These photos were taken at Danville, just prior to the rocket's first full-J flight. That's Chris Pearson of North Coast Rocketry, the company who makes the kit. Though I deviated so much from the kit, I teased Chris that it was more my design than his!

Liftoff was, in a word, awesome! A perfect flight, on one of those rare calm Illinois days, the flight was tracked to 4,600+ meters (15,000 feet). That "calm day" was important, as despite a smallish 'chute, the rocket still landed more than a half-mile from the launch pads.