PARS @ BIGEARS, May Bank Holiday, 2005  
 

PARS members Oliver Neil Smith and Daniel Goldsmith attended BIGEARS, Elsworth, over the May Bank holiday, 2005.

BIGEARS is the 2 day event of the East Anglian Rocketry Society. This was the first High Power Rocketry (HPR) event attended by PARS, and all we can say is ... WOW.

You had to be there to understand how impressive a high power launch really is. Two rockets stood out in particular, Nemesis and Avenger 4. These rockets are BIG, FAST and HIGH.

Nemesis is carried to the High Power Pads for what was one of the most impressive launches of the weekend

It was hard to say which rocket was most impressive, Avenger 4 or Nemesis. We think Avenger 4 had the edge. The rocket literally leapt off the pad and soared to an amazing 9,600 feet, confirmed by an onboard altimeter. Think about that. That's nearly two miles ..... straight up !

The only way of tracking a rocket at this height is via radio link. The rocket had an onboard transmitter, and aerials on the ground enabled EARS to track the record's direction and probable landing site. Avenger 4 was finally located two and half miles away. It had to be retrieved by car.

The Elsworth site is fantastic. A 1600 acre farm provides near perfect flying conditions. We camped over night to make the most of the weekend.

Camping at BIGEARS 2005

Oliver prays for sunshine and wards off the rain

Looks like Oliver's prays worked. The weather was mostly good, but overnight we experienced an enormous electrical storm. Oliver managed to sleep through this ... how he did it no one will ever know. The thunder and lightening was continuous and intense. It was an incredible end to the first day, a day which ended with a huge fireworks display, following by Night Launches. These EARS guys are nuts !

There were lots of shops at BIGEARS, and Oliver purchased the parts he needed to build a new rocket. Called The Blue Samurai, this will be his replacement for the deep loss he felt when Blue Ninja fell victim to the Tree Gods ...

We met so many great people at BIGEARS 2005. And we finally got to meet Paul Lavin at the DeepSkyRocket Shop. He has been so helpful supplying rockets for PARS members.

Oliver helped Paul put up his Shop Tent. Oliver is underneath the tent in this picture with Paul's daughter Jennie. Is there anything we need to know ;-O

 

Oliver outside another shop called "Rockets and Things"

 

 

 

 

 

Most of our launches took place on the Model
Pads, which are designed for smaller rocket
launches. But one rocket needed us to move to
the High Power Pads. That rocket is PARS seven
foot monster ...

The Richter Recker

Oliver and Daniel prepare PARS rocket Richter
Recker on the High Power Pads

Ready to launch .... now lets see what it can do

Despite being a heavy, large, model rocket, three D12-3s
were sufficient to take the rocket high in the sky. What was
most surprising for a rocket of this length was the perfect
flight, straight and true. And because of its weight, the
launch was slower ... and therefore more realistic than
smaller rockets.

At apogee the ejection charges separated the two rocket
halves and both parachutes opened perfectly. Everyone
gasped and enjoyed watching. But then disaster struck.
The rocket came down in trees and we assumed the
rocket was lost. But a genuine hero at EARS events,
Mike The Monkey, came to our rescue.

Mike the WHO !?

Mike climbs trees. Mike climbs high trees. Mike seems
to have no fear. Without Mike, Richter Recker would have
been lost. And while we tried to stop Mike climbing to
over 40 feet with all the risks involved, we are really
grateful that Richter Recker will fly again. Next time Mike,
please use Poles rather than risking life and limb.

Mike also helped retrieve Oliver Neil Smith's Oli 3 from
tree gods. Without Mike, we would have returned to Purley
minus two important rockets. Mike, you are a complete
nutter, but we love you. Someday we'll find a way to
repay you.

Watch the video of Richter Recker

 

 


 
 
 
 

 
     
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