Helicat Launch

Almost three years after space camp Christopher and I finally launched a model rocket. I had promised for awhile that we would build and launch a rocket. So last week we went to Hi-Tech Hobbies in Triangle Towne Center. There were a lot of cool toys in Hi-Tech. We both fell in love with the remote control Lambo but not the $600 price tag. They only had three rockets to choose from. Christopher chose the Helicat. Once launched the nose of the rocket has propellers that deploy and it spins back to earth. The body of the rocket has a parachute that helps it glide back to the ground.

We were going to try and launch at Dillard Drive Elementary across the street but a group of guys where playing a game of flag football. So we decided to head over to Dorothea Dix soccer fields to launch. Well the soccer fields were all filled. Luckily there was a large enough field behind the field. All the material I read said you need an open space at least 500 sq ft. The open field provided enough space. Worse case the chute would carry the body onto the soccer field.

We get everything set up and it is time to launch. My goal was to let Christopher launch but he was having trouble holding both the safety key and the launch button at the same time. So I had to launch. I also forgot to give him the camera so he could record the launch. So we were both standing in awe as the rocket took off. I was able to catch the rocket nose and body with the shoot coming back to the ground. The wind actually took the body with the chute just short of the soccer field a good 800 ft away. Not sure how high the rocket got but it was high enough for both of us to go crazy.


We are already talking about ordering new rockets. I can not wait until we launch again.