Field Notes 2020: Part 1

2020 was a tough year. Rocketry really helped some of us get through it.

I took a recorder along to almost every launch I went to, and the result is this 2-part series, Field Notes 2020.

Because of the uncertainty, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to fly at all this past year. The NAR prohibited organized club launches for a while, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eventually, I made it out to some casual, 2-3 person launches. And then the clubs were able to fly again.

Despite the difficulties, I might have had more actual flights this year. At club launches, I spend a lot of time chatting with people, and don’t always fly as much as I mean to.  Informal launches are where I fly much more frequently in fewer hours’ time.

I introduced Little N00b to flying this year. He seemed to enjoy it, for a bit, until the excitement became a little too much for him. Two A-motor flights to start the year – it was better than nothing.

I finished a few new builds early in the summer, and they looked quite nice. I get nervous flying a model rocket when it turns out too nice, but they’re made to fly, so I eventually make myself do it (when the wind isn’t too bad!).

I flew my first Semroc models, the Cherokee D and Bandit, two “Retro-Repro” kits from earlier Estes designs.