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DARE had used NAVRO smaller tower and returned it at this launch. The question is: Is it a car with launch tower, or launch tower with car?
Assembling NAVRO launch tower and motor test stand.
The hardest part assembling NAVRO's launch tower is the beam, which takes some people.
Hein Olthof's Aeolus is being certified.
SRP15 "Menhir", which was granted an extra flight after having won DARE's Scrambled Eggs competition of 2008-2009 last May, is awaiting certification.
Fred van Arkel's somewhat familiar locking rocket "Geinig Jolig Luchtvaartuig Beta" (Great Jolly Launcher Beta) is being certified by Mark Uitendaal and Peter Leemker.
While The Princess is being certified, it builders Olga Motsyk and Bryan Tong Minh look on.
Olga Motsyk and Bryan Tong Minh and their rocket The Princess.
Simultaneously with certifying some small scale motor tests were prepared. Peter Heeren and Kees Jan Groenendijk prepare the first test.
Peter Heeren connects the igniter of the first test motor.
The first test.
The audience of the first test.
A nice study of how the test motor sits in the test motor stand.
The second test.
The third test seen from where the rocket are certified.
The third test seen from close by.
Friday morning the weather changed from okay to quite wet, as can be seen by the water in the motor test stand.
The fourth motor test soon after being ignited.
The fourth motor test seen from afar.
The fourth motor test just after the brass safety membrane gave way, which can be clearly seen by the black smoke.
The fourth motor test after almost all propellant is used.
The gaping hole where the brass safety membrane used to be.
The day was interrupted by periods of rain.
Pleun Punt (left) with his classic UFO. The small white box left on the UFO holds a simple altimeter.
Pleun Punt's UFO in the launch tower. For propulsion it has a Ceseroni Pro38 H120 Red Lightning.
SRP15 "Menhir" is brought to the launch tower.
Placing SRP15 "Menhir" in the launch tower.
The UFO lifts off.
The UFO in flight.
The UFO in flight.
The UFO's motor is almost used up its propellent, as can be seen by the darkness of the smoke trail.
At their top, all UFO's turn and descent top down. This UFO reached an altitude of 80.5 meters (265 foot).
The UFO's descent, no parachute needed.
SRP15 "Menhir's" launch.
Although successfully flown last May, it soon became unstable.
SRP 15 "Menhir" performed some nice aerobatics.
A very extreme angle: the nose points towards the smoke trail!
The rockets are recovered by the safety personal of the shooting range. Pleun Punt's UFO made an original hood ornament.
Fred van Arkel's "Geinig Jolig Luchtvaartuig Beta" in the launch tower.
Synchronised connecting of igniters by pyrotechnicians Olga Motsyk and Mark Uitendaal.
The launch procedure of Hein Olthof's Aeolus was stopped, as one of the rail guides broke. The rocket's break wire is still attached to the tower.
Olga Motsyk and Mark Uitendaal then place The Princess in the launch tower.
The launch of The Princess.
The Princess too became unstable.
The Princess behaved more like a prima ballerina.
She made a nice pirouette.
And then descended horizontally.
Fred van Arkel's "Geinig Jolig Luchtvaartuig Beta" has it's igniter replaced as it failed earlier.
And it failed again, obviously a rocket with fear of heights.
Following NERO launched the H12 rocket.
Which flew successfully to 1200 meters.
The Princess dancing days are over.






