May’s launch was a washout both days. However, the weather forecast was so wonderful that I worried that I had my dates mixed up as I headed to Maryland’s Eastern Shore with some rockets in the back of the Highlander. I met some other rocketeers at Rams Head for breakfast where I enjoyed a nice Eggs Benedict with a side of scrapple before heading to Higgs Farm to pick up some equipment.

The weather forecast was not a secret as many flyers were already waiting on us upon our arrival at the sod farm. Quick work was made with the field setup before flyers started their pre-flight rituals. The sky was blue, the breezes light and refreshing, humidity nil, and temperatures mild. Truly this was an unusual day for rocket flying and the crowded field gave testimony as the sounds of preparations were nonstop throughout the weekend.

As always, I monitored others flying before me to test out the various conditions and upper wind directions before I was ready to fly. Shaken, Not Stirred was already prepared from May’s washed out launch with an H225 for propulsion. Shaken, Not Stirred was installed on the pad where all the pre-flight checks were successfully completed. Some ribbing was endured before the LCO concluded the countdown with Shaken, Not Stirred roaring off the pad on a straight ascent before arcing over at 1,304 feet where the drogue chute was successfully deployed. Shaken, Not Stirred danced during its descent until the main parachute was deployed at 300 feet. Shaken, Not Stirred touched down just a few feet from the pad from where she was launched without any damage. See Shaken, Not Stirred’s flight to the right.

Shaken, Not Stirred was my only flight of the weekend. I returned Sunday and filmed other flights, assisted other flyers, helped with equipment repairs, returned some equipment to the sea container, relaxed, enjoyed the weather and watched other flights. It is not often that a rocket flying weekend experiences such nice weather.

I returned home without incident. See other ESL 216 flights here. MDRA is hosting the 36th world rocketry event known as Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships (LDRS) 36 during April 9-12, 2017. Please plan to attend as flyers from all over the world will be onsite and flying their rocketry projects. Click here for more information concerning LDRS. Until the next launch . . .