LAUNCH REPORT 1999-001

Date:    Saturday mid-March
Time:    3:00 pm
Place:   My backyard, Stow, OH
Weather: Sunny, 45-50 Degrees F
Winds:   South ~5 mph

My oldest son and I went out to launch some new RTFs, the Maniac (I love this kit,
it is so colorful and sturdy-looking) and the rebuilt "stretch" Helio*Copter.
My youngest son wanted to stay inside (I think he was watching a pre-season Indians
game) and the two neighbor boys came over.

We used my five-lead launch controller with two external 6-volt lantern batteries
(used my car battery before this time).

Mini Marz Lander
A10-3T
Arced slightly to SSE
Altitude ~200' AGL
Landed ~50' SSE of the launch pad.

Star Wars X-Wing RTF
B6-2
Arced to SSE
Altitude ~250' AGL
Shock cord separated at ejection. The nose and parachute landed ~100' SSE of the
launch pad. The body landed upright in soft soil within *two* feet of the launch pad
with *no* damage.

Maniac
C6-5 (in 24mm to 18mm adapter)
Arced slightly to SSW
Altitude ~300' AGL
Landed ~150' SSW of the launch pad.

Helio*Copter
C6-5
Angled launch rod slightly North
Straight vertical boost to about 450' AGL
Parachute did not fully inflate. Body landed hard in front yard about 150' North of the
launch pad. Two fin fillets cracked at the root edge. Copter nose landed on roof of
house one block away, about 500' North of launch pad.

All damage was minor and will be easily repaired. The sight of me walking through the
neighborhood with an extension ladder is becoming a familiar one. The kids had a good
time. The only bad outcome was when my oldest son shorted the leads on one of the lantern
batteries when bringing it back to the staging area on our back deck. This happened before
ladder recovery of the Helio*Copter nose and wasn't noticed until after everything else was
returned to the staging area.