AMRAAM Recovery

In September 2004, we took the veteran AMRAAM 4 out to get some fresh air at a SPARC launch. We loaded it with a J540R and had a nice flight (AVI 1.5 Meg) to about 4300 feet. (Ian Nelson above)

Unfortunately, she drifted into some trees on the west side of the launch site, despite having the main deployment set for 400 feet. We were able to pull down the payload bay and canard fin can (above), but the booster and altimeter bay were stuck about 38 feet up.

A few months later, a few intrepid SPARC members mounted a challenging recovery expedition, braving cold and snow.

Miller time! A successful recovery with only a fin popped loose.

Many thanks to the whole crew!
Marty Weiser
Bob Yanecek
Ray Stoner
Patty Weiser (photos)
John Weiser (equipment hauler)
Mathew Weiser (equipment hauler)
Chico Weiser (the one trying to conceal his identity in the photo above))