One of our traditions is shocked and frenzied mayhem when we realize that we have a ton of things to do and no time to finish.

This year it was the completion of our new high-power launch pad. Billy needed some last-minute modifications to the team equipment.

Loren and Rick set up the drag race pad

The west end of the RTV base camp

Rockets like these attracted a lot of attention from passersby. The two on the right are upscaled from vintage piggy banks from the 1950's.

By sheer coincidence, Terrill Willard has occupied the space adjacent to ours at every GHS. We liked him better in 2000 because he gave us beer.

A look down the prep row. The participation this year was absolutely fantastic after a couple of down years due to 9/11 and the Aerotech fire.

Joanna Finkelstein embroidered the logo on our shirts. She did a GREAT job and we can't thank her enough for what must have been a LOT of work.

Loren Kjersten flew down from Minnesota again this year. He must have packed for the wrong vacation because Loren spent the weekend in his swim trunks.

And Todd Haring joined RTV from South Carolina. Todd re-entered rocketry with both feet after visiting GHS 2002 with his buddy Billy Dahlberg.

Mark, from Denver, prepares to play the national anthem on the penny whistle.

Rick, from Minneapolis, with his upscale masterpiece, the Hindrocket.

The ubiquitous Gila Monster was back at GHS this year....

but this year it actually flew, on a cluster of six M motors!

Lynette lends a hand to pack the chutes of the Blowfish Avenger.

RTV pulled two full shifts at all the range positions. Mark is shown here at LCO.

The avionics for the Standard Missile

Brad installs them in the SM avionics bay

Loren and Mark prepare the recovery harnesses for the big project. Loren is on the left in swim trunks.

Cory carries the sustainer out the the launch pad.
Loren carries the booster out to the diving board.

Billy and Brad on the ladders after placing the sustainer atop the booster.

Scott was the craftsman that welded the 'Big Dog' launch pad. His skill is superb.

The crew

Liftoff on an M1400

Because of incorrect documentation for the electronics, the sustainer staged immediately after liftoff.

And so the first day closes on GHS 2004 as the sun sinks slowly into the west.

Rick starts out day two wrestling
with his launch rod.

Brad puts Lorens LOC NukePro on the pad.
Loren still wearing his swim trunks.

The last flight of the NukePro that weekend was on an Ellis Mtn I-154. It was exciting, but not the way we planned it to be. The flight was unstable, due to partial nozzle failure and flipped head-over-tea kettle.

Notice how the thrust is vectored off-axis - it's even worse than it looks, because the aft end is flipping AWAY from the camera. Click photo for larger image -- look at the whip of the launch rod.

Prep time at base camp. Brad, Rick, and TRFKAB.

Rick out at the pad with the Hindrocket.

Cory's little friend.

The Bert crew.

Billy's Defender on the pad

Cory gives Loren directions to the swimmin' hole.

SM2 Standard ARM

The fourth flight of the Standard Missile was not a 100% success, but neither was it a failure. The sustainer staged beautifully, and we got a great view of it. Because it happend about 50 feet off the rail! More details to come. The good news is that both stages flew great. Great photo by Billy Dahlberg.

The Standard Missile was our first collaberative team project. It's first flight was at GHS 2001; It's second flight was at the December 2001 AHPRA launch, and it's third flight was at GHS 2002.

Click [HERE!] to go to the GHS04 Standard Missile Flight Page!

Click [HERE!] to go to the 40% scale Standard Missile RTV Team Project!

Back in Black

This is an unretouched photo of the K695 Redline flame. Great flight, and great photo by Billy Dahlberg.

Click [HERE!] for more photos of the fourth flight of the Rocket Formerly Known as Black.

Blowfish Avenger

This the maiden flight for the Rocket Bank. (It is an upscale of a 'piggy' bank that Burl spotted on eBay.) It flew on a K550 White Lightning motor.

Click [HERE!] for more flight photos of the Blowfish Avenger

Powerline Hindrocket

Rick flew the 15 lb Hindrocket, an upscale of the web icon that blogger/attorney John Hinderaker uses at the outstanding web log Powerline.

It stands approximately 52 inches high with an airframe diameter of 7.5 inches. This rocket launched on a J570 White Lightning and flew to an altitude of about a half-mile.

Click [HERE!] for design and construction details on the Hindrocket.

The Evil Bert Drag Race

Another encore performance! Last time we had five Bert rockets launching at one time; this year we launched EIGHT launching simultaneously on dual Ellis Mountain G35 motors. That ought to get your rubber ducky squeaking!

Results were, at best 'mixed'.

Click [HERE!] to go to the Evil Bert Drag race page (actual Bert Muppet rockets)!

Click [HERE!] to return to the central index of pages describing RTV's annual participation at GHS!