The last rocket I built, in the early seventies or early eighties I think. A free rocket, at the time, with a $5 or $10 order if I am remembering correctly. I got it free when I purchased either the Interceptor in the early seventies, or with the two Meteors I purchased for my daughters in the early eighties. It was definitely the first D rocket I ever built. A real speedster and high flyer, but has mild weathercock in higher winds. It had been in the attic for years, but was still in pretty good shape, except for the decals. JimZ gave me some hints on removing the old decals using postal tape without removing paint; all were cracked or yellowed. It worked pretty good; none of the original paint was damaged. Not all of the decal would peel off, although the majority did. Flights listed are those since I have recently gotten back into rocketry with Blake.
First flight - YMCA soccer field. Winds about 15mph, gusting to 20mph. Launched with D12-5. Really impressive flight with lots of oohs and aahs from the gallery, but most of the flame-proof paper streamer sort of disintegrated. I think it was a little too old for those winds. What was left slowed the rocket down pretty good, but it was so high that it still drifted across the creek at the back of the soccer field and landed in a tree. It was only about 15 feet up, with the shock cord wrapped around a small limb. Manny found a way across the creek, tightrope walking across a log that had fallen across the creek. I still don't know how he managed crossing that log. The log was only about 8 to 10 inches across and was at about a 30 degree angle, sloping up from our side of the creek to the other side. The rocket was pretty banged up trying to get it out of the tree, but Manny salvaged all but one fin. Since it already had an Estes "dent" from long time ago flight, I decided to redo it using the salvaged nose cone, engine mount and fins. Teresa painted a dragon on the side and Gail painted it. Wow!! Hence, it is now also known as the Dragon.
Second flight - Brad's place. Winds about 10mph, gusting to 20mph. Launched with D12-5. Perfect flight and recovery. Again, lots of oohs and aahs. The rocket launches so quickly and the D engine is so loud compared to the A-C engines, most really enjoy it, especially with the height achieved. Brad hates streamers though. Brad says, "The fun of launching rockets is watching them come down on the parachute." Blake and everyone else were really impressed though.