Rocket 100 Excitement

[rvmills]

Bob Axsom has been doing a great job of keeping the excitement up about this weekend's Rocket 100 race in Taylor, TX. (See this thread: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=49541).

With 33 entries, a purty neat course, and it being the final race of the year (with year-end awards to follow) it oughta be a fun weekend.

There is a planned live video feed for the launch/recovery and/or start/finish, but I've not seen a link for it yet. Will publish it when I get it (as I'm sure Bob Ax will as well).

I'm trying to put together a test of APRS group tracking and iPhone Tracklog group tracking, to see if we can put out some live tracking data on the web during the race.

APRS group tracking is new, and in beta test here: http://beta.aprs.fi/

A group can be tracked by typing in up to 20 call signs, separated by commas. I'm trying to collect call signs from racers with APRS, and will publish that here when I get 'em.

To follow iPhone group tracking in Tracklog, a Safari or Firefox browser is needed. In either, go here: http://tracklog.streckenflug.ch/inde...group_tracking

If you get warnings that a different API key is needed for Google Maps, just hit OK, and the map comes up fine (it'll be Germany till you select our group, and our trackers are on).

In the yellow margin, in the Category box, select Category: SARL
Then the Group box pops up, and select 2009 Rocket 100

The map should snap to Taylor, and our "dots" should show as soon as we connect with Tracklog.

I'll see if I can get multiple APRS and iPhone users to join in, so folks at home can watch both video feed and tracking on the internet.

I'm launching tomorrow (18 NOV, today by the time you read this) from Reno (weather permitting...looks good so far), and will have my SPOT and iPhone Tracklog runnin'. Here's the links to my SPOT shared page and the iPhone Tracklog Personal Tracking site if you want to follow along:

SPOT: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/f...PWsHJMk2PgTyYd

In Safari or Firefox, go to the Tracklog Private Tracking page here: http://tracklog.streckenflug.ch/inde...evice_tracking

Once there, in the phone ID box just above the map, type in my iPhone ID: 7629451834307de7d001fbd945684ec6edbcb4a

You won't have to type in the full number, as it will recognize my ID and autofill at about 4-5 keystrokes.

Flight Plan is as follows (times approx):

18 NOV
1000 (PST) Launch KRTS-MVA-ILC-KPGA
1320 (MST) Arrive KPGA
1400 (MST) Depart KPGA-CNX-KROW
1610 (MST) Arrive KROW

19 NOV
TBA noonish (MST) Launch KROW-HOB-SJT-LLO-T74, 2+05
TBA 1500ish (CST) Arrive T74

SPOT should work well, as it has been very consistent. It'll be interesting to see if Tracklog stays live over that area, and up at 11.5K or thereabouts.

Wish me luck against that hoard of Rockets down there. We'll see what a little taping, a new tailwheel fairing, and some sea-level density can do to keep me in the race!!

Cheers,
Bob

[Tom Martin]

Bob
We are facing some miserable weather up here. Our plan is to leave today and get at least to southern Ohio. Hopefully the system will clear and let us continue south Friday.
I have made no changes to my plane so you will be able to note any differences with yours against mine. Wayne Hadath has a secret speed mod that shows some promise.
I have my iphone with me complete with Track log installed.

[pierre smith]

....Break a leg

The best,

[Bob Axsom]

Bob and Tom it is great to see your posts. Us fans (especially RV and Rocket builders and pilots) appreciate what is being done to allow us to share in the excitement real time. Several people, including me, followed Bob Mills track in the Pagosa Springs, CO race and the live video in the Courtland, Alabama race. During this Saturday's Rocket 100 I plan to follow both the tracks and the live video at the same time. I expect to see Duncan Sutherland out run everyone in his red & white SX-300 Race#74 but he will be pressed - too bad Jim Robinson had to drop out in his Glasair III. That Sport FX class with seven racers should be outstanding. I wonder what Mark Frederick has been able to do with #58 - the last time I saw it he was still developing landing gear shoulder cuff fairings. In the RV Blue class the red streak ahead of all others will be John Huft in RV-8 Race#18 and I will be looking with special interest to see how Mike Thompson does in RV-6 Race# 26. The FX Blue class with Bruce and Steve Hammer in their Glasair I TD's Race#s 91 and 73 respectively are so fast I expect them to be right near the top of all classes - these brothers are in a class by themselves in more ways than one. Another screamer is Larry Henney's Lancair 360 Race#36. It is good to see Darrell Reiley (RV-7A Race# 007) in the RV Red class - he will have his hands full against the two RV-4s, especially Cam Benton's Race proven #41. In the Sprint class it is good to see some competition for David Adams in his fast Long EZ Race#83. Ahhh it's gonna be great!

I have my new prop on our RV-6A here at home - not test flown yet but things are progressing well for a return to participation next year.

Bob Axsom

[rvmills]

Tom,

Good luck with the weather...that occluded front looks like something right out of the weather books...and pretty nasty. Seems to be hanging around too. I hope it gets out of your way. Almost looks like going across to MN and then down the backside would be better (but I haven't looked at it closely, so not trying to give advice! ).

I just hope you guys can get there so I can chase ya (even if you get smaller instead of bigger!) Looking forward to seeing the secret mod (so I can steal it!)

Can you post your iPhone ID so we can follow ya (if you run Tracklog along the way). Thanks!

Bob, looking forward to seeing you out with the new prop next year! And you're right, it looks like a very fast field. Can't wait to see what Mark's IO-550 EVO can do flat out!!

Of to the airport soon...see ya on the way!

Cheers,
Bob

[rvmills]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

....Break a leg

The best,

Pierre, thanks...and when are you getting in on this stuff...can't be too many guys as good at flying low and fast as you!

Even if you step up to an RV-10, I can see you fine-tuning it to make it a fast one (and the low part is half the fun, as you know, even if these Rockets scream away...and we can get some of them! ).

Cheers,
Bob

[f1rocket]

Here in Indy, the rain has stopped and the ceilings are up around 5-6K. Hopefully, Tom and Wayne can sneak out.

[Bob Axsom]

Glad to hear the weather ahead is looking better for Tom and Wayne over Indiana. Here in northwest Arkansas it is overcast but lifting since the foggy start this morning. The ceiling out my window looks to be 3 to 4 thousand feet. No precip but the surface temp is 41F and I would anticipate some ice in the clouds and the Ozarks here run up over 2,000 feet so a safer way might be to get west of Arkansas and go south through Oklahoma.

Tracking Bob Mills shows his seventh message coming from northeast of Tonopah, NV so he is on his way.

Bob Axsom

[Bob Axsom]

Got you at Page and I'll guess refueling.

Bob Axsom

[C-FAH Q]

Bob,
Tom Martin, Wayne Hadath and my self are in Richmond Indiana, looks like we may be here till noon thursday. Can be followed on aprs call sign ve3rvx-9