Issue 136__________Nov-Dec 2007

NEWSLETTER OF THE PITTSBURGH SPACE COMMAND - NAR SECTION #473 - JUDGED #2 BEST SECTION NEWSLETTER
A TALE OF THREE ROCKET CLUBS . . . 3
NOTES FROM THE PREZ. . . . . . . . . . . 7
COLORFUL SECTION LOGOS . . . . . . . 8
PSC SHOP TALK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
MORT’S COLUMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
THE KECKSBURG U.F.O. . . . . . . . . . . 14
LAUNCH WINDOWS . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Founded May, 1986
NOV. - DEC. 2007
Three Rivers Section #172
1969 - 1972
This issue, Team Pittsburgh once
again parts the mists of time to look back
on our Pittsburgh rocketry heritage, revisiting the Three Rivers Section. Coverage
starts on page 3.
Also INSIDE:
Colorful NAR Section Logos
Pages 8 & 9
In the photo directly above, Three
Rivers member Tim Bray stands beside
the North Catholic Moon Rocket II at our
August R&R Picnic and Launch.
The photo on the upper right
shows the cover to an issue of the Three
Rivers newsletter, the ConTrail.
Warning: front and back cover ink is not water friendly.
TEAM PITTSBURGH
2
editor’s note
TEAM PITTSBURGH
is published bimonthly by the
Pittsburgh Space Command
NAR Section # 473
Uncopyrighted material
appearing in TEAM PITTSBURGH
may be reprinted provided proper
credit is given to the author and to
TEAM PITTSBURGH.
AD SPACE in TEAM PITTSBURGH
is available free to
members in good standing.
PSC Yearly dues:
17 & under --- $6.00
18 & over & family - $14.00
(Membership includes
newsletter subscription)
Send PSC dues to:
Mike Hardobey
409 Mallard Drive
Cranberry Twp., Pa 16066
NOTE: Make Checks payable to
Mike Hardobey - NOT PSC
PSC OFFICERS for 2008
President
Steve Foster
Vice President
John Brohm
Treasurer
Jerry Kraus
Section Advisor
John Pace
TP Editor
Art Nestor
Webmaster
John Sarosi
Website http://www.psc473.org
Submit articles for publication to:
Art Nestor
230 Arthur Street
Zelienople, Pa 16063
Email: [email protected]
The Pittsburgh Space Command
Is dedicated to the advancement
of safe model rocketry.
11/04/07-47
NO. 136
Some Historical Data In Celebration of the NAR’s 50th Anniversary:
December 07, 1957 - The Model Missile Association is incorporated in Colorado.
January 03, 1958 - 1st meeting of the MMA at the Hammond Organ Studio in
Denver, Colorado. 100 Charter members present.
Sept. 18, 1958 - Mile High Section in Denver is granted the 1st Section Charter.
Oct. 25, 1958 - Name officially changed to the National Association of Rocketry.
May 16, 1959 - World’s 1st NAR sanctioned model rocket competition is held
in Denver.
July 16-19, 1959 - NARAM 1, Hogback Rocket Range, Denver. Norman Mains,
Jr. is 1st National Champion.
Three Rivers
Happy Holidays and I hope everyone
I hope you find the story of
Three Rivers Section in this issue
interesting. I felt this was an appropriate time for the article and needed
telling.
has a great New Year in 2008!
It was a little difficult to get
a good quality reproduction on some
of the photos. Most of them are mimeographs and therefore not very good
to start with.
ATTENTION NAR SECTIONS:
Please send newsletter exchanges
to:
John Pace
111 Crystal Springs Drive
Cranberry Twp., Pa 16066
Phone: (724) 742-8692
NEW ADDRESS?
NEW PHONE NUMBER?
CONTACT:
Mike Hardobey
409 Mallard Drive
Cranberry Township, Pa 16066
Phone: (724) 772-9678
724-779-2000
1713 Rt. 228 Suite L1, Cranberry Twp., Pa 16066
HOURS: MON THRU FRI 10-9, SAT 10-6, SUN 12-4
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TEAM PITTSBURG H
3
Three Rivers section:
A tale of three rocket clubs
By Art Nestor
Incorporating one of the most frequently used
references for the City of Pittsburgh into its name, Three
Rivers Section was founded in October, 1969, and based
in the North Hills area. (Pittsburgh stands at the convergence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers to form
the Ohio River.)
including the heads of model rocket companies and NAR
dignitaries.
If Three Rivers Section had a lucky number, a
magic number, or some sort of cosmic number, then that
number would probably be 3. Formed in the “heyday” of
model rocketry, it existed for barely three years. The Section, an important part of the heritage of Pittsburgh rocketry, ranks as the third greatest Pittsburgh NAR Section
behind Steel City Section and our own Pittsburgh Space
Command. The club was in reality one part in a near inseparable alliance of three clubs. Its newsletter, Con
Trail, lasted for three volumes. (And no, we’re not done
with the threes yet!)
The North Catholic Rocket Club
Three Rivers Section began as the North Catholic
Rocket Club in 1967 or 1968 at the North Catholic High
School in Troy Hill. No, there were not 3 founding members but five - Rich Baier, Dennis Brandl, Tim Bray,
Mike Thomas and Tom Wuelette. According to Rich
Baier, “The five (of us) hung around together and had the
same interests. Many of our meetings were at Annunciation Hall on the North Side. It was our parish church
while growing up. The vast majority of the time we
launched at McCully Field in Hampton.”
One notable accomplishment of this club was the
construction of the North Catholic Moon Rocket, “a two
F-engine clustered rocket built almost single-handedly
by Denny Brandl and Rich Baier, with a little help from
Tom Wuellette” according to an article in the North Pittsburgh Rocket Club’s newsletter (which was later named
ConTrail).
The Moon Rocket was the chief attraction at the
4th Annual Pittsburgh Spring Convention held on March
28-30, 1969. This was high power “back in the day.” The
engines were made by Centuri Engineering and the rocket was scheduled for liftoff during the Saturday morning
launch session. The Pittsburgh Spring Convention’s list
of attendees was literally a who’s who of model rocketry,
Close ups of the markings on the N.C. Moon Rocket
Unfortunately at ignition, one or both motors
CATOed. Quoting the club newsletter article “the tail end
of the rocket was totally disintegrated following the explosion of the Mini-Max engines. Mr. Leroy Piester,
president of Centuri Engineering Co., who makes the engines, graciously agreed to replace the destroyed parts.
This rocket received much publicity as the biggest rocket
there. Its picture was taken by Vernon Estes, Leroy
Piester, and many of the other modelers. Its destruction
was also mentioned in the magazine Model Rocketry and
in Starburst, newsletter of the Steel City Section.”
The rocket was later rebuilt and flown as a single
engine rocket flying on Flight System’s impressive F100. Three Rivers member Tim Bray plans on flying the
rocket again, which hasn’t flown in over 30 years, at a
future PSC launch.
The North Pittsburgh Rocket Club
The North Catholic launches at McCully Field
attracted other modelers who wanted to fly with them.
But these new flyers were unable to officially join the
North Catholic group since it was a high school club. So
to accommodate everyone, a new club was formed, The
North Pittsburgh Rocket Club. References to the North
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Pittsburgh Rocket Club’s activities can be found in past
issues of Model Rocketry magazine. This new North
Pittsburgh club started the North Pittsburgh Rocket Club
Newsletter. It was printed at N.C.H.S. and with issue #3
it became the ConTrail. The North Catholic club continued on at the high school. (Our own section, PSC, was
almost named the North Pittsburgh Space Command, and
was advertised as such in the June, 1985 issue of American Spacemodeling.
5
The most prestigious achievement of Three Rivers Section was to win the North American Rockwell
Trophy (annual newsletter award) at NARAM 13 in
1970. The color covers and artwork were noted as being a
factor in winning. Rick Baier was the editor and Denny
Brandl produced the covers. The newsletter featured a
continuing comic strip called “The last Man”, about an
astronaut who upon returning to earth from a long space
mission finds the earth devastated by nuclear and biological war. This newsletter win was in the Section’s very
first year and only the second time the Trophy had been
awarded. It’s interesting to note that both Con Trail and
Team Pittsburgh won the award following the same previous winner, ZOG-43 of NARHAMS.
Membership Card for the Society for the Preservation of Dorpal Hawks circa 1970.
An undated launch at McCully Field. Tim Bray photo
Three Rivers Section
Some of the same members of both clubs now
wanted to form an NAR section. Those that did created a
third club, Three Rivers Section, apparently in October,
1969. (No official date could be found but Three Rivers
Section is listed on the November, 1969 Section Roster
in the January, 1970 issue of Model Rocketry magazine.
Also in the Volume 1 #5 issue of Con Trail there is a reference to a past October 4th date and a future November
9th sanctioned competition meet to be held with Steel
City Section.
Now three clubs co-existed, an alliance if you
will, using the same equipment, having many of the same
members and sharing the same newsletter. The situation
seems not all that different from one of the teachings one
might receive from North Catholic High School, that of
the Trinity - God as father, Son, and Holy Ghost. A rocket Club as North Catholic, North Pittsburgh, and Three
Rivers.
One of the items deposited in the Rockwell Trophy Annex from Three Rivers Section for winning the
award (and it is still there) was a membership card for the
Society for the Preservation of Dorpal Hawks. The
Dorpal Hawk comes from a now forgotten science fiction
The design, above, for a Three Rivers Section flag
was featured in the Volume 1 #6 issue of ConTrail but
it is unknown if the flag was never made.
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story but is mentioned numerous times by
both Three Rivers and Steel City in their
newsletters. If anyone knows what story or
novel it comes from please let me know.
Three Rivers was associated with the
legendary Burland’s Hobby Shop (now long
gone) in the North Hills Village Shopping
Center. The shop was a big supporter of both
the North Pittsburgh and Three Rivers clubs,
contributing prizes and trophies for competition and hiring club members Tom Wuellette
and Mike Thomas.
I believe the Section folded in October, 1972 with the expiration of its charter.
Three River Section is listed on the September, 1971 and the February, 1972 Section
Rosters and a co-sponsored Pittsburgh Prang
III meet with Steel City Section was advertised for May 27-28, 1972.
This article could not have been written without the generous assistance of Three
Rivers’ member Tim Bray, who besides answering my questions lent me an entire collection of club newsletters. Thanks also for
help from Rich Baier and Dick Fox.
NO. 136
Three rivers song sheet
When Marvin Goes Marching Home *
*(Sung to the tune of ”When Johnny Comes Marching Home”)
*(Marvin was President of Steel City Section at the time)
1) When Marvin goes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah,
He’ll wish he’d never seen us there, hurrah, hurrah,
We’d beat them competition-wise
And showed them who controls the skies
And we’ll all be gay when Marvin goes marching home.
2) When Marvin goes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah,
He’ll wish he’d never seen us there, hurrah, hurrah
We’ll say to them how do you do
Now that you are number two
And we’ll all be gay when Marvin goes marching home
3) When Denny comes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah
He’ll stop and salute Three River’s men, hurrah, hurrah
Our chutes were open
Our eggs intact
We even got our Drifters back
And we’ll all be gay when Denny comes marching home.
****************
Three Rivers Marching Song
(Sung to the tune of “Caisson Song”
Over hills, over dales
As they slowly drag their tails
Old Steel City goes draggin’ along
Give a shout, give a cheer
For Three Rivers showed no fear
As Steel City went draggin’ along
So it’s ha, ha, hee
As we laughed so merrily
Steel City really did get beat ha hah
So as we go, you will always know
That Steel City’s still draggin’ along
The Three Rivers Song Sheet originally appeared in the
Volume 1 No. 7 issue of Con-Trail. No date given. This same
issue included an article by Bill Kust on Apollo 12.
The design at left is from the Volume 2 # 2 issue of ConTrail, dated Feb., 1970.
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7
Cold Weather Launches/Meetings
Despite being in an all season climate area PSC has
always tried to hold launches throughout the year. However, for the upcoming winter launch dates the hours of operations will be reduced. We have set the dates for the first
three launches of 2008, but have changed the time from
12:00 – 2:00. Even at this, on really cold/windy launch
dates, we may need to retreat to the Garden Gate Restaurant
(Intersection of Routes 488 & 422) for a meeting or just to
shoot the breeze on various rocket related subjects rather
than to attempt to remain on the field for the entire launch
time.
Website being updated
If you’ve checked our club’s
website recently you’ve seen
that our new webmaster
(John Sarosi) is gradually
updating some of the pages.
He’s recently updated the
links page, loaded some photos from the 20th Anniversary
picnic, and he has been able
to update the home page with
timely launch information
when necessary in the past
few months – this will be
valuable with the upcoming winter weather. We could
even use some more recent photos on the site. These
wouldn’t have to be from any particular launch or event
– and we should have at least one photo on the site of
each member. So if you have photos, a valuable web
link, or any other suggestions for keeping our website
fresh, then send them to John at [email protected].
Keep up the good work, John, and let us know of anything you might need.
PSC’s New Treasurer – Dues for 2008
Jerry Kraus has volunteered to take over the
PSC treasury duties; I want to thank Jerry for stepping
forward for this role. This club’s success is based totally on volunteers to fill the necessary duties. As of this
writing we have not yet transferred the treasury from
Mike to Jerry, but I hope we can do this in the next few
weeks. So for now if you would like to pay your dues
for 2008, it would be best to make out your checks to
Jerry Kraus and send the payments to him at 301 Stoneybrooke Dr, Cheswick PA 15024. As Jerry sets up the
new account the payment information may change –
we’ll keep you up to date with any new information.
2008 Planning
Sometime in early 2008 we will schedule a planning meeting to set all the launch dates and events for next
year. But in the meantime, I am open to suggestions and
ideas for any changes we need/should be thinking of. I’m
particularly interested in new ideas for the Fun Fly events
we have been doing the last three years, as participation has
declined in these events. I looked back on a few old emails
I had received on how great the first one was a couple years
ago, but I noticed that the people that sent those emails did
not participate in this year’s event – so I’m looking for
fresh ideas not only for this event but for any event that
PSC should/could be doing to keep interest in the club up.
Keep’em Flying
Steve
A Letter to John Brohm
From Mark Mayfield of Launch Magazine.
October 18, 2007
John,
I wanted to thank you for the excellent article in
Team Pittsburgh. I’ve actually just read it. Deb had the
issue, and we’ve been going so non-stop around here (and
traveling too) that I just hadn’t had a chance to look at it.
Outstanding issue.
Please tell George and Jeremy Pike that we have
photos of them in the next issue of Launch (on press now)
from NARAM 49
Let us know when you’re back in NYC.
And all best,
Mark
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Painting Nose Tips
By John Brohm
NAR #78048
Painting nose cones is
usually straightforward. Often
we’re dealing with a plastic
nose cone, so there isn’t that
much work to get the nose
cone ready for paint, and with
the smooth, hard surface plastic
nose cones offer, usually the
end result comes out pretty
good. However, sometimes we
encounter a model that is to
have a different color for the
tip, and this immediately raises
a question as to how best to mask a parallel line on a twodimensional compound curve.
A case in point is the Estes Big Daddy (kit
#2162), where the nose is predominantly black, but has a
yellow tip. The kit instructions suggest taping a paper
cone on the end of the nose cone two inches from the tip,
but what ensures that the masking tape itself is parallel
with the shoulder joint? This installment of PSC Shop
Talk shows how I go about this task. Photo 1 shows the
necessary tool set.
NO. 136
The critical layout item is the paper strip. It’s
about ¾” wide (its width is not critical) and is long
enough to reach from the shoulder joint of the nose to just
beyond the tip. Using the fine point Sharpie, I’ve marked
the strip at a point 2” aft of the tip location, as this is
where we will want to mark the masking line on the nose
cone.
Once the layout strip has been marked, place the
strip flush with the shoulder joint of the nose cone – we’ll
use this as our reference point. Photo 2 shows the strip in
place, ready to mark the nose:
Photo 2: Layout Strip in Place
With the Sharpie, make a mark on the nose at the
2” point, and then move the strip a bit and mark again.
Keep going until you’ve marked the nose cone all the
way round. Photo 3 shows the nose cone marked just so:
Photo 1: Tool Set
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11
Photo 3: Nose Cone Marked
Photo 4: Pactra Tape in Place
As we all know, masking a compound curve can
be difficult, so we’ll help ourselves here by using a narrow, flexible tape that will conform to the compound
curve and also give us a sharp edge for a neat, painted
line. I’m using Pactra vinyl Trim Tape, readily available
at Hobby Express. Pactra trim tape comes in a roll of
multiple widths – in this case, we will want to use either
the 1/16” or the 3/32” strip. Going with a wider strip raises the probability of adherence problems with the compound curve.
With the masking line in place, mask off the rest
of the tip, making double sure that all of the edges are
burnished down and that there are no sneak holes or gaps
– we’re about to spray some black paint, and it’s certain
it will find the holes if there are any left! If you’re using
any kind of solvent-based paint, make sure you do your
painting/spraying in a well ventilated area.
With the strip in hand (I’m using the 1/16” strip
in this example), start laying the tape just above the
Sharpie marks. We want our masking line to be just
above these marks so that that they are covered by the
black paint later. Carefully follow around the nose and
cut off the extra once you get to the overlap. You’ll want
to double check the overlap to make sure the edges all
line up. Pactra tape can sometimes leave an adhesive residue behind when the tape is re-positioned. If you spot
this, you’ll want to remove this with a cotton swab and
some Goo Gone® before you paint. I buy Goo Gone® at
Home Depot, and I find it’s just great for removing most
kinds of adhesive residue without affecting the underlying painted surface. Photo 4 shows the Pactra strip in
place:
Spray away, and let dry. Carefully remove the
tape, as per Photo 5:
Photo 5: A Crisp Tip
And there you have it, a nice crisp tip. After your
paint has cured, make a point of shooting one or two
coats of Clear Coat (using a variety compatible with your
paint). You’ll find that most clear coats do a great job of
hardening the outer surface, and help make that shine last
just a little longer.
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TEAM PITTSBURGH
You don't want to use hot glue on HIGH powered rockets
(small model rockets only) or parts exposed to heat.
These craft store glue guns typically cost between $2 and
$6 dollars.
I recently purchased from Harbor Freight, their
"Cold Heat," battery powered glue gun. This glue gun is
powered by four 1600 mAh nmh cells. There is enough
power per charge to heat 4-5 glue sticks.
KUDOS
Congratulations to our club
Pittsburgh Space Command,
editor Art Nestor and all PSC
members who contributed to
our newsletter. TEAM PITTSBURGH won this year's NAR
honorable mention award as
second best newsletter. Not
bad! Keep up the effort and lets
strive to be number one next
year. We were number one last
year and can do it again.
CENTURI HUMMINGBIRD GLIDER FOLLOW UP
As reported in my last column, my Hummingbird
flew so well that it was lost. The Hummingbird glider is
made mostly of printed card stock. I scanned the card
stock before I built my Hummingbird and sent a print out
to master builder Joseph Peklicz. Joseph responded by
building a replica out of easily obtainable balsa, glued the
printed pattern on and sent me the completed model plus
several "short" (less nose cone) kits.
Joseph's glider looks great! I plan to test fly it the
first nice launch day. The weather did not cooperate at
the last two launches. If any one is interested in one of
Joseph's short kit let me know. The "price" for this kit is a
promise to review the kit, glider, and flight.
BATTERY POWERED HOT GLUE GUN
As you know by now, I like to experiment with
tools. I have written in a past column a review of my
electric glue gun and its uses.
My craft store glue gun is great for building and
repairing foam and plastic parts, etc. The glue is cheap,
sets quickly, is shock resistant, and does an excellent job.
Battery powered hot glue gun.
This hot glue gun is great for on the spot field
repairs. Heating time is about one minute, the glue sets as
soon as it cools (another minute or two). Features include
both high and low heats plus an automatic battery saver.
The tool works! It is expensive, $30. For me its worth it.
2.4 GHZ RADIO CONTROL (R/C)
Model aircraft radio control equipment is also
used at times in model rocketry. I have used it to control
rocket powered gliders. I have also seen it used at NARAM contests to control gliders also plus control special
staging/deployment effects.
I have been to only two NARAMs and have successfully flown my R/C rocket gliders from the sport
launch pad. Also, at both NARAMs after several successful flights I eventually mysteriously lost control and
crashed. I suspect that the cause was radio frequency interference from the contest pad, two modelers on the
same radio channel.
This interference issue is of great concern at
model airplane flying fields. These fields go to great ef-
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fort to ensure that multiple models are not flying on the
same frequency. Some go as far as impounding unused
transmitters.
The two NARAMs that I went to years ago did
not have any formal frequency control, one just asked
around. It is my understanding from talking with Rod
Schafer and Steve Foster that this shortcoming has been
rectified at current NARAMs.
13
contest gliders.
2.4 gHz R/C costs more, but can be worth it. I
suggest considering it when buying new R/C equipment
or if flying in a field where frequency is poorly controlled.
See you at the next launch!
Mort Binstock, NAR 27182
****************
2007 Frequent Flyer Standings
Diminutive lightweight receiver. Note size compared
to a quarter and the two short antennas.
Classical R/C equipment operates on either 27 or
72 mHz. There are many individual channels on each
band. It is the users responsibility to assure that there are
no same channel conflicts. There is an occasional crash
even at well organized events from an inadvertent frequency conflict including some one forgetting to turn off
a transmitter.
Now there is new technology to the rescue, 2.4
gHz R/C. This new technology must by design specification definition be immune from both stray interference
and from user conflicts. Its operation is similar to that of
a cell phone. A user has no idea what frequency they are
on nor do they care. It is the equipment's responsibility to
always assure a clear channel. Each transmitter has a
unique identifier similar to a cell phone's phone number.
This 2.4 gHz radio control equipment has an added bonus that should appeal to contest buffs like PSC's
Rod Schafer and Steve Foster. The receivers are quite
small and light weight. The lightest receiver made weighs
only several grams. Also, there is NO trailing antenna
wire, the antennas (there are two) are only an inch or so
long. This receiver should be great for some light weight
Under 13
Ray Haim 16
Walt Haim 14
Brain Guzek 8
Will Allison 7
Benjamin Pike 7
Jeremy Pike 7
Maranda Cassata 5
Sean Guzek 4
Doug Haim 4
Kate Krivjanik 4
Michael Russell 4
Jon Reis 3
Dustin 1
Spencer Koehring 1
19 and over
Russell Cummins 30
George Pike 13
Art Nestor 12
Mark Halinaty 11
John Brohm 6
Larry Cursio 8
John Sarosi 8
Ken Globis 6
Phil Haim 6
Bruce Miller 6
Mort Binstock 5
Gary Russell 4
Steve Foster 4
Mark Cassata 3
Jerry Kraus 3
Margaret Krivjanik 3
Tina Jones 2
Lori Allison 1
Rick Allison 1
John Pace 1
Rod Schafer 1
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TEAM PITTSBURGH
NO. 136
See story on the next page
(Featherweight)
Use caution on your 1st flight
Drawings reduced slightly for publication
TEAM PITTSBURGH
NO. 136
15
PSC 2007/08 launch windows - event calendar
Please consult our website at www.PSC473.org for directions to local PSC launches. You may
also contact a PSC club officer through the website or obtain a club flyer (with map) at Hobby Express
in Cranberry Township or J & C Hobbies in Penn Hills.
Month
Day
Time
Event
Where ?
November
11
12-5
Sport Launch
Camp Lutherlyn
November
17-18
Regional
The Plains, VA
December
09
12-5
Sport Launch
Camp Lutherlyn
Sponsored by NOVAAR
January
20
12-2
Sport Launch
Camp Lutherlyn
Note launch times-longer weather permitting
February
17
12-2
Sport Launch
Camp Lutherlyn
Note launch times-longer weather permitting
March
16
12-2
Sport Launch
Camp Lutherlyn
Note launch times-longer weather permitting
The Kecksburg U.F.O.
By Joe Peklicz
Who can forget the December 05, 1965 Kecksburg
U.F.O. crash! I did some research and came up with a plan
for a.flying model rocket of the Kecksburg U.F.O.
From the UFO’s Magazine’s “UFO Encyclopedia”
by William J. Birnes (2004):
On December 05, 1965, scores of eyewitnesses
observed a “fireball” which seemed to be under intelligent
control, streaking through the night time winter sky until it
crashed in the woods outside of the town of Kecksburg,
PA. Residents who had observed the object land called the
Pennsylvania State Police to report a plane crash in the
woods and one witness describes seeing a pulsating light
coming from the area. However, the emergency phone calls
also brought out a military recovery team whose presence
in the area ultimately became overwhelming as they sealed
off the site.
Researcher Stan Gordon interviewed local residents
who reported seeing a ten foot tall copper colored saucerlike object with a gold band around it’s bottom and Egypian-like hieroglyphics on it. Other witnesses watched the
military load the object onto a flatbed truck and cover it up
with a tarp before driving ot away in a large convoy. The
Air Force would later claim that the object was a meteorite
while other officials speculated that it was a crashed Soviet
Venus probe. To this day, the Kecksburg U.F.O. sighting
remains cloaked in mystery.
(Kecksburg is about 30 miles from Pittsburgh - editor Art)
Comments
Fun Fly Event Results
Youth Spot Landing
1) Katie Krivjanik - 17 meters
Youth Sport Duration
1) Katie Krivjanik - 38 seconds
Adult Sport Duration
1) John Brohm - 127 seconds
2) Russell Cummins - 116 seconds
3) Mike Krivjanik - 111 seconds
4) Ken Globis - 90 seconds
5) Margaret Krivjanik - 66 seconds
6) Rod Schafer - 64 seconds
7) Steve Foster - 48 seconds
8) Dick Freed - 5 seconds
Adult Open Duration
1) Steve Foster 752 - seconds
2) Mike Krivjanik - 200 seconds
3) Rod Schafer - 171 seconds
4) Margaret Krivjanik - 53 seconds
Congratulations everyone!
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We Have liftoff!
Steve Foster’s Thunderbird 3 lifts off on a J350 at the August
Dragon’s fire Launch. Photos by Rod Schafer.
TEAM PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh Space Command
Send returns to:
Steve Foster
125 Crestline Drive
Leechburg, Pa 15656