Wow!, it was time for Red Glare X already. It seemed like yesterday that we attended Red Glare II where I received my level 1 certification. Toni and I packed the rocket trailer and set course for Higgs Farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore before the sun started to peak over the horizon. The weather was rainy and breezy but we were hopeful to get something in the air in-between the raindrops. We donned some ponchos and assisted in getting the field setup in the rain.

The rain finally relented and teased us with a possible day that could be salvaged. I prepped Shaken, Not Stirred with an endangered Loki H144. Somehow, using a magnification lamp, I had managed to repair the onboard video camera the week before so I taped the used and abused Q-Cam on the rocket. With an eye to the sky, I took Shaken, Not Stirred to the pad, armed the electronics, powered up the video system and waited for the countdown.

Shaken, Not Stirred smoked off the pad when the launch button was pushed and ascended to 1,254 feet before arching over. The Q-Cam was still working and caught the drogue deployment on video. Shaken, Not Stirred danced wildly under its drogue which threw its nosecone loose. The main ejection charge fired at 400 feet and pushed the main parachute free where it successfully deployed. Shaken, Not Stirred came to rest on the edge of the parking area without any damage. See Shaken, Not Stirred’s 33rd flight and the return of the repaired Q-Cam here.

Toni started to prep Sally Ride but as she assembled the endangered Loki J528, the rains returned with no hope of relenting. We call quits at 03:00 PM and left the field for the hotel to warm up and get a hot shower. We ate dinner and enjoyed martinis at Annie’s while overlooking the views of the Kent Narrows.

Saturday brought better weather. We arrived at the field very early to start our preparations. I started preparation of You Only Live Twice. The clouds were low and there were bouts of breezes and rain but I was confident that the skies would clear. The crowds were gathering and were hovering around You Only Live Twice as that was the only big rocket being prepped at the time. I managed to assemble the Loki M2550 and finished the preparations in between RSO duties and fielding the many questions from the interested young spectators.

At 11:00 AM, the ceiling lifted to about 3000 feet and I deemed it time to send You Only Live Twice aloft. We trucked the 82 pound rocket out to the pad and installed it on away cell number 1. The crowd was excited as this was the largest motor for Red Glare X up to this time. The countdown concluded and You Only Live Twice squealed off the pad on a large blue plume. You Only Live Twice kissed the low clouds and disappeared for a few seconds before deploying its drogue at 2,885 feet. For some reason the sustainer danced widely on its way down before the mains were ejected at 1200 feet.

The main parachute cleared the bag but failed to inflate. You Only Live Twice seemed to pick up speed with the sound of the flapping deflated main parachute increasing as the rocket descended. You Only Live Twice hit the soft field with a thud and a moan from the crowd. I hung my head in shame and slinked my way to the crater in the field that was left by You Only Live Twice’s sudden stop. I scoured the ground to start to pick up the pieces and realized that there were none. I inspected You Only Live Twice and removed the dirt from the core sample and slowly came to the conclusion that there was no damage, other then to my pride. See You Only Live Thrice (typo intended) survive to fly another day here.

Toni had her Sally Ride prepped but by this time the field was at its busiest. It took Toni two hours to get an available pad for Sally Ride. Sally Ride bolted off the pad at the conclusion of the countdown on a Loki J528 and ascended to 1,468 feet before arcing over and successfully deploying her drogue. The main parachute was successfully deployed at 700 feet and slowly descended under a full main. The LCO made sure that everyone knew that Toni knew how to deploy her main parachute. Sally Ride slowly came to rest over a tree top on the wood’s edge. We managed to retrieve Sally Ride without any damage. See ride Sally Ride here.

Sally Ride was the last flight for us at Red Glare X. We filmed some other flights and helped with the launch. Saturday night was the MDRA Red Glare banquet where we enjoyed good food and cheap drinks. We hit the room exhausted and had no trouble sleeping. We left early Sunday morning, missing the last day of Red Glare X as I had to be in Philadelphia in the afternoon on business. Another Red Glare had come and gone. We will move onto the summer field at the Central Sod Farm in May. Until the next launch . . .