For 2009 the UMERG team has two Balls projects.  One is ‘Locomotive Breath’, as in Jethro Tull’s song of the same name.  The other is ‘Cross-eyed Mary’ also going on the theme of Jethro Tull.  You know the tunes will be cranked at launch time.

Locomotive Breath, will be a 6″ minimum diameter ‘P’ project with about 14,000 lbs. of  thrust, flying on a blue propellant.  This will be our “Big” project, going for an altitude of about 70,000 ft, as well as down-link telemetry.

Cross-eyed Mary, will be our entry into the ‘Keg Lofting’ contest.  Three teams will be launching ‘Cornelius’ kegs of ‘Home Brew’ beer.  The final rules are still being hammered out, but it will all be in fun anyway.

Another favorite that may also take to the sky, is the return of ‘The Flying Red Bull Table of Death’.

There is rumor that Rob Grygar’s rocket ‘Spike’ may make a comeback in time for the Balls trip.  Stay tuned.

Stay tuned for more on these projects, as this post will probably be updated as time goes on.  Below are some photos of Locomotive Breath’s nozzle carrier/rear retainer and it’s graphite insert.

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Today, August 23, 2009, the UMERG team tested an ‘L’ motor with the propellant that will be used in Locomotive Breath.  The motor tested is a scaled down version of the larger motor.  Locomotive Breath’s motor will not be run at as high of pressures as the test motor was.  The test was successful.  Below is a link to the video of the test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBVLkmTyXmY

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The future is bright!  We have a great core group of people who want to build and fly large projects.  We’ll be well represented at a number of the big launches this year, and we have a couple new projects in the works.

Our Fleet for 2009:

• Big Yeller – This rocket has flown several time and will fly again.  When and where are still to be determined, but we’re planning on flying it at our home field in North Branch early in the 2009 Minnesota rocket season.
• Locomotive Breath – This is a brand new project.  We’re planning to fly it at BALLS this year if not before.  It’s a whole lot of motor with some fins and a nose cone thrown in for good measure.
• Flying Red Bull Table of Death – It’s a table, it’s a rocket, watch it fly.
• Yet to be name Keg Lofter

Launches our members are planning to attend:

• Winter Nationals 2009
  (Palm Beach Count, Florida)
• Fire on the Farm 2009
  (Pickrell, Nebraska)
• Rocket Mavericks 2009 International Civilian Space Competition
  (Black Rock, Nevada)
• LDRS 28
  (Penn Yan, New York)
• BALLS 18
  (Black Rock, Nevada)
• Tripoli Minnesota (monthly club launches)
  (North Branch, Minnesota)