NLD27 picture page
Wednesday 9 April we arrived as usual a bit later than planned and soon started to unload.
While we were assembling our launch towers, next to us mortars were fired and a bit further away machine guns. The smoke in the background is a bit of heath land on fire.
Attaching the rail beam to the tower takes some man power.
Meanwhile preparations of the rockets and their motors started. Bert Koerts was quick to start, as he had three motors to prepare.
The back of Bert Koerts' car was packed with rockets.
Kees Jan Groenendijk supervises DARE members Roel Vandeberg and Hein Olthof who are preparing motors.
This curiously configured motor was to be tested the next day.
One wonders if Bert Koerts' Paas-ei could be placed on top of Robin Trap's Ad Adstra to form a mighty two-stage rocket...
After Bert Koerts was ready preparing his Orange it was certified by Peter Leemker and Mark Uitendaal.
DARE's CanSat Launcher v5. Note the small surface area on the fin tips.
Hotel de Foreesten, where we had a great evening and slept.
Diner in the hotel with NAVRO and NERO members.
Early morning view on Friday from the spectators area. At the end of the concrete slab road the launch towers stand.
Pleun Punt's P-Region Tomahawk after final preparations.
Robin Trap with a new turbo drive on his car, otherwise known as his Ad Astra rocket.
Before the launches the guests were invited to go down to the launch tower and see the rockets.
Almost all the rockets.
Guests looking at the rockets.
Bert Koerts, assisted by Mark Uitendaal, has his Orange ready to slide into the rail.
Peter Heeren and Bert Koerts are ready with the Orange. In the foreground Kees Jan Groenendijk measures the small towers angle, while Fred van Arkel and Erik Dekker adjusts it.
René Hofsteden's AMRAAM 3 ready to have its igniter connected.
The Orange and AMRAAM 3 are ready to be launched, while their builders and pyro technicians take a last view.
Fred van Arkel, our star photographer, ready for the first launch.
The launch of Bert Koerts' Orange on an AeroTech K185W.
The Orange in flight.
René Hofsteden's AMRAAM 3 in flight on an AeroTech I211W.
The landing of the AMRAAM 3.
The launch of the REDOX-3 of Bert Kimpe of the VRO from the NERO launch tower.
The REDOX-3's two-stage parachuting went very well.
The launch of DARE's Aeolus (SRP8) on four SRP motors.
The Aeolus unfortunately didn't parachute.
DARE's SRP10 ready to be launched.
Pleun Punt removes the safety plug from his P-Region Tomahawk.
The motors of both the SRP10 and the P-Region Tomahawk misfired.
Safety supervisor Kees Jan Groenendijk observes while Mark Uitendaal and Pleun Punt make the P-Region Tomahawk safe.
The SRP motor of the SRP10 was ignited the second time, but the rocket flew unstable.
The SRP10 too did not parachute.
The P-Region Tomahawk's igniter only produced some smoke and failed to ignite the AeroTech I284W motor.
Bert Koerts needed some help in preparation of his Paas-ei (Easter Egg).
The next launch was that of the MINI-PARSEC of Bert Kimpe (VRO). It is not a traditional rocket, but looks more like a Space Shuttle.
The flight and parachuting of the MINI-PARSEC went well, but it was damaged on landing on a concrete slab road.
After a misfire Bert Koerts' Paas-ei was launched at the second attempt.
The Paas-ei flew great on an AeroTech K458W.
The main parachute of Paas-ei is being deployed.
Meanwhile rockets, like the Aeolus, were returned by the military recovery team.
Bert Koerts' Orange had a bad zipper and after many flights it will be retired.
The Paas-ei was recovered intact. Note the squat AeroTech casing.
SRP10 team members with their broken rocket.
Bert Kimpe's REDOX-3 after recovery.
After a few launches the residue of the motors can be clearly seen on the launch tower.
Bert Koerts' Payloader in the tower.
DARE prepares their CanSat Launcher v5.
Pyro-technician Erik Dekker secures the launch tower while DARE's Hein Olthof and Martijn de Milliano observe.
The launch of the CanSat Launcher v5 on a DX1-EE motor.
In flight the CanSat Launcher v5 changed course and flew over the spectators heads.
The CanSat Launcher v5 landed behind the spectators, outside the terrain.
The Payloader in flight. It was launched on an AeroTech I161W.
At its top the Payloader (low in the picture while parachuting) released its cloud of reflecting dark material.
The Payloader landed as planned.
Next two SRP teams prepared their rockets. This is the SRP12 team.
The SRP11 team prepare their SRP XI rocket.
Leon Krancher and Bert Koerts with his just recovered Payloader.
The launch of the wind sensitive SRP XI rocket on three SRP motors.
The SRP XI also went ballistic.
The launch of NERO's H12.
The H12's smoke trails is quite rough, indicating irregular propellant consistency. Unfortunately it failed to parachute.
When returned, the damage to the CanSat Launcher v5 could be checked. Some parts were bent, but its video camera was smashed.
When returned, the SRP XI's egg was leaking out of the back of the rocket.
Robin Trap arms the Ad Astra's flight computer, while Mark Uitendaal observes.
The launch of the Ad Astra on K-570 motor from Mark Uitendaal and Leon Krancher.
The Ad Astra's launched was one of the best of the day.
The landing of the Ad Astra.
This is what remains of more than a meter of the NERO's H12 top. Inside the pleasingly crushed aluminium body tube is its electronics and nose cone.
The lower half of the H12 has bent fins and the parachute compartment was also bent.
The launch of the SRP12 on four SRP motors.
This SRP rocket was stable on flew very nice.
The SRP12 also failed to parachute.
The military recovery team return from the heath land after the last launch.
DARE's motor test in progress.
DARE's test motor after the test.
The SRP12 team members look for the remains of their egg.
DARE.
Back in Alblasserdam the launch towers were thoroughly cleaned with a pressure washer and with water and soap.
Launch tower parts dried in the sun before being moved in our storage container.
