While parents helped, the kids really did do most (all?) of the work.
We had a wide range of ages and having the adults there to help their kids was a great help
A special moment
Dad is a good "clamp" during assembly!
Squirting glue, measuring parts, attaching things. All a part of building a model!
These look straight to you?
Parachute time. Loved and hated by all!
My new "Poster Child" for the value of model rocketry!
Watching the kids wander around the range, waiting for the others to arrive, was a special moment for me.
Parents no doubt talking shop, or home, or vacation, while their son is oblivious to all but those launch pads out there.
Crowds of excited kids and parents begin to fill the prep area.
The time is getting close and he doesn't dare let loose of that rocket!
Here I am giving the first brief talk, explaining how the range is set up and what everyone can expect of the day.
After motor prep and installation, I explain how they need to prep their recovery device. As with all of my classes, I don't do ANY of the prep work. That is the responsibility of the builder.
Our first two launches of the day were demo flights with the first being the proto-type Morning Star that is coming out this summer.
Next up was the Stingray. These were as much to show some neat kits as it was to check wind and field conditions. Better to loose MY models (of which I have many) than for these kids to loose theirs.
Two young boys with their painted Thing-a-ma-Jig models ready to go!
First launch of the day. Perfect from start to finish!
Here, you can see the young rocket scientist at the controls with his finger on the launch button. In my classes, the student builds his model, paints it him/herself, preps the motor, packs their parachute, loads the rocket on the pad, hooks up the clips, pushes the launch button and recovers their model. Me? I'm just a spectator.
Concentration is key when hooking up the ignitor.
Some rockets flew "naked" but most were painted or otherwise decorated for their maiden flights.
Painted, they flew great!
They flew great "naked" too!
Some very young fingers took to rocketry very well indeed!
Proud rocketeers
And a reason for their pride!
With the exception of one building error and one motor failure we had a perfect day
Up and down. While we had a small field, we were able to keep everything on the grass.
All of these kids had a ball!
And it is easy to see why.
Focus, focus!
This young boy was simply a charmer!
One painted a pastel sea-green while the other was decorated with stickers. Both beautiful!
Beautiful on the ground and in the air too!
The boy on the left suffered a lawn dart when his motor failed to have an ejection charge. No damage and he quickly preped it for a second (successful) flight.
First launch, getting ready to put a dent in the earth!
This one faired better on its first flight.
I know why we leaned the ROCKETS into the wind. I have no idea why we also leaned the KIDS into the wind...
But the leaning resulted in 100% successful recovery!
Notice how beautiful a day it was too. Temps in the high 60's with a mild 6mph breeze.
As the day grew long it seemed that the rocketeers grew smaller. Only in size though, not in enthusiasm, skill and excitement!
Next to tying shroud lines on parachutes, attaching these little clips posed the greatest challenge.
But success is a special feeling!
With good results to boot!
I shot a rocket into the sky...
What a way to spend a sunny afteroon!
WHOOSH!
And recovery!
Nearing the end of the day, all is going perfectly!
The last two student launches includes that boy who suffered the lawn dart.
His rocket delivered a perfect flight this second time around. I missed the launch of the last rocket though...
It was like a picnic with everyone relaxing for the show.
We concluded the day with the launching of the Decaffeinator!
Ok, this is one of my favorite pictures ever. 8 kids went out to recover the Decaffeinator. Everyone wanted to take part. They hoisted this large rocket up over thier heads like tribesmen after the hunt. The tribe will be pleased with this offering!
Such a great picture, I couldn't resist a close up of the "catch of the day"