IRW+2011

=INTERNATIONAL ROCKETRY WEEK IRW2011 (LARGS, SCOTLAND)=

This year would be my 16th year coming to the IRW. Again, my Dad and I camped out at South Whittleburn Farm near Largs. We had the same camping spec as last year! The V70R (300bhp) pulled the caravan along very easily:-)

Andy was camped out at Lapwing Lodge where the main contingent resided. Sean arrived on Thursday and camped out at South Whittleburn Farm with us.

A few of the images and video clips in the wiki have been taken by other people present at the IRW. Other links provided are to images that other people at the event have taken.

A nice report of the event is in the link below. []

SARA Images [|http://scottishrocketry.smugmug.com/InternationalRocketWeek/IRW-2011/18772061_DPGPCv#1453494276_kH7mfN5]

SARA Movies [|http://scottishrocketry.smugmug.com/InternationalRocketWeek/IRW-2011-Hammy/18809770_CF8RzS#1457091196_vHVCTVL]

Andy Moore []#

Richard Parkin []#

Phil Handley []#

We had a few events on the way up and back home with the caravan. First off was loss of lights to one side of the Caravan. It took us ages to figure out what was wrong. We fulled every fuse and checked all connections and plugs/sockets. In the end, just before giving up, I noticed though a gap in the tow hitch that the cable to the Carvan had been dragging along the road and had shaved though most of the cores of the cable. A quick repair was needed and we were on our way again. On our first day, my Dad and I had a great round of golf at the Routenburn Golf club near Largs. This is a great course with fantastic views over to Arran. I managed an Eagle on a par 3 on one of the holes too.

Isle of Arran above from the Routenburn Golf Course.

Looking back to Largs from the second hole.

The Farlie moor HPR site was the main event location again.

My one and only flight was the old Patriot (Estes upscale) flown on an I285. This rocket is the oldest rocket I have I think and first flew on a cluster of 19 D's!! The rocket this year had a Mini DV video camera onboard.



Sean above getting the ground support equipment ready for his flight of the Hybrid. Some video clips below of the Patriot.


 * [|IRW_2011_Patriot_I285_ground_02.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Patriot_I285_ground_02.wmv]﻿**
 * [|IRW_2011_Patriot_I285_onboard_01.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Patriot_I285_onboard_01.wmv]﻿**
 * [|IRW_2011_Patriot_I285_Padcam_02.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Patriot_I285_Padcam_02.wmv]﻿**
 * [|IRW_2011_Patriot_I285_Slowmotion_01.mp4] (Hammy's video clip)**

Below three images are snapshots from the onboard camera on the Patriot.

Eagle eye Dad following rockets coming down on thier Parachutes.

End of Day 2 for us ended with a nice sunset back at South Wittleburn farm.

Image above shows Johnathan with 'Spirit of Columbia'. A M class Hybrid of his own design with 2 strap on boosters. The flight was great, but the motor was ejected at apogee for some reason. I dont think it was found?

Ground launch video of the rocket:-
 * [|IRW_2011_Johnathan_Hybrid_ground_02.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Johnathan_Hybrid_ground_02.wmv]﻿**

Sean with his 'Screaminabdabs' on an Aerotech J570W. These motors really do go!!


 * [|IRW_2011_Screaminabdabs_J570W_ground_01.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Screaminabdabs_J570W_ground_01.wmv]﻿**
 * [|IRW_2011_Screaminabdabs_J570W_onboard_03.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Screaminabdabs_J570W_onboard_03.wmv]﻿**
 * [|IRW_2011_Screaminabdabs_J570W_Padcam_02.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Screaminabdabs_J570W_Padcam_02.wmv]﻿**

Some snapshots from the onboard footage of Andy's keyring cam.



Gordon launch his Black Brant on a K class motor. Very nice flight.

Sean getting his 'Lust for more Thrust' ready. The rocket was loaded with a Hypertek M1010 Hybrid and carried a Mini DV camera.

Sean and myself prior to the launch. The flight was fantastic until about 3000 feet at which the rocket disintegrated. It appears that the lower fins failed and the upper section of the rocket separated. The booster carried on spiralling upwards until motor burn out 10 seconds later. The exact cause may never be known as the on board Mini DV camera was lost too. But we suspect fin flutter caused teh fins to fail. This is a little odd as this rocket has flown on an M beofre. Link shows more on this rocket. Sean's Lust for Thrust and Lust for more Thrust Great launch shot of Sean's Lust for more Thrust on a M1010 Armagedon Hybrid. Taken by Andy Moore.


 * [|IRW_2011_Lustforthrust_M1010_ground_01.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Lustforthrust_M1010_ground_01.wmv]﻿**
 * [|IRW_2011_Lustforthrust_M1010_Padcam_02.avi]**
 * [|IRW_2011_Lustforthrust_M1010_Padcam_02.wmv]﻿**
 * [|IRW_2011_Lustforthrust_M1010_Slowmotion_01.mp4] (Hammy's video clip)**

Some snapshot images from the ground lauch video are below.

The remains of the rocket and what air pressure does to aluminium angle!!



Our last day ended with a nice sunset over the Isle of Arran on the way back down from the flying site. Start thinking of next year! More Caravan trouble on the way home. The stabiliser failed in the middle of Largs!! Lost of noise as the leaf spring fell off and dragged along the tarmac:-(. After the repair, the door of the caravan opened up on the move in the petrol station and then the auxilliary plug dragged along the ground and wore it self down too....but we got home safe in the end.