Irma hosts Ice Carnival Page 2
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 Vol. 47, No. 09
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Three enthusiasts keep their heads up watching for the latest rocket to come down after a successful launch at the 2024 “Fire and Ice” event put on Saturday by the Edmonton Rocketry Club. The successful and fun event took PARICIA HARCOURT PHOTOS place east of Viking at Thomas Lake. Rocket enthusiasts gathered Saturday at Thomas Lake east of Viking for the Edmonton Rocketry Club’s “ERC Fire and Ice 2024” High Power Rocket Launch competition and showcase of high powered rockets and models. The event ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with flyers enjoying mixed cloud and sun with an expected ceiling of 10,000 feet AGL. The public was welcome to attend, with flights from rocket motors sized A-M. Other rocket projects were to be accommodated if possible. The rockets are made by the flyers who get a chance to blast them off in a safe environmental setting under controlled conditions. The event is put on by the Edmonton Rocketry Club and vehicles lined R.R. 480 east of town to come out and blast off their personal builds. Rock music blasted as people gathered with chairs, dogs and sunglasses to view the rockets, also blasting as they took off into the air. The excitement was real as everyone eagerly looked to the skies to try and locate the latest rocket taking off. Attached to parachutes, the rockets came down to earth to land in an area near the lake, although a strong
westerly breeze helped them along. Another Fire and Ice rocket launch took place in 2022. Local enthusiast Dale Madu says the entire day is usually spent by the rocket club members who love to hang out and watch how everyone else’s rocket does in launch and flight. There are rigorous inspections made of the rockets and safety officers are also on hand to keep people within the safety parameters. This is necessary as a rocket’s trajectory can’t always be predicted and people need to keep a “heads up” attitude while watching the action. Everyone was there to enjoy the day and watch the skies. And they were able to enjoy hot dogs and hot drinks to help keep them warm. There were two competitions: the ERC Mile High Club Competition for a rocket flying closest to the altitude of one mile, or 5,280 ft. The other was a “Closest to the Pin” competition for a rocket that lands the closest to a designated pin on a successful flight over 500 ft. According to the organizers, the winds did not affect the rockets as they launched, although there was a definite wind chill factor for those watching this year.