Flight

To this point in 2012, me bucko, this rocket is battin' .500.  (Technically it got into t' air on both flights, matey, but I'm still stickin' t' t' 1 for 2.)  T' first flight was at a TORC launch in March o' 2012.  T' plan for t' day was a leadoff flight on a C11-3, matey, followed by a D12-3 flight, then an E9-4 finale.  Didn't happen.  I was ready with t' camera on burst mode for t' C11-3 flight, so I caught most o' t' "flight" as t' C11-3 CATO'd and blew everythin' from t' inside o' t' rocket t' t' outside.  There be a hint o' ignition and t' rocket inched up t' rod, only t' have t' forward motion suddenly accelerated by a loud bang and a fireball.  T' carcass o' t' rocket drifted t' t' right as t' chute deployed, me hearties, wrappin' itself around one o' t' nearby high power pads.  There was a moment o' stunned silence as t' parts and pieces settled, but in me head I be runnin' a world record strin' o' four-letter words.  T' post "flight" inspection revealed that all that be left o' t' motor mount was a shred o' t' motor tube, part o' a centerin' ring, t' engine block, me hearties, me bucko, arrr, and t' spacer, shiver me timbers, all blown eight inches up into t' body tube.  T' inside o' t' body tube be almost burnt through in some spots and t' paint was bubbled.  I wasn't sure if t' rocket would stand up t' another flight, but I figured t' worst that could happen be that it would be totally destroyed instead o' just halfway destroyed.  Big whoop. 

I cleaned out t' remnants o' t' old motor mount and built another one identical t' t' first.  Mother Nature conspired t' keep me from flyin' all through April with two straight washouts, but in May I was invited t' fly in Amherst, Ohio with me brother in law at the Tri-City Sky Busters Great Lakes Regional.  After an iffy start with me Vikin' IV upscale and a nominal flight from me Goony Missile Toe upscale, I loaded t' USS America with a D12-3, matey, walked it halfway t' t' pad, returned t' t' car and replaced a launch lug that had been torn off, then took it apprehensively t' t' pad.  I needn't worried.  T' flight was perfect for t' conditions, windcockin' t' t' south and ejectin' just as t' rocket tipped over.  T' same breeze that caused it t' windcock now brought it racin' back toward t' flightline, me bucko, and eventually brought it down just t' our right.  It bounced on t' hard ground, arrr, matey, but t' only damage was a chip in a fin.  T' heat got t' me before I could try t' E9-4 flight, but now I have somethin' t' look forward t' at t' next TORC launch.