There just aren't that many GREAT rocket flying fields in Texas; DARS has a great site at Windom and POTROCS has a great site outside Amarillo. Well, add another great site to the list, the HOTROCS (Heart of Texas) site south of Waco. With over 5,000 acres of black dirt (in the winter, anyway), and an 11,000 foot wavier, the site is superb for flying a recovering. The second launch at this site took place Saturday, November 21st, 2002. Conditions were good; skies were clear and temperatures were in the low 70s. The wind was a little high, averaging around 15 but falling off to less than 10 just before sunset. This report covers a few of the flights I saw or participated in at Asa 2, plus a couple of flights from Asa 1, held Sunday November 10th in windy conditions. I'm still learning the names and faces of the HOTROCS fliers, so my apologies if you weren't included. I've got to start writing down some of the names.

The Asa site celebrated it's first M flight with Chuck Cummins' successful Level 3 certification flight. Using an Aerotech M1315, Chuck's rocket roared into the clear sky and recovered safely and undamaged for a successful Level 3. Congratulations Chuck!

Tom Montemayor put up the first L at the new site, launching his Hawk Mountain "Bad Attitude" on a Kosdon L850. This was flight number 23 for the Bad Attitude and also was an alititude record for the fiberglass bird. Peak altitude was 7,335 feet at a max velocity of 820 feet/second.

Tom also put up his LOC Bruiser powered by a Kosdon J850. The powerful, one second burn J motor threw the 7.5 inch diameter rocket to a peak altitude of 1,484 feet. Max acceleration was 13.6 Gs. It's impressive to see a big rocket like a Bruiser accelerate that fast! Recovery was gentle and safe about a mile downwind.

Charlie Barnett and Marlin Philyaw put on a great show, launching their Bruiser EXP powered by a core J motor and two outboard I motors, ignited simultaneously. The flight was fantastic with all motor firing together for a beautiful boost. Barometric deployment worked perfectly and the big rocket landed less than 100 feet from the pad.

At Asa 1, Ed Jacoby launched his fiberglass Nike Smoke using a blu thunder J motor for power. Wow! The rocket just vanished at ignition. I was lucky to catch it at 1/1000 second. Cool photo...no smoke, very little flame and LOTS of thrust.

Tom Montemayor put up his scratch built "Spectra" at Asa 1 powered by a Kosdon K350. A beautiful flight.

Marlin Philyaw flew one of his rokocopters at Asa 1, a Toyota (I think) radiator fan with a rocket motor at each tip. The twilight launch was beautiful; a ring of fire rising into the deep blue.