A couple of weeks ago Hunter and went to the hobby store to "look around". We never end up just looking of course. We walked out of the store with a model of an F16 and a model rocket. When we got home, Hunter started building the jet model and I started working on the rocket. I have to say that we both did a pretty good job.
Hunter was very excited to launch the rocket, but we never seemed to have the right weather or time. This last Sunday though, I packed the rocket and launcher into the back of the car...in hopes that after church we could launch the rocket at the parent's place in Redland. It was overcast and a little windy, but I thought a front yard launch would be safe. I prepped the rocket...
- Motor
- Igniter
- Connect the alligator clips
- Insert the key
I handed Hunter the launcher and all of the cousins began the countdown. 10...9...8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1 LAUNCH!
The rocket shot straight up to about 800ft. (All of the kids oooooh'ed and aaaaaaaaaah'ed - ok, so did I) At apogee the rocket popped out, but the chute did not open. I could see the rocket coming down fast and headed for some big trees in the neighbors yard.
Well, as you can guess, the rocket got stuck about 20 feet up in a tree. For the next 40 minutes me and the cousins tried to get the rocket down with now luck. Heather attempted to climb the tree in church clothes and flip flops (sorry Tani). I'm pretty sure that girl is part monkey as well as responsible for at least a couple of my gray hairs. Han, Hunter and Christian worked to find anything to throw at it in an attempt to knock it down.
In the end the rocket remained in the tree...a grim reminder that rockets and trees do no mix. Hunter has forgiven me (I was the one that really wanted to launch the rocket) as I have promised him a new rocket (he wants the flying port-a-potty rocket.....oh crap!)
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