Wednesday 31 August 2011

IRW 2011

Once again, it was already time for the annual rocketry pilgrimage to Scotland for the International Rocket Week. This time the basecamp had moved again to a Scout Camp just outside Paisley. Of all the places we've been, I think this was probably the best. A hut with 4 walls and heating, camping at acceptable rates, although the drive to Fairlie Moor was a bit longer.

As a bonus, this year we had a couple of the guys from the Register visit so that we could thrash out some ideas for the LOHAN project. They kindly wrote an article about the IRW too :)

The first day was no flying, just a few aquajet water rockets on the Scout Camp. Day 2 saw us arrive at Fairlie Moor *in* the clouds, but eventually the clouds went and left us in sunshine. Flew the Qubit on a D12, since I'd prepped it for the day before, but the dog trainers at the scoutcamp weren't so happy with the pyro flights. Then it was to Nardini's in Largs for Pizza :)

Day 3 saw us launch from near the picnic site, since there was still a beehive near the usual HPR site. Lobbed a VB Extreme rather quickly on an E30, and the Art Applewhite Saucer on a D12.



Day 4 saw us back at the usual HPR pad location, since the beehive had been moved.

Day 5 I lobbed both the Qubit and Saucer on D12's. The main spectacle of the day was Jonathan Rhodes' L3 cert which kicked its motor out mid-flight, and Sean o'Niell's M hybrid, which also suffered a major failure mid-flight. Oh and the Turkish guy's L2 flight which lost all 4 of its fins during boost.

Day 6 was no flying, since the wind was too high. A few people did fly some kites though.

More Pics Here: