Well before the annual TRF launch at Whitakers this year, 2004, I asked my wife Dionne if I bought her a high power kit would she build it and certify Level 1. She said yes, so here's the result above.
We discussed it for a day or so, whether she wanted something long or sleek or something short and fat, or in-between, she wanted something in-between and decided on the BSD 4" Horizon, however she didn't want stock paint and decided to make it a Dale Earnhardt Jr. paint schemed rocket.
She took her time over several weeks and built it slow but very well, I was thoroughly impressed. After building it she came up with the paint scheme she wanted and with decals acquired through eBay we painted it up and decalled it, the end result above was very nice.
So her very first flight was at Whitakers at the annual TRF launch in April 2004. You can see that launch report here.
She prepped the rocket to include a Dale Jr. beanie bear that was to go up inside the rocket and recover under it's own parachute.
The rocket was prepped, she then built her first rocket motor, an AT H165 Redline motor, of course she wanted red flame to go with her red rocket.
So for her very first rocket, her very first high power motor build, and her very first rocket flight she was ready to certify Tripoli Level 1.
Here it is lifting off on an AT H165 Redline, the flight was perfect, a good straight boost and ejection at apogee. The rocket recovered on it's parachute and the bear came down fine on it's own parachute for a successful Level 1 flight and certification.
Not bad for a first rocket build, motor build, and flight. Congrats to my wife on her certification.
Lifting off on an AT H165 Redline for Dionnes certification flight.
In keeping with her red flame preference, Dionne flies her rocket again, this time on an AT I218 Redline for another very nice flight. June 2004.