Launch Report, Midwest Regional Competition (MWRC-97)
11-12 October 1997

Impressions of MWRC-97 from a first-time contestant.
(See also the results page)

I entered all but one event -- even knowing most of my entries wouldn't be particularly competitive. The biggest thing to me about the weekend was that *ALL* my fights were qualified. Anyway, on to my impressions and flights.

Sport Scale
I didn't have an entry, so I (along with Pierre Miller) volunteered to judge. I really enjoyed this oportunity. We had a great turnout of models - two in team division and 7 (or 8?) in C division.

The team division entrants were a D-region Tomahawk from Team Demolition (Dave Woebkenberg (and son in absentia)) and a large (about 4-5 foot) M100-B from 2 Launch Crue (Chad Ring and Krista Brown). The M100-B was a very nice model. Even though it came through judging with a little hanger rash from previous launches and suffered a broken nose cone on this flight, it won easily.

The C division entrants ranged from Mark Smieska's 1/100th scale Little Joe II thru Steve Koszuta'a four foot Saturn V Skylab. Kevin Wickart's three-stage Astrobee 500 and Kurt Schachner's 2-motor cluster Gemini Titan had the only flights awarded mission points and they came in first and second. Lila Schmaker was third with a model of a Brazilian Sonda 2 sounding rocket and Dan Wolf was fourth with a 1/45th scale Centuri Little Joe II. Dave Lyle's Super Loki Dart was modeled from a kit he got at the Loki launch in Sheboygan. Mike Vande Bunt's Winkler HW-1 was DQ'd for unstable flight and the Steve Koszuta's Saturn Skylab died due to a SU Aerotech bonus delay (a 24mm E15-4 that was more like a -8), but all the others flew nicely - particularly Kevin's Astrobee in all the wind on Sunday.

I was very impressed by all the models, and I'll try to enter the next time we hold the event.

C Helicopter Duration
I didn't get my Heli-Roc or Whirl-A-While done, so I used my Skywinder for the event (as did at least three others <G>). I had very consistent flights - 18 seconds on Saturday and 18 seconds on Sunday for a total of 36 seconds. That wasn't enough to place, but they *were* qualified flights.

Lila Schmaker converted an Estes Turbo-Copter, but the model flat out disappeared from the pad when it was launched. It looked like the conversion would have worked, so I'm going to have to try this for myself. (See launch reports of 14 December, 1997 and 18 January, 1998 for a follow-up)

B Eggloft Duration
I couldn't decide how I wanted to mount my Apogee Egg Carrier nose cone (or *on* what <VBG>), so I entered an Estes Omloid with a 24" parachute. The Omloid was *decidedly* under powered on a B motor, particularly in relation to REAL competition models, but it DID lift and ejected at about 15-20 feet for durations of 8 and 6 seconds. Again, both flights were qualified.

4A Cluster Altitude
I tried to build an original design model for this event, but my lack of building experience prevented me from completing it in time for the contest. I *will* get it built -- even if just to prove to myself that I can do it. Fortunately, Dan included plans for a mini-Viper IV in the September(?) issue of the WOOSH-POP that was sent out before the contest - and that *was* within my range of skills ;-). I built a copy for the event, as did at least a couple others. Mine was solid red, Steve Koszuta's had a turquoise body and nose with black motor tubes and Mary Wolf's was teal. Mine was the lowest flight of the three or four, but I think it's significant that *all* the mini-Vipers qualified in the event. A number of other entrants spit engines or shredded.

Mike Vande Bunt's model took a core sample (and it had spit an engine) about 70 feet from the check-in table, but no one saw it come in. I noticed it sticking in the ground, but didn't think anything about it until about an hour later when Mike was heading over to measure his spot landing and we realized it was his model.

I gave Kevin Wickart one of my Apogee staging ignitors to help assure ignition of the A2-7 core engine of his model. All four engines lit, but when the A3-4T's ejected the model turned to confetti.

Spot Landing
This is the only event that I placed in, coming in fourth in the C division. I used my Bertha clone on an A8-3 using a 4"x40" crepe streamer, but pointed too far into the wind and not far enough across the wind.
The spot was too far away to consider using the 1/2A motor. ;-)

Action Figure Spot Landing
I launched a Jawa figure from Star Wars in my Bertha clone, again using an A8-3. I wasn't real close, but I don't know how many others competed (aside from Kevin, whose Captain America nose cone decided *not* to exit the rocket... <G>).

On Sunday (after finishing the Sport-Scale judging and my second helicopter flight), I put up a couple sport launches. First was my 4" Sputnik-Too clone on a B6-4. This model flies very nicely and was very stable even in the steady wind Sunday afternoon. Then I put my Bertha clone up on a D12-5. This was my first D motor launch and it went very nicely. I had to trek out a good half mile or more into the field to recover, but it was a nice straight flight with little if any weather-cocking. So far, I've launched my Bertha clone on 1/2A, A, B and D motors and used it as a parasite glider booster and general load lifter. I've also got a couple Aerotech E motors to use in it yet. I can certainly see why a number of people on RMR have listed the Big Bertha as a favorite model.

While I was out retrieving the Bertha clone, I helped look for Dave Woebkenberg's helicopter model. I had timed it to about 1:45 before I lost sight of it in a batch of trees on the horizon, but I had a very good line on where I had lost it from view. I went out past where Chad and Dave were looking and was about fifty feet away from it when Chad spotted it thru his binoculars. Dave was very pleased to have the recovery for his returned flight in helicopter duration.

I had a number of personal firsts with the weekend's competition.
Overall, I had a GREAT time and am looking forward to further competitions. Thanks to Dan and all others who made this launch possible!

Rognlies of Racine
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Last Updated: 8 January 1998
Author: Alan Rognlie
Email: arrognli@execpc.com
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