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Sport Rocketry / Launches / Launch Photos, Videos, and Reports / Club and Group Launches / TTRA (Plant City, FL)Rocketry Club: Tripoli Tampa Rocketry Association
LAUNCH! TTRA Tampa, Florida January 15, 2011 (2011-01-17)
This was my first time flying with the Tampa Tripoli Rocketry Association. Roger Smith drove me and and all the rockets to the site located near Plant City, FL. It was a great sized field with ... [Read More]
Tampa Area T.T.R.A. Launch February 19, 2011 (2011-02-20)Here's just a few of the spectators that came out to watch the rockets fly yesterday at the T.T.R.A. Tampa launch. I've never liked the term " rocketeer ". Terry Johnson hit the nail on the head by ... [Read More]
LAUNCH! TTRA Tampa, May 21, 2011 (2011-05-22)To be honest - the low power pads at the TTRA launches could use some repair. While waiting for the only two available LPR pads, the line was cut into and crowded by a dozen enthusiastic boy scouts. ... [Read More]
LAUNCH! Tampa TTRA September 17, 2011 (2011-09-19)This weekend was the Buccaneer Blast at the Tampa TTRA monthly launch. It's a two day event, Saturday was the regular club launch, Sunday was for research. We arrived around noon. There was a typical ... [Read More]
LAUNCH! TTRA Tampa, FL October 15, 2011 (2011-10-16)October 15th is the first day when the Summer heat seems to let up a bit. Humidity was low and comfortable, but the winds were gusting up to 15 mph. Here's John Mack's TRI-LATERAL chad staged model. ... [Read More]
LAUNCH! Tampa TTRA December 17, 2011 (2011-12-18)Robert Synoski flew his upscaled BIG BERTHA with a Gorilla K1185. He estimated the altitude to be between 2,000 and 3,000 feet. This was a well done build with vinyl by StickerShock. Enlarge the ... [Read More]
Launch! Tampa TTRA January 19, 2013 (2013-01-20)I had great success yesterday at the Tampa TTRA launch. Nobody knew what to expect weather wise, we knew there would be wind. Throughout the day there were wind gusts, up to 20 m.p.h. PIGASUS! ... [Read More]
Launch Tampa TTRA February 16, 2013 (2013-02-17)Crowds were smaller this week, some stayed home after checking the wind and weather predictions. When I arrived at the Plant City launch site at 10:30 a.m.the winds were starting to pick up. ... [Read More]
Launch Tampa TTRA April 20, 2013 (2013-04-21)I almost didn't go to the Tampa TTRA launch today. There was a 40% chance of rain in the forecast. Driving out of Orlando the cloud cover was low and thick. I was told my Big Girtha model (lost two ... [Read More]
Launch! Tampa TTRA June 15, 2013 (2013-06-16)The Tampa TTRA flying field was overcast with a good chance of rain. After a short delay, flying started around noon. The BIG GIRTHA ( Re-Birtha! ) just finished on this blog was flown with ... [Read More]
Model Profile - Jimmy Yawn's Ornate Rocket (2011-01-26)That's Jimmy Yawn at the last Tampa TTRA launch. Jimmy takes great video and pictures for the Bunnell and Tampa, Florida launches. He's holding the "Metamorphose" a ... [Read More]
TIP! Engine Marking Idea (2011-01-28)This wasn't my idea, I wish I could give credit where it is due. At the last TTRA launch I saw a Estes igniter tape strip marked with the engine type. What a simple, smart idea! ... [Read More]
TTRA Tampa LAUNCH! April 16, 2011 (2011-04-17)Here's the official wind speed indicator of the day. Judging by the turned back ears on Q.T., the winds were 15 - 20 m.p.h. PIGASUS! made it's Tampa debut flying true with a Estes C6-5. The picture ... [Read More]
MX-774 Fix! (2011-05-27)A while back, Bradycros on TRF referred me to some MX-774 scale plans. Every picture I'd seen showed the small squares at the rear of the fins as black. Of course they were black, every picture of ... [Read More]
Stellar Dimensions Xanadune Part 1 Parts (2011-06-14)I picked this kit up for $10.00 at the May TTRA Tampa launch. I'd seen a few on EBAY, but never closeup. Stellar Dimensions is no longer in business, they had a half dozen kits in production in ... [Read More]
Raisin' Maize FINISHED! (2011-09-26)This was a fun break from the norm. After the pictures were taken, it was prepped with a A10-3t engine, the only engine I would use in it. The Raisin' Maise has been flown twice. First as a test ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch November 19. 2011 (2011-11-21)I almost didn't go to the Tampa TTRA launch today. I had a evening show scheduled and realized the venue was only ten miles from the TTRA site! So, it was a launch in the afternoon then banjos at ... [Read More]
Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 14 Air Scoop (2012-01-04)From the kit bag, the air scoop was printed on thin cardstock. Too thin for me. I scanned and reprinted it on 110 lb. cardstock. Still, I felt it needed to be a bit thicker. I always print off a ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch January 21, 2012 (2012-01-23)My small car as loaded down in preparation for a show in nearby Dade City. I flew as many as possible before leaving at 2:45 p.m. Here's some highlights of the Tampa TTRA launch last Saturday - ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch, February 18, 2012 (2012-02-19)I almost didn't make the drive to the Tampa TTRA launch on Saturday. Back in Orlando there was low cloud cover and a 50% chance of rain predicted for the afternoon. I had visions of my car stuck ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch March 17, 2012 (2012-03-19)You can see how many cars were lined up for the Tampa TTRA launch on March 17. Sorry, no launch shots yet! Lonnie Buchanon preps his new, larger Angry Bird for a drag race with my PIGASUS . Both had ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch Pictures, March 17, 2012 (2012-03-27)Roger Smith (JonRocket.com and RocketReviews.com) took some great pictures at the last Tampa TTRA launch. While this blog concentrates on LPR rocketry, Roger took many more pictures of Low, Mid and ... [Read More]
Grand Turk Mercury Exhibit (2012-05-10)On my recent cruise through the Panama Canal I got off the ship to walk the stores at Grand Turk, the capital of the Caicos Islands. Just above the line of palm trees I saw something that looked ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch July 21, 2012 (2012-07-22)It was HOT today in Plant City, Florida at the monthly Tampa TTRA launch. Hot enough to where you'd rather sit under the shade of a tent than chase rockets. Here's my RED MAX waiting for a ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch December 15, 2012 (2012-12-16)I drove to Oviedo, FL (JonRocket.com Headquarters) to pick up Roger Smith. He had a new camera and put it to good use today! Still pictures are mine, all action shots were taken by Roger. Roger's ... [Read More]
V2 Recovered! (2012-12-17)Well, Merry Christmas to me! I was gone for a month since my V2 landed in a tall tree at November's R.O.C.K. launch. While I'd given up on getting it back, I didn't know that other members of the ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch Pics Jan. 19, 2013 (2013-01-21)Roger Smith has posted great pictures from the Tampa TTRA launch from January 19, 2013. You can see them at: http://www.rocketreviews.com/january-2013-8172.html On the left is the Quest Aerospace ... [Read More]
New Cameras! (2013-02-12)I finally bought a key chain camera at the last Tampa TTRA launch. It's amazing that a Estes Cineroc sold for $19.95 back in the 1970s. This keychain camera sold for $20.00 in 2013! Digital ... [Read More]
No Launch! Saturday, March 16, 2013 (2013-03-17)I walked over to the soccer field about 7:00 a.m. Here's what was waiting for me - Soccer players and sprinklers! The parking lot was full of cars which leads me to believe the men on the ... [Read More]
Big Girtha Recovered! (2013-04-22)Two emails told me my Big Girtha model had been recovered after being lost in February at the Tampa TTRA field. One email said to expect water damage. The tube was swelled a bit, but it ... [Read More]
Big Girtha Autopsy (2013-05-30)If you missed the earlier post about my "lost" Big Girtha - The Big Girtha is a 2 engine cluster Big Bertha built from a Quest Big Betty kit. At the February Tampa TTRA launch it drifted away after ... [Read More]
The Big Fix! - Scavenger (2013-06-11)After a hard landing at the May NEFAR launch, the Scavenger needs a new upper tube. The ejection charge pushed off the nose cone but not the parachute. This should be any easy repair. I've ... [Read More]
Big Girtha Build Finished (2013-06-15)The re-built Big Girtha is ready for flight, ready for today's Tampa TTRA launch, June 15, 2013! Changes from the first version: Five red barber pole stripes instead of four A slightly ... [Read More]
The Big Girtha Saga! (2013-06-19)My original Big Girtha was a two engine cluster built using most of the parts from a Quest Big Betty kit. I'd flown it a few times before losing it at a TTRA launch. On February 16 it was windy ... [Read More]
Pitsco Model Rocket Tube Wrap Video (2014-03-03)Bill Eichelberger (A Fish Named Wallyum on TRF) posted about a Pitsco model rocket kit he found. To make the body tube, his Pitsco kit has you wrap gummed tape around a clear tube mandrel. ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch, March 15, 2014 (2014-03-17)I don't make the drive over to the Tampa TTRA launches very often. I had a show that evening in nearby Davenport, Florida. TTRA only has three working LPR pads. If the Scouts show up, those three ... [Read More]
A Gift from Bill G! (2014-07-07)You meet great people at club launches. This is Bill Gibson. I met him at a Tampa TTRA launch a few years ago. A great builder and flyer. Bill was the first person I'd seen that marked the engine ... [Read More]
Asking Permission Might Be A Good Start! (2015-01-30)If you follow the blog, you might recognize this rocket. It's my two engine cluster model called the Big Girtha. It was adapted from a Quest Big Betty kit. I took this picture before it was ... [Read More]
MetalSpeck Look? (2020-08-09)On TRF, ManixFan (Tony) posted this: "Here's another Dupli-Color metal look paint I really like:" METALCAST Anodized Automotive Paint - Duplicolor "You spray it over a silver 'anodized' base coat ... [Read More]
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