Here is the latest update:
Detailing - Randy Luhman and the detailing team worked for several hours after the Club
meeting last Thursday night and all day Saturday to complete the scale detailing. By late
Saturday afternoon, the last decal was placed on the Phoenix. What a sight to behold! The
decals, bolt heads and striping really make it look like a real missile. Thanks to Randy
for a great job on the scale details.
Launch Pad - Dave Towers continues to make progress on the upgraded launch pad legs and
base. The pad will be complete by this coming Saturday and we will be doing a "pad
test" at Leonard this coming Saturday afternoon. Based on the results of that
"dress rehearsal" we will know if we need further refinements to the pad or not.
Cradle and Transport Team - The Transport Team got both the rocket cradle and the nose
cone cradle ready for use Saturday. We slightly redesigned and strengthened the nose cone
cradle and fashioned some rubber bumpers for the forward edge of the airframe as well as
the rear edges of the fins. The bumpers should help protect the rocket during transit to
LDRS.
Site Cleanup - We spent the last couple of hours Saturday cleaning up the shop,
sweeping, picking up trash, collecting Project-related materials and generally returning
the shop to normal. A big THANK YOU goes out to Mike Doyle and Mrs. Pat Doyle for allowing
us to use the shop for the past 6 months. We absolutely could not have done this project
without that fine facility.
By 7:00 PM Saturday evening, the Phoenix was complete and resting in it's cradle in the
trailer, ready for the trip to Leonard next Saturday.
Everyone who has been involved in this project should be very proud. We set some lofty
goals last January and we have achieved the first of those goals. We have constructed a
beautiful, full-scale Phoenix missile that is going to really turn some heads at LDRS. Now
the fun really begins!
Don't forget the Night Launch this Saturday at Leonard. Range set-up begins at Noon,
with the Space Camp launch to begin promptly at 2:00 PM.
See you there,
Hal
