U.S.A

BOULDER CITY, Nevada (USA) -- This feature segment focuses on my trip to the LA Tripoli Springfest 1997 launch. All of the photographs in this feature were taken on my trusty Olympus OM4.

Springfest was held on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March 1997, at the El Dorado dry lake bed, about 30km South of Las Veges. Around 400 rocketeers turned out for the weekend.

This was to be my first high power launch, and I had travelled half way around the world from Australia via Italy, Egypt and England to get there.

Back in Australia I had been busy building my first large HPR kit. I had selected a PML Hybrid Ready Aurora. I shipped it by air freight from Melbourne to LA. I had selected a Hybrid rocket because of the explosives restrictions in Australia, and it was therefore a great way to get the sport off the ground.

Certification Level 1 Flight

This was going to be a busy weekend. I had to pass both Tripoli Certification Level 1 and 2, including sitting the exam. I also had never seen a copy of the study guide until I arrived.

My Certification Level 1 flight was on an Aerotech 38mm RMS I284W-10 White Lightning motor. Here I am on the pad.

5-4-3-2-1 ......?

After an almighty Adrenalin rush I got nothing but a failed ignition. The igniter had worked but the propellant didn't ignite.

The pad was booked out to someone else, but as you can see I finally got the Aurora into the air.

The launch was perfect. What a buzz!

Can't wait until the next one.................

Good launch, great boost, perfect recovery.....

What more could I ask for!

Was I happy when Steve Cello signed my Certification Level 1 !

You bet !

The next day I repeated the exercise for my Certification Level 2 flight on an Aerotech 54mm RMS J275W-14 White Lightning motor, again a perfect flight.

Here today, gone tomorrow.............

Ricky Rocket's first attempt at a launch on the Saturday was spectacular to say the least.

From this photo you can see for yourself..................

The team wasn't gonna let that happen again....................

The "Red Dragon Karate" V2 made a perfect flight on the Sunday.

Powered by an M motor, it was something else........

Launch Control..........

The LCO was kept pretty busy all weekend.

They did a great job..........

There were lots of great launches, and experimental motors were also a big feature of the weekend.......

Here it is zoomed

The night launches were a big highlight.

I think everyone got their rockets back.

Not everyone had successful flights, in fact the Mosquito's seemed to fare worst of all.............

The Team................

Here we are from left-to-right. Me, my wife Ann, Dennis, Alice and Alan. (The short fluffy four legged one is Roxanne).

Special thanks to Dennis Keiselhorst for acting as mentor for me the novice, who arrived without ever having been to a HPR launch, and left with my Level 2 Certification. Well done also to Steve Cello and the rest of the prefecture for running a great launch.

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This page created 5th April 1997, last updated 8th November 1998.

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