"Le Professeur" Hein Olthof poses with his Aeolus.
ASK 't Harde, 7 May, 2010 - Thursday 6 May started setting up the launch towers and preparing the launch site. During this preparing and certifying the rockets and motors was also started. It soon became clear that the rocket motor Robin Trap was going to use didn't fit, as the screws which held the nozzle and aft closure protuted. He usually flies with HPR motors, thus the motor tube was designed as a slim fit around the motor casing. All in all, all other preparations went well. Also a liquid propellant motor test was held by the Belgium Jan Volckaert and his team. After dinner in the hotel we helped a party of Belgian students of the Vrij Technisch Instituut Torhout (technical orientated high school), who were to launch two rockets at the NERO part of the launch event. The day before the launch the HPR motors which were ordered and payed for were not delivered due to legal reasons. Very late in the evening we helped to locate an alternative motor for only one of their two rockets and recalculations were done. Meanwhile other NAVRO-members enjoyed the company of Jan Volckaert.
The next day the weather it rained on and off. In the morning the last preparations were done and the rockets were transported to the prep-tent near the launch towers. There the public was able to see the rockets before the launch. Next the first two SRP rockets were launched, and especially the first one had a very good flight.
After a preparation session Jurriaan van Beeks DECA II was launched from the NERO launch tower. It reached a height of 2036m (6680 feet) on a DECA potassium nitrate-dextrose motor. This was followed by launches of the third SPR rocket and the Aeolus of DARE's Hein Olthof. This rocket flew well this time, after a sudden severe case of fear of heights last october (the launch lugs broke while in the launch tower). Jan Volckaert and his team again did some liquid propellant motor test.
The next launch window consisted of NERO's H13 and two SPR rockets. The H13 flew very well and reached a height of 1250m (4100 feet) on a Thrust potassium nitrate-dextrose motor. Both SPR rockets on the other hand crashed and were reduced to small pieces. The last launch on the NAVRO side was NAVRO's Harry Advokaat large model rocket "The Grid". Instead of normal fins it has a grid like shape of small height. It was launched with success on an AeroTech F21 motor. The final launch was that of the Belgium students of the Vrij Technisch Instituut Torhout. The AeroTech J350W was somewhat less powerful than the intended original motor, but none the less it flew great. Finally success for the guys, who despite of all the setback did not give up hope.
Photos
The first activity on arival on Thursday is always assambling the launch towers, pictured is the DARE tower.Attaching the rail support to the DARE power requires some manpower.Hein Olthof prepares DARE SRM motors.Robin Traps' "Lost Shadow".Unfortunately the motor for Robin Traps rocket did not fit, as the screws which held the nozzle and aft closure protuted. He usually flies with HPR motors, thus the motor tube was designed as a slim fit around the motor casing.DARE members prepare their rockets for the scrambled eggs competition (SRP).NERO had Jan Volckaert from Belgium as a guest. He performed some liqued propellant motor tests on both days. A party of students of the Vrij Technisch Instituut Torhout, Belgium (technical orientated high school) came to launch two rockets at the NERO part of the launch event, but on the day before the launch the HPR motors which were ordered and payed for were not delivered due to legal reasons. Late in the evening an alternative was found and the calculations were redone with the assistence of NAVRO members.Friday morning started rainy, so DARE's Peter van Gemert and Olga Motsyk take refuge in the command post.A wreck of a Sherman tank from the shooting range was parked in the spectators area.The display of rockets before the launches.The rockets were kept safe from the rain in a tent.NERO's H13 rocket (Picture: NERO).A DARE SRP team and their rocket.NAVRO's Harry Advokaat with his grid finned rocket "The Grid".A DARE SRP team and their rocket.A DARE SRP team and their rocket.A DARE SRP team and their rocket.A DARE SRP team and their rocket."Le Professeur" Hein Olthof poses with his Aeolus.NERO prep tent, with in the background Jurriaan van Beeks DECA II (Picture: NERO).The launch of the first SRP rocket.The launch of the second SRP rocket.The first SRP rocket was recovered relatively undamaged an the egg survived.The NERO launch tower team places DECA II in their launch tower. It was build by Jurriaan van Beek, who is left in the picture.The third SRP rocket.Hein Olthof walks away after his Aeolus was made ready for the launch. Notice the break wire (center right) and the not yet connected ignitor (lower right).The launch of Jurriaan van Beeks DECA II. It reached a height of 2036m (6680 feet) on a DECA potassium nitrate-dextrose motor (Picture: NERO).The launch of Hein Olthofs Aeolus.The fifth SRP rocket is placed in the launch tower by pyro technician Olga Motsyk and her assistants.Hein Olthof with his just retrieved Aeolus.Jan Volckaert prepares a liqued propellant motor test.The motor test has just started.And ended prematurely as a fuel injector was blocked.The fifth SRP rocket.The launch of the fourth SRP rocket.The launch of the fifth SRP rocket.Debris from a crashed SRP rocket.Debris from a crashed SRP rocket.A group picture of NERO's H13 team is being taken.Frans de Boer connects the ignitor to the H13.Sheltering for the rain...The launch of NERO's H13 seen the NAVRO side. It reached a height of 1250m (4100 feet) on a Thrust potassium nitrate-dextrose motor.The launch of NERO's H13 seen from the NERO side (Picture: NERO).The launch of the sixth SRP rocket, which made a sharp turn.The sixth SRP rocket then flew on straight.The NAVRO and DARE launch towers.NAVRO's Harry Advokaat with "The Grid" before launch.The launch of "The Grid" on an AeroTech F21."The Grid" just before touchdown.The H13 and "The Grid" in the back of an army jeep after retreval.The winner of the SRP compation was the rocket which was launched first.The participating DARE members.The launch of the "Salviati" of students from Vrij Technisch Instituut Torhout, Belgium. It's AeroTech J350W propeled it to 325m (1066 feet).
