Hi All, I wanted to give a report on Red Glare 2022 down at MDRA. They put on an excellent, well run launch. It was a three-day launch and I attended the last two days. I had a full M that I wanted to fly in a 5.5" diameter fiberglass rocket and I had a nice flight to 14,000 feet and change. The weather was perfect on Saturday and lots of neat rockets flew. The launch was great for all types of fliers and the A rack was just as full as the away cell. I highly recommend attending this launch in the coming years. Below is my flight report:
5.5", 122" fiberglass DX3 Aerotech M1939 - 14200 feet. Photo credit J. Craig Klimczak
Old LOC Tri-Star from the early 1990s on 3x G77-7. Only two lit and the rocket flew okay albeit lower and not straight. Photo credit Ken Potter
Launch Pad AS-37 Martel - Aerotech E20-4. It did not fly straight and I am worried the motor is too far forward. It still flew safely and recovered without issue. Photo credit Ken Potter
K-Pyramid which is a 18"-wide pyramid weighting 18 pounds at lift off. Aerotech K680-R. It flew straight and recovered well, but unfortunately it drifted towards the road and hit hard on asphalt. Minor damage and it can be repaired with some touch-up epoxy and paint. Photo credit Ken Potter
I flew the Martel again on a E20-4. It still did not flight straight, though it was quite windy and it could have simply weather cocked. I want to try it again on a calm day to better understand it. Photo credit Ken Potter
Cheers, Alex