Many, many, many thanks to all the folks who contributed to the thread I started awhile back RE the St. Louis Arch!
It was executed, *perfectly* about 20 minutes ago in front of 130 Kindergarten through 4th. graders!
I got a standing ovation... definitely a first!
Here're some technical details regarding the flight. My flying area is relatively small, and _closely_ surrounded by VERY tall trees on three sides. It's the playground behind the school. I've flown on the field before but usually only 1/4, 1/2, and full A's. A B6-4 in an Estes Big Bertha is really pushing the envelope if there's any wind. After a wind check with an Estes Gnome on a 1/2A, I loaded a C5-3 into the Bertha, and taped on the 80' streamer. I was going to go with a B6-4, but my gut told me it just wouldn't be enough power to get all that crepe paper into the air. I knew that if the streamer tore at launch with the C5-3, Bertha would end up very far back in the woods, but what the heck, it's had a great life with a great number of launches. I angled the launch rod about 3-5 degrees *with* the wind, and also to avoid the crowd.
It's pretty funny to hear 130 kids trying to remain in-sync while counting down from 10...
Beautiful, arcing flight with the Bertha towing all 80' of the streamer well into the air. SWAG altitude estimate was probably
100-120', tops. Mylar recovery streamer was deployed, and the rocket, and streamer were all recovered safely on the field.Perfect!
Thanks again!
tah