The annual pilgrimage of UK rocketry enthusiasts began on Thursday 22nd August, the location again being the International Rocket Weekend organised by STAAR Research at Kelburn Country Centre near Largs, Scotland. This event began way back in 1985 as the Scottish Rocket Weekend, but went 'International' in 1992, when a team from Poland attended. Since then, the event has seen attendees from Germany, Austria and, this year, the USA.
In recent years, the event has been geared towards the smaller Estes powered rockets, as they are the only ones widely available in the UK. This year saw a vastly increased attendance of about 75 people, the previous record being about 40-50.
As usual, there were a few competitions. The Team Aquajet competition was won yet again by Paisley Rocketry Society (the oldest known rocketry society in the world). A boost glider duration competition produced a number of laughs, but very few glides! Kevin Cave's 2 stage D was the first to go up... but about 50ft off the ground did a series of tight loop-the-loops while still under thrust. Most people ran for cover! Catherine Jackson's two attempts turned out to be excellent Catherine Wheels. Marcus Lauder's attempt with mini-engines also got a few laughs, but no glide. In the end, I think that John Bonsor (STAAR), Adrian Hewitt and Mark Bishop were the only ones to see a hint of glide, although Mark's second launch was marred by a very impressive cato. Yes Ripmax! Those Estes engines you distribute DO blow up!
The time that each glider spent off the ground must have averaged about 5 seconds, not what you call very successful. But then the whole idea of the International Rocket Weekend is to have a good time and enjoy yourself!
There was also a helicopter recovery duration competition. Bobby Wark (STAAR) was the only entry that I saw, and the word 'plummet' sprang to mind.
One of the good things that happened this year was that there was a large increase in the number of high power rocketeers, largely due to the wider availablility of Aerotech products on this side of the Atlantic. Last year saw Ben and Anthony from the Middlesex Advanced Rocketry Society (MARS), but this year Kenneth Lau came too. A group new to the rocket weekend also attended calling themselves 'High Power Rocketry'. There's nothing wrong with being descriptive!
Best of all was the attendance of Scott Bartell (Black Sky Research), from the US. One of the big things under development in the UK is the Hybrid Rocket Motor, as no explosives licence is needed, and there are no other dangerous substances requiring a permit. Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide are both readily available over the counter if you have the right sources, and the fuel is plastic! Scott demonstrated his Optimal 100 the first ever rocket powered by a hybrid motor in the UK, as far as we know. There are a number of Hybrid Rocket Motors under development in the UK, the one at the University of Surrey probably being the most well known. AspireSpace is also developing one, as is a guy called Ben from Wales.
High Power Rocketry launched a number of Public Missiles kits, under Aerotech power (mostly G-I). With one stuck up a tall tree, and at least 3 main body tubes broken, I don't think they were very happy, but I'm sure they enjoyed themselves. Incidentally, are PML phenolic tubes really this fragile?
Steve Bennett of StarChaser fame also turned up with his StarChaser II rocket. There were quite a few members of the public staring at it in disbelief, when they realised that the rocket they saw on TV some months earlier really WAS 21ft tall!
Ben Jarvis of MARS launched a number of models. His famous Pyromania went on an H and 6 Ds, with a very impressive air-start of the H. This was very unintentional, and fortunately the H fired, otherwise there would probably have been a large pile of matchsticks! His Nemesis 4 went on an H BlackJack, and the Nemesis 3 on an H120 and 6 G40s. Now that one looked and sounded spectacular! Even the 'Jellyfish' parachute added to the enjoyment!
Marcus Lauder launched a 5 stage Comanche-3 powered by a D12-0, D12-0, C6-0, C6-0 and finally a C6-5! I have heard that this rocket went really well and all 5 stages fired.
There were many other launches over the weekend, including a number of smaller Estes powered kits in a public flying display. All of the Pitfield D15 motors were sold out as they have such a distinctive roar, and certainly grab peoples attention!
On the whole, this was an excellent weekend as always, and thanks must go to John Bonsor and Bobby Wark for organising it. Lets hope that next year this event will be even better still.
Copyright ©2000 A.S.Moore
