ROC Lake is in my opinion one of the most superb launch sites available in either Canada or the US. While sites such as the Black Rock and Lucerne Valley offer more square mileage, the conditions there are best described as inhospitable, and ROC Lake has a range of several miles in each direction which is as much as anyone needs. It also offers peace of mind in terms of land owner permission and remoteness from inhabited areas. Additionally, some PR work by Max Baines of CAR has led to the ability to secure permission for the land bridging the two sites in use there, meaning that an effective range of over ten miles square can now be had if required. The 30,000 foot altitude waiver can be safely used to it's maximum there.

Despite erratic wind conditions, nearly every planned flight was able to go. Sunday morning saw five M flights launched - three on CTI motor products, and two on Aerotech M1315's. For a Canadian launch that is quite something, as perhaps two or three years ago a single large motor flight was an event up here. First up Sunday was Max's Gemini DC on the newly certified M2505 98mm reload. Ignition was instantaneous and the acceleration off the pad was hard for a 60 pound plus rocket. This is the first time I have been able to see the plume of the "M3800" propellant in flight, and it is impressive. A drogue strip and subsequent lack of main chute deployment fulfilled Max's prophecy that this would be it's last flight. He thought it was hilarious.

Next of our products was a 98mm 4 grain Smoky Sam^TM motor prototype, designated an M2600SS. The smoke cloud generated by this motor was awesome, and acceleration was very rapid in a 7.6" 24 pound rocket. A little later the 3 grain version was launched in a heavy 7.6" rocket for a very successful flight. The 75mm Smoky L flight on Saturday was no less impressive.

The last big motor flight of the launch was an L3 certification flight using a HyperTEK M1010 in an immaculately finished 46 pound 7.62" rocket. I removed the brass bushing from Dave Ross' new M fill stem assembly, and I now can say based on field experience that this is a major improvement in ease of prepping and reliability as has been reported by Wayne Mrazek and other dealers/users. Fill and ignition went smoothly, apogee of this flight was in the 10,000 foot regime and recovery deployment successful. This was the only flight of the weekend that drew a round of applause from the crowd.

Many flights were made using the new Smoky Sam^TM Pro38's, and the fliers and crowd loved them. Max of Gemini Rocketry sold out of the popular 2g through 4g sizes quickly. The arrival of these motors for this launch made for a perfect debut. Of course, people asked about the 54's, and news that prototype development was close to completion was most welcome. The next major launch in Canada is the Sullivan Lake event in September.

To participate in the HyperTEK^® free certification motor program, flyers must comply with all applicable UKRA event rules. This includes Level II written tests, Level III technical approval and approval by the UKRA committee for Level III flights. You must be at the necessary level to attempt the certification flight (ie. you must already be at Level I to reserve a motor for a Level II flight, Level II for Level III etc.).

Information required for the construction of airframes for these motors can be found on HyperTEK^® dealer websites. Hardware available for loan will include the 21.5 inch long 54 mm I motor system (suitable for use in Level I attempts), the 24.2 inch long 54 mm J motor system (Level II attempts) and the 55.3 inch long 98 mm M motor system (Level III attempts). All HyperTEK^® powered rockets require electronic recovery deployment. Nitrous oxide will be available on site at cost.

To reserve your motor, email Pete Davy at davy@btinternet.com. Include the motor configuration you are interested in, your UKRA membership number and level, and the day you want to fly. We would like to schedule you as early in the week as possible. In the event that you will not be able to fly, notify us immediately so that someone else can have a chance. Some additional motors may be available at UKRA2002 on a first come, first served basis.

Visit this website and Pete's website at http://www.petesrockets.co.uk for updates and additional information on HyperTEK^® contests and prizes at UKRA2002.

CTI manufactures HyperTEK^® hybrid rocket propulsion systems for high power rocket enthusiasts. No special permits are required to purchase, transport or store these hybrid motor systems. They are 100% pyrotechnic free (including the ignition system). Motor sizes range from the 54 mm I130 to the 98 mm HyEFX™ M1040. The new motor systems mount in standard diameter tubes (54 mm J, 75 mm L and 98 mm M) making integration easier than ever.

To participate in the HyperTEK^® free certification motor program, flyers must comply with all applicable TRA, NAR and LDRS event rules. This includes Level II written tests, Level III TAP approval and approval by the LDRS committee for Level III flights. You must be at the necessary level to attempt the certification flight (ie. you must already be at Level I to reserve a motor for a Level II flight, Level II for Level III etc.).

Information required for the construction of airframes for these motors can be found on HyperTEK^® dealer websites. Hardware available for loan will include the 21.5 inch long 54 mm I motor system (suitable for use in Level I attempts), the 24.2 inch long 54 mm J motor system (Level II attempts) and the 55.3 inch long 98 mm M motor system (Level III attempts). All HyperTEK^® powered rockets require electronic recovery deployment. Nitrous oxide will be available on site at cost, about $ 25.00 for an M flight.

To reserve your motor, email Oscar Valent at valento@earthlink.net. Include the motor configuration you are interested in, your TRA or NAR membership number and level, and the day you want to fly. We would like to schedule you as early in the week as possible. In the event that you will not be able to fly, notify us immediately so that someone else can have a chance. Some additional motors may be available at LDRS on a first come, first served basis.

Visit this website and Oscar's website at http://www.starrocketry.com for updates and additional information on HyperTEK^® contests and prizes at LDRS 21.

CTI manufactures HyperTEK^® hybrid rocket propulsion systems for high power rocket enthusiasts. No special permits are required to purchase, store or transport these hybrid motor systems. Motor sizes range from the 54mm J115 to the 98mm HyEFX^™ Armageddon M1010. The new motor systems mount in standard diameter mounting tubes (54mm J, 75mm L and 98mm M) making integration easier than ever.

Look for the HyperTEK^® factory tent and be sure to stop by and meet Korey Kline, the inventor of the original HyperTEK^® hybrid propulsion system.

Recently, there have been reports of hybrid rocket recovery failures using an accelerometer-based recovery system.  Hybrid motors can produce significant vibration during operation.  It is theorized that the dynamic acceleration associated with these vibrations can be integrated by the accelerometer-based recovery system.  The magnitude of this condition can vary depending on the type of motor, vehicle mass and design as well as the flight profile.  If this is in fact the case, an accelerometer-based device may not compute an apogee solution at the correct time.  This could cause a late or a no-deploy situation.

Until recently, this condition has only been reported with one particular brand of recovery system that is manufactured in Europe.  The Hypertek M has been flown successfully on a domestic accelerometer system known as the Altacc without problems.  Altaccs are routinely flown with J through L motors and Cesaroni Technology has not received any reports of recovery problems.

On June 24^th, a Hypertek M powered rocket was flow with redundant Altacc systems and both systems failed to fire deployment charges.  The systems were verified to be armed prior to launch.  These units were also flown successfully in a different rocket with an Aerotech M1419 two days earlier. It is important to point out that the failed installation included an unusually long wiring harness on the remote arming boards.  DaveyFire M28F fuse heads* were used in the recovery charges.  These fuse heads have an all fire current of 1.0 amp @ 10ms vs. 0.4 amps @ 10ms for the type B fuse head**.  Since all power and arm/fire current is fed through the harness, contact switches and connectors, it is suspected that the firing output was de-rated to a level less than what would be required to fire a type F fuse head.  When using any electric match, it is very important to fully understand their electrical characteristics before using them with your recovery and/or on-board ignition systems. In other words, the redundant failure may not be an integration error, but may be traced to system installation.

Cesaroni Technology is working with the manufacturers of these devices to identify and resolve these issues.  blacksky is replicating the extended harness/28F configuration for bench testing.  CTI will be installing an Altacc on it's dynamic shaker table and exposing it to various hybrid motor signatures for analysis.  CTI has also initiated discussions with AED in this regard.

In the interim we recommend that any large hybrid powered rockets using accelerometer-based electronics incorporate a backup device such as a timer, barometer or magnetometer etc.  If there are any questions regarding backup implementation, please contact blacksky or Cesaroni Technology for details.

* Daveyfire M28F fuseheads are also marketed as HiRMI Mini and Standard electric matches by blacksky Corporation.

** Daveyfire M28B fuseheads are also marketed as HIRMI Sensitive electric matches by blacksky Corporation.