Matson Photo blog

“How ’bout them Cowboys!” Thats what Statesman writer Pat Beach told me this afternoon when he learned  that three young men from Georgetown, Texas had just won the international rocketry competition at the Paris airshow. Pat and I met the boys ( left to right) Daniel Kelton (age 16) and brothers Mark (age 13) and Matthew Janecka (age 17) last month as they prepared for the competition.  They did a test fire of their rocket in a field near the home.

The boys, representing Team USA, prevailed over teams from France and Britain.  French President Francois Hollande congratulated the young men, who were clad in their team USA jackets, and the cowboy hats they were wearing when Pat and I met them.

Here is a link to a cool onboard camera video of the winning flight.  Raytheon, who sponsored the team, has more information about the event on their website.  Congratulations to these fine young men.