I will start by saying that this was year's TARC experience was truly a challenge for myself and Kim Mitchell who helped me mentor the 8th grade Huffman TARC team.  Even though their science teacher Mr. Willis registered the Huffman team for TARC in November of 2006, the kids didn't get a chance to start on their project until March of 2007.
  To put this in perspective the Huffman students designed, purchased parts and constructed "two" TARC rockets in the month of March and were ready for their test and qualifying flights which they performed on the second and third day of April. Because of their TARC team's late start the school's Principal gave Kim and I permission to mentor these kids three days a week for ninety minutes during their science class.
   I am proud to report that these extraordinary Huffman boys and girls were able to complete their project in just 12 school days and have already turned in a qualification flight to TARC headquarters representing Birmingham, Alabama. Though their overall score might not get them invited to the TARC finals in Virginia, these kids have proved themselves to be winners and worthy of honor.
  On the team's first test flight at our BRB landfill site we were joined by several car loads of parents who came out to witness the launch of their son's and daughter's creations. Birmingham News staff writer William Singleton and his photographer showed up and did a feature story with pictures of the event which came out in today's Birmingham News North and East newspapers. The East newspaper has a large front page spread and includes a couple of extra paragraphs that was omitted from the smaller North newspaper report that I have attached.
   After a couple of test flights using different motors and parachutes we learned that the kids rocket needed more power to obtain the 850 feet altitude and 45 second flight duration that the TARC contest rules required. The 24mm E30 motor would only boost their rocket to 500 feet with a flight duration time of 35 seconds.
 Being that we only had two days for test and qualification flights we scrambled to find a 24mm "F" motor which we were sure would get the kids rocket to the 850 feet altitude and 45 seconds flight duration they needed. We found a local hobby store in town that had the "F" motor we needed but to our dismay it was in a 29mm casing which we couldn't use.
   This was very disappointing to Kim and I because we both knew that if we would have had a few extra days we could have ordered the "F" motors we needed on line and had them shipped in time to beat the April 9th  qualification flight TARC deadline. With all that being said on the second and last day we had for qualifying the kids successfully flew their rocket on a 24mm E30 motor to an altitude of 518 feet with a flight duration time of 35 seconds and returned their egg without breaking it.
 The most important lesson we all learned from this years TARC experience is to give ourselves ample time to complete our tasks and for making changes or corrections. A couple of extra days and a "F" motor might have made the difference and gotten these kids to the finals in Virginia. We'll never know.
   In my parting speech to the kids and parents that day I told them that they were winners by completing a project in one month that others had   the luxury of five months to complete. I told them that they were winners because they had turned in a successful qualification flight with a rocket that they had designed and built with their own hands and  had achieved their goal. Kim and I were proud and honored to serve as mentors for the great group of kids that made up the Huffman TARC Team and we look forward to next year's class and event. We here at BRB salute Mr. Willis and his outstanding Huffman students for a job well done and we say thanks for giving us the privilege to serve.