Skye Dance XXVI
Skye Dance XXVI roared into the Kimbro skies Sunday, February 25th, 2001. Conditions early in the day were poor with strong winds and low clouds. However, conditions improved rapidly near sunset and the waiver was activated while the pads and launch control system were being set up. Many fliers assumed the launch would be scrubbed and could not be contacted, but four fliers did attend and witnessed a couple of spectacular flights.
Jim Long drove over from the Bryan/College Station area with the largest and heaviest rocket ever flown at Skye Dance. The 12 inch diameter rocket was constructed of fiberglass reinforced sonotube and weighed in at over 45 pounds. Power for this initial flight was supplied by an Aerotech K1100 with a predicted max altitude of 400 feet. After a couple of failed ignition attempts, the K1100 finally fired and lifted the huge rocket all the way up to around 400 feet. Right at apogee the parachute deployed and the rocket was recovered safely. A GREAT flight! Jim also flew a scratch built 2.5 inch rocket on a disposable G40 for a successful flight and recovery.
Mike Strang was up next with his beautifully built and instrumented Bad Attitude. For this flight Mike chose an Aerotech 3 inch motor, the K560 White Lightning. With sunset rapidly approaching, the button was pushed and the beautiful rocket rose into the twilight skies trailing 3 feet of fire. The rocket vanished into the blue and after 10 or 20 seconds we all had that sinking feeling that we would never see the rocket again. Finally, sharp eyes found the rocket descending under it's drogue chute well upwind from the pad. The main chute deployed right on schedule at 500 feet and the rocket landed safely and was recovered (after a long walk) undamaged. Another GREAT flight!
Tom Montemayor put up two rockets, starting with his custom 5.5 inch Stud Duck on an Aerotech I357. The Blue Thunder boost was fast and straight, and the 8 second delay proved perfect as the main deployed right at apogee. Tom also flew Spectra using a Kosdon J450. Spectra uses dual barometric deployment which functioned perfectly and brought the rocket back close to the pads.
Nathan Rubio, whose video supplied the pictures for the photo gallery, flew his PML Black Brandt on an Aerotech H73 Black Jack. The motor emitted a thick column of black smoke as it lifted the Canadian sounding rocket replica to an altitude of over 1200 feet. Deployment occurred just a little past apogee and the rocket was recovered safely.
Click on fliers name for photos snapped off video.