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Recovering a 6 Month Lost Callisto and Returning Her To Flight

In July, 2003 I flew my Callisto on an Ellis Mountain G35-6. I had used this motor before with great luck. However, this time it weathercocked and flew over the mountain a long way from me. It was lost. Here is the recovery story.

December 2003. What a day. Although it was nippy out - I thought the high cloud cover and cold temperature would make for some pretty contrails and flights. Unfortunately, the predicted 1-2 MPH winds were significantly higher and a little rocket on Estes black powder was drifting all the way to the track field. We only flew a few and called it a day. Just too windy.

Despite the lack of flying, fortune shined bright on Jeane and I, as we decided to take a hike up on to the mountain in search of my Callisto. For those that haven't heard the story, I flew this on a G35 (that's a 4 second burn motor) back in July. I had previously flown this same combo with an awe inspiring long, slow liftoff and high climbing flight. It was awesome.

Well, the July flight was a little different, the rocket cleared 20 feet and weathercocked and flew like a guided missile over the mountain directly behind the airfield. As we watched it near the end of it's arc, the chute came out and the rocket was traveling at high speed and shredded the nose cone, chute and booster.

Searches by my brother, father and I in August came up empty.

Patience is a virtue they say and the lack of leaves and no flying gave us the inspiration to look.

Here's the good fortune part. As we were walking across the field to the mountain we saw the chute in the trees. As we got closer, we walked right up to the nose cone which was laying on the ground. The paint is messed up from where they cut the grass, but it's in perfect shape otherwise.

As we progressed straight up (and I mean that - on all fours at times) the mountain we decided not to bother looking on the face, we were certain the rocket had cleared the crest of the mountain. The view is really nice though. At the top, Jeane wanted to go right and I wanted to go left. (So typical isn't it?) As we "debated" which was the right way to go, we both kind of stopped and looked at each other. My rocket was hanging in a tree not 20 feet away from us.

So, how do you get a rocket down from 25 feet up in the air? You go caveman and throw rocks and sticks. After about 30 minutes of that it didn't feel so cold anymore - in fact it was quite the opposite with all the clothes I had on. I gave up. We sat down against a tree and debated how we could get it down next month.

We decided it was rope and more throwing or cut the tree down. And you can't cut the tree down. As we stood up to leave, I hurled another stick at the rocket in disgust at having found it and having to leave it. Smack! Sway and...... fall. Some laughing and I had my Callisto again. Sweet!

First inspection... uh after 5 months in the Wx, this thing could fly right now. It's in great shape. I'm stoked. You all will see this rocket fly again. I'll post pics and video soon enough - but holidays keep us all busy so words will have to suffice for now.

Here are pics of the Callisto after recovery.

Broken piston but the paint and airframe are great.

The nosecone wasn't so lucky.. water freezing in it or hay bailer or both killed the paint but it's still usable.

Broken piston.

Drying out the phenolic/paper of the motor. The 38mm to 29mm adapter would not come out. Blue and green mildew or mold was all in the end of the rocket and it smelled really, really bad. It took a few days to dry out.

Here is the Callisto flying again on a G64 - this great rocket still has lots of flying to do, even after five months in the weather.