I’ve received a question offline about the rules and details of the Chute Out.
So I guess it’s time to get this thing written up. My ideas and some questions
are below.
The Chute Out is an opportunity to show off your most beautiful, interesting,
or unusual parachutes or other recovery systems. Gene Engelgau of Fruity Chutes
fame is sponsoring the contest, which presumably means a prize of some kind —
thanks Gene! And Jim Norton has volunteered to act as judge — thanks Jim!
Let’s hold the contest on Saturday. Originally I had thought that High Noon
would be a fun time to stage a Chute Out, but it might not actually be the best
time of day for observing recovery systems, due to the it-went-into-the-sun
problem. What do people think? Noon or some other time?
At the appointed time when the contest starts, all participants should go to
the RSO at the same time and check in for a pad assignment. You might want to
add a description of your recovery system to the flight card if you want the
LCO to announce any details prior to your flight. Of course, if there are
surprises planned, don’t include spoilers! Let’s launch each participant’s
rocket in sequence with enough time between for the crowd and judge to observe
and appreciate each recovery system properly. Maybe the judge can signal when
he is ready for the next flight.
The recovery system has to actually function in order to remain eligible for
the prize! No digging a gorgeous chute out of the wreckage and expecting to be
considered for a prize!
Does anyone have an opinion on the rules for judging the recovery systems?
Originally I thought it would be cool to see some beautiful chutes, so we’d be
judging them for beauty. But we’ve expanded it to include also interesting and
unusual recovery systems, so there may be some that are impressive in other
ways than strictly being beautiful. Are we ok with just leaving it at that and
awarding a prize for whatever impresses the judge most based on whatever wow
factor he finds most impressive? Sort a of a freestyle format? Gene, do you
have an opinion on what the prize should be for? Jim, do you have an opinion on
what factors you’d like to judge?
I don’t think we need a rule on altitude or any kind of motor limits, but
personally, I’m going to aim for keeping it relatively low and close to the
flight line so we can easily see the entire deployment process and details of
the chute (which hopefully will arrive from the vendor in time for the launch!)
Do we need a sign-up for this?
Is there anything else we should consider?
Is there anyone who can volunteer to take pictures or video and share them with
the club?
Let the group know what you think, and we will get this written up.
Thanks!
Eric
On Oct 2, 2018, at 10:14 AM, Eric Renger <ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Excellent! We have a judge for the Chute Out! Thanks, Jim!
On Oct 1, 2018, at 6:29 PM, James Dougherty <jafrado@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:jafrado@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Right on Jim; you’re hired! 😎
On Oct 1, 2018, at 6:03 PM, Jimn469897 (Redacted sender "Jimn469897" for
DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
wrote:
I can be a judge if needed.
Jim Norton
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Express 3, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Eric Renger <ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
Date: 10/1/18 11:54 AM (GMT-08:00)
To: tccrockets@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:tccrockets@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [tccrockets] Re: October Skies Contests?
Gene is recused. We are looking for a judge. Hopefully we can get a
nomination through the confirmation process without any major issues!
On Oct 1, 2018, at 10:34 AM, Gene Engelgau <gene.engelgau@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:gene.engelgau@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I think I'm still recused - haha!! I can participate and that would be
more fun for me.
-G
- Regards
Gene Engelgau
Web: http://fruitychutes.com ;<http://fruitychutes.com/> - Professional
Aerospace Recovery Systems
Facebook: facebook.com/fruitychutes <http://facebook.com/fruitychutes>
Twitter: @fruitychutes
Cell: 408-499-9050
On Mon, Oct 1, 2018 at 10:32 AM Eric Renger <ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Oops.. Gene i mean if you chose to make yourself INELIGIBLE! Lol! I think
if you were to judge the contest and offer the prize and still remain
eligible, people might suspect it was rigged. Chute rigger rigging the
chute contest…
On Oct 1, 2018, at 10:27 AM, Eric Renger <ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
James, the 3-chute NASA setup would be great for the Chute Out!
Gene, if Fruity Chutes would like to sponsor, that would be very cool!
Would you also be able to judge the contest? If so, I think it would be
great if you would also fly something for the event too, even if you
chose to make yourself eligible to win. Chris Attebery flew a monkey in
the Monkey Loft, even though he was the official judge and prize sponsor
and made himself ineligible. He shared my vision of a sky full of flying
monkeys, and he wanted to be a part of that world! A better world! These
goofball contests are more about the spectacle than anything, and I think
there is a chance you just might have some good chutes to show off... ;)
Edward, a big old chute in a goblin is fine, or if you want to look for
something else, that’s great too. I’ve already got something I think
would work too, but I’m looking at buying a chute for this.
Anyone else in for a Chute Out? Anyone with a nice-looking chute or
interesting or unusual recovery system should consider it.
- Eric
On Sep 30, 2018, at 12:09 PM, James Dougherty <jafrado@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:jafrado@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Yes, sounds good Vito! Thank you! and I wouldn't worry about offending
anyone with drag race comments, I agree we do a lot of them and we
should do something new ... like I said, I support all of you guys for
whatever contest you'd like. We can make yours and the chute contest
official ones.
I will make sure to include this in the announcements... more on that
today/tomorrow
Any other takers?
Thanks!
-James
On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 11:08 PM Ben Sandoval <hdbenstereo@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:hdbenstereo@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
WOW very generous of you Vito, I'm sure there will be many takers myself
included. Time for me to get back to work LOL.
On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 6:58 PM Vito Orlandella
<ravenfireflyer@xxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ravenfireflyer@xxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Haven’t heard much lately on contests.
If I offended some on the statement that I made of being tired of flash
drag races. Let me irritate a bit. Let’s have the drag races but I was
trying to incite something a bit different.
Here’s what I have.
On Saturday, anyone that hits closet to the following altitudes.
2,500’ MSL
5,000’ MSL
7,500’ MSL
10,000’ MSL
I will donate $100.00 to each altitude selected above a on site vender
credit to the one that gets closet to the altitude. Plus or minus.
Applicants will need to pay a $5.00 donation fee to the club prior to
their launch on Saturday for this contest.
It can be any flyer and any flight, be it a drag race or whatever that
can win. Just trusting that your altimeter is in fact the one used in
the flight.
So that is a total of $400.00 that I am offering if anyone is interested
in allowing it.
Vito
Sent from my iPad
On Sep 26, 2018, at 5:09 AM, Gene Engelgau <gene.engelgau@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:gene.engelgau@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
We can sponsor. But if folks want custom colors we are pretty much out
of time to turn these around.
-Gene
- Regards
Gene Engelgau
Web: http://fruitychutes.com ;<http://fruitychutes.com/> - Professional
Aerospace Recovery Systems
Facebook: facebook.com/fruitychutes <http://facebook.com/fruitychutes>
Twitter: @fruitychutes
Cell: 408-499-9050
On Tue, Sep 25, 2018 at 9:33 PM James Dougherty <jafrado@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:jafrado@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I might fly the awesome 3-chute NASA setup Gene did for me ... maybe I
will join too.
Let me see next week what I can get together ... still unpacking from
BALLS!
-james
On Tue, Sep 25, 2018 at 5:14 PM, Edward Brown <ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I was just gonna put a big old parachute in a 5.5 inch Polecat Goblin.
No chance of winning. Hahahahahaha. I might be able to come up with
some better though.
On Tue, Sep 25, 2018 at 12:30 Eric Renger <ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Thanks, James. If we get enough interest in the Chute Out, I’ll write
it up.
Is anyone else interested? I am, and it looks like Gene is, and Edward
is. I feel like we need more people to make it an event.
If you are interested in the event, what format would you like to see?
If we’d prefer a contest, I’m not really in the position to offer a
prize myself, and I’d also prefer not to be in the position of judging
a contest, because I’d like to participate in the event. Maybe there is
a vendor who would sponsor and judge it? If not, would people be
interested in participating in an “exposition” type event that would be
just about showing off the cool or interesting recovery systems, and
not an actual contest with a prize? Let me know!
Thanks,
Eric
On Sep 21, 2018, at 11:53 PM, James Dougherty <jafrado@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:jafrado@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hey Folks,
You’re free to have any contests you’d like; send me the details,
organize the event, and I am happy to announce!
-James
On Sep 21, 2018, at 2:42 PM, Eric Renger <ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ericrenger@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Vito, i don’t have any scale models, but I agree I would like to see
some more variety of drag races or events. The teleportation races
are cool in their way, but sometimes I like to watch the rockets for
awhile before they disappear!
Eric
On Sep 20, 2018, at 10:39 PM, Vito Orlandella
<ravenfireflyer@xxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ravenfireflyer@xxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I’m pleased to hear from people that want to plan for October Skies
now.
It’s really getting late to organize special themes.
I’m getting a bit tired of the “gone in a blink” drag races. How
about bringing out the old and slow scaled versions of real rockets
of the past to honor the space program of the 60’s and before.
May be a bit late to build but if you have one, bring it and send
it.
Sent from my iPad
On Sep 20, 2018, at 7:51 PM, Edward Brown <ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I mean, if TCC decides to do it.
Then, it would be on. :-)
On Thu, Sep 20, 2018, 7:50 PM Edward Brown <ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hahahahaha, ok, it's on.
On Thu, Sep 20, 2018, 7:47 PM Gene Engelgau
<gene.engelgau@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:gene.engelgau@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I have some ringers! No need to order.
G
- Regards
Gene Engelgau (mobile device)
On Thu, Sep 20, 2018, 7:44 PM Edward Brown <ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ebrown555@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Sounds like fun! Time to start chute shopping.
