www.ukra.org.uk

It all started a year ago. Gary had spoken to some guys from New Zealand Rocketry while in Auckland, who'd told him of their participation at a full size display at Wanneka. Not sure that we'd be able to do this over here, we instead contacted our local model flying club, Woodspring Wings, who hold one of the biggest model and full size displays in the south of England. After some trepidation from the committee, a few demo flights and an intense discussion of the safety procedures, (during which the UKRA safety code was minutely scrutinised) we were given the go-ahead and two slots a day to perform. Pete Davy agreed to attend and oversee our efforts so we were all set.

The pressure intensified nearer to the day, as the local press heard about us taking part and a camera crew from the local HTV station appeared on press day, taking a couple of hours and a few launches in the "G" and "H" range to get the shots they wanted. This resulted in Woodspring Wings getting both an early and late evening news slot two days before the event. We were agreeably surprised that the TV people took on board, and reiterated on air, the safety aspects we took time to explain. Coupled with Evening Post newspaper coverage, we hoped this would boost attendance figures considerably.

On the Saturday, we found the Airshow subject to a visit from a Flight Standards Officer of the CAA Operations and Inspections Division. Coupled with the show being performed directly under the approach to Bristol International Airport, the pressure to get it right suddenly became yet more intense. We were quizzed as to safety distances and procedures etc, but, luckily, Gary had passed his Level 2 exam just 2 weeks previously, so had all the answers down pat! We then made doubly sure all the distances and safety checks were as specified, even to the point of us taking over from the Airshow Flight Director and making our own calls to Bristol Air Traffic Control (as we'd previously arranged and with whom we'd agreed had the power to postpone or cancel any launch outright to maintain aircraft safety) for permission to launch immediately prior to each rocket flight.

We held a faultless display with outstanding weather over the weekend, with morning and evening slots between the model and full size aircraft displays, showing a range of rockets and motors from 'B' to 'J' with a mix of Estes, Aerotech and Pro-38s. A commentator with a roving microphone was with us, letting everyone know what we were doing and giving them details of the rockets, motors, UKRA safety procedures etc, from a script "we'd prepared earlier". We also had a raffle, for WW funds, for a kid from the audience to come out to the runway, do the countdown and (supervised) press the button to launch the largest rocket in that slot! A real crowd pleaser!!

www.petesrockets.co.uk

We couldn't have done without Pete Davy of Pete's Rockets, who we'd particularly asked to attend to back us up. In gratitude, we helped with his shop between our slots and managed to sell out ALL of his Estes and Micromax starter sets - Gary doing a good imitation of "Dell Boy" down the market!! Pete was superb, not only raising the profile of the sport with his patient answering of many questions from the spectators, but helping with our preparation - even taking some ribbing from other UKRA members ("Pete Davy wants to know something from US"?) when he rang one of them to ask the correct jumper settings for a G-Wiz flight computer, after Gary forgot his manuals!!! We really couldn't have performed nearly so well without him! Also, Amanda's Mum and Dad, Fenella and Ray and her brother Peter and his fiancée Sue very ably assisted us all weekend by helping with the prepping and being the "recovery crew", disappearing for long periods of time as they walked the fields to recover the rockets. Thanks to them we were able to concentrate on getting everything just right.

For the first of our displays each day we wanted to show how one would usually begin and then progress through the sport of Rocketry. So we started with a "Silver Streak Starter Set" on a "B" from its Estes launcher. It did look a little dwarfed next to the other two on their pads waiting to go, but each day the crowd saw it perform it produced a little flurry of activity at Pete's stand with kids (big and small) wanting "one of those starter kits"! Next we went to an Aerotech "Warthog" on an "F", which was our own first mid power kit and looked most impressive with a long plume of black exhaust.

SA-10 SAM engine ignition and leaving the launchpad.

Then onto a beautiful semi-scale scratch built 3" x 5' SA-10 "Grumble" Surface-to-Air Missile on an "I". To "Ahhs" from the spectators, a very excited 6 year old raffle winner could hardly contain himself as he was escorted by the flight marshal to take control of the lift-off. He mixed up his numbers up a little from 10, but got the "3,2,1,Zero" right and pressed the button! This rocket we'd sim'd as having a maximum velocity of 450 mph! It performed as planned with a throaty roar - witness the comments of various photographers "I missed that - did you get it"? "Naw, too bloomin' quick!" Sorry guys...
We'd earlier asked if any of the model pilots wanted to have their F-15 or -16s up there to add to the realism of the SA-10 SAM launch, but there were no takers - funny that...

Hot Plasma leaves the pad on it's way to the sound barrier.

Then, on the Saturday afternoon, mainly because the TV news had misunderstood and promised a "Supersonic Rocket", we managed to get our own design "Hot Plasma" through the sound barrier and to 6300 feet on a 'J'. Loud "crack" and two puffs of vapour as it went through about 200 feet up! Loads of people crowded round as we recovered the airframe asking to hold something that "had gone supersonic".

Warthog awaiting departure.

First off, was the Warthog, just to give a contrast and whet the appetite, on an "F" in a cloud of black smoke, up to around 800 feet, good "pop" as the chute deployed at apogee and, with the location warbler sounding away, dropped almost back on to the pad to a nice round of applause.

The highlight of the show had to be our last launch of the weekend, where we sent up a 2 stage "Thunder & Lightning" for a 2 stage flight with an 'I' mated to an 'H'.
This big yellow bird had sat on the flight apron all day, on its Quad-pod launch pad. "Remove Before Flight" safety key ribbons fluttering, adding to the anticipation of everybody wanting to see it. Even causing a coach party from Cardiff to almost lynch their driver to get him to delay their departure to wait for the launch. The commentator read out the specifications as we made ready out on the runway - 2 flight computers on board, G-Wiz LC in the tail to light the second stage and deploy the first stage chute, the G-Wiz MC in the main body to detect altitude, velocity etc and deploy the drogue at apogee, then deploy the main at 400 feet (We must take a moment to voice our appreciation, those G-Wiz's worked flawlessly, and on low power (single battery) configuration too!).

'Big Yellow' Thunder & Lightning waiting ready with the launch crew.

Then out came the lucky lad who had won the last raffle, to have the honour of calling the countdown over the PA and pressing the button. Good to hear the crowd joining in the count with him too...
Big ROAR as it lifted off dead straight, together with a loud "WOW" from the crowd!
Great sight as the second motor lit at around 1000 feet and the first stage detached, peeling off trailing smoke! The main body tore through the cloud base at 4000 feet (we'd been cleared to launch through cloud by ATC radar), slight "POP" as the first stage deployed its small chute and floated down a few hundred feet away...
Then the wait for the first sighting of the airframe and drogue, dropping through the cloud... We looked around and virtually all of the crowd were pointing up - a real "Rocket Boys" moment - a cheer as it was sighted, and then a couple of minutes as it drifted down, waiting for the main to open, to great applause as it deployed to set down gently in an adjoining field!

But we weren't done yet!
For the final touch - The pilot in a full size Bell Jet Ranger, giving pleasure flights from a field next to us, received permission, flew over and retrieved both of the high flying rockets on both days!! Our own personal helicopter recovery crew brought it right back to the centre of the runway to another round of applause!!! Only NASA gets it THIS good!

We were especially pleased with the comments of the CAA inspector, who expressed how she very impressed with our preparation, adherence to the rules and also the co-ordination and "obvious dedication to safety" between Bristol ATC and ourselves. Big thanks should go to these guys who were attempting to cope with their busiest weekend of the year, while allowing us to perform our display seamlessly with the rest of the aircraft and model displays.

A great weekend, the Woodspring Wings people were extremely pleased with our display. What an excellent Airshow they run, superb displays and professional attention to the minutest detail, with meticulous adherence to rigorous safety procedures that would not disgrace any full size airfield display. Just goes to show how well some otherwise very different parts of the BMFA can get together, work well together and show the public some of the best and most exciting parts of our two sports. If they want us back again next year - WE'LL BE THERE!!

Amanda, Gary and Pete.

For details and show bookings visit the UKRA website contact page.
http://www.ukra.org.uk/contact/contact.shtml

Gary has also asked us to mention that if anyone is interested in having a rocketry display at their airshow that they can contact Pete's Rockets on 01529 460279 or 07808 052022 who will be pleased to help.

Article by Amanda (UKRA1204) and Gary Blinco (UKRA1203)
and Pete Davy of "Pete's Rockets"
for Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome July 2002