This past Memorial Day weekend at Mansfield, WA saw the 2006 edition of the Fire in Sky rocket launch. Started by Scott Binder of BSD rocketry this event continues to grow in size. The event has grown to include amateur astronomy groups and near space groups.
Unfortunately Friday and Saturday saw intermittent showers and clouds which restricted launching and night time star viewing. Sunday and Monday provided better weather allowing many more launches, clear star viewing, and a near space balloon launch. This FITS showed a wide range of rocketry equipment. Rockets ranged in size from model rockets all the way up to a complex "N" powered rocket flown by Vern Knowles.
Another great project was the Dreams in Flight rocket built for Tom Van Etten by a team of rocketeers led by John Hawkins. Tom was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago and was forced to put his rocketry on hold. John bought the Dreams in Flight rocket from Tom and finished it for Tom's Level 3 attempt. Normally for Level 3 the builder and flyer need to be the same person, but Tripoli, the certifying organization, recognized this as a special case. The flight was flawless and Tom is now a Level 3 flyer!
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