Maiden flight of my @EstesRockets1 PSII "Optima"! Using an Estes Rail System launcher, out at the Blowing Dust Area on a beautiful early Spring day. No matter the season in the desert, tho, the ground is always hard as a rock - since the desert floor is pretty much all rock! And my gorgeous Optima paid the price.
Flying on an Estes F15-4 motor. 36" chute. 80 degrees. Winds light and variable. Straight up and down flight. It was purty going up and over. But it ended with that sickening "THUNK" the desert floor makes when coming in contact with wood, cardboard and glue at high speed. Next time = a 48" chute...
