back to visit us).
The Worcester Civil Air Patrol group flew with us, too, helping raise our day's flight total. As happens, the trees claimed a few rockets that drifted that way but they also returned a rocket Howard had put in there last year. As mentioned above, Ray DiPaola was there representing Fliskits and flying a few models to demonstrate the company's wares. Mr. Jim Flis himself even showed up for a while.
We did have to shoo the cricketeers off the field early on; some stayed around for a bit to watch our activities. Let’s hope they respect our reserving the field for the few days we have it this year and only come out to enjoy our flying.
Our June launch will see the return of food service on the field as well as our volunteer sign-up sheet. If you are a NAR member and want to take a shift at safety check or launch control, please sign up for an hour or two. There are a couple of slots for food service and, as always, you don’t have to sign up for set-up and break-down duty just be there to help out; the usual crew will be happy to train you as many hands make work light.
Baseball of course - but rocketry too! The weather was great for our first launch of the season - not perfect as the winds were blowing toward the houses on the hill, limiting HPR flights. But it was a good start to the season. Skies were mostly sunny and temps in the 60's. It was the largest attendance we've had in a long time - well before COVID. Just showing there is a lot of pent-up launching fever. We had a few first timers and at least two groups of college students, one I know was from Olin College of Engineering. There were 176 flights with motors ranging from 13 mm A to J, and a complete launch day from 10:00 to 4:00. We had no CATO's but one very old Aerotech motor that chuffed and chuffed but just couldn't!
much). We had one successful L2 certification and a couple (?) of L1 certifications. Curtis launched only two Deuce's Wild rockets, a 24 mm and 29 mm version. Both gave nice flights. Kevin Cespedes launched a very nice 3D printed Mars Lander. It flew great but landed on its head and not its legs. Bruce Strong had a nice scratch-built Space Ark, a four-motor cluster. Unfortunately, none of the motors lit so it never left the pad (which would have made a very sad and very anticlimactic ending to the movie!). The rocket of the day though was the Mandalorian. It is a really nice rocket and flew nice as well. Pictures are in the 
