April's Spring Camp-Out Rocket Launch

Everyone: Ralph Roberts here, ROCC Club President and hard worker; The April Spring "Camp-Out Launch" is a go at Williams Farm for April 29th and 30th. we are moving the launch to the 5th weekend of the month. The launch is moved back due to the Easter holiday and the chance to get Ken Allen down to one last launch before he is committed to launch's up north and we may or may not have a launch field depending on the crop situation. So do your shopping this weekend. Every year we have a campout in the Spring, it gives us extra flying time and a chance to get together Saturday night for good food and conversations. This year we are going to have it at the April launch, mainly due to the fact that if we wait till May, as the corn begins to grow it will be harder for folks to retrieve the smaller rockets. In the past folks have brought telescopes to view the stars, it gets a little dark out there with very few outside lights to compete for the star light. (Roy will be looking for UFO"s). I will take my grill to the launch, and people may borrow to grill, a lot of folks will bring there own as well. (Roy will have his fire pit, everyone is encouraged to bring your charcoal or wood with you) I will post further details about the campout as we get closer to the weekend.

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April Launch moved to 29th and 30th

The latest word from Ralph is the launch will be the fifth weekend of the month. See you then.

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New Server in Place

One week, one motherboard and two head colds later, the new server is up. If we hadn't both got stuffy heads, it would have been here Wednesday. Thanks for bearing with us. Jean

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Contest Results

Results of Contests * C Eggloft Duration * Bob Bernatchez 64 Sec * Ralph Roberts 40 sec * Doc Russell 32 sec * Steve Bumgardner 22 sec * 1/2A Boost Glider * Bob Bernatchez 59 sec (2 flights) * Steve Bumgardner 37 sec (1 flight) * 1/2A Parachute Duration * Bob Bernatchez 128 sec (2 flights) * Brad Shea 11 sec (2 flights) * Roy Potter DQ (2 flights) * Steve Baumgartner DQ (1 flight) * Total NAR Contest points awarded * Bob Bernatchez 400 * Steve Baumgartner 166 * Doc Russell 96 * Brad Shea 42 * Roy Potter 0 _________________________ * ROCC 704 Congrats to all those who participated. Contest prizes will be awarded at the next launch.

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Request for date change for April Rocket Launch

Due to Easter falling on our normal launch weekend, we want to move our date so as not to conflict with everyone's Easter plans. There was a discussion and a straw vote at the March Sunday launch of moving the April ROCC launch date to the last (5th) weekend of April, the 29th and 30th. By doing this it would provide a better weekend for having a camp-out launch. Also, since the Williams are going to plant Milo and Corn, it may be one of the last launches we can have before the corn really takes off. Also, Ken Allen said he could come back on that weekend before heading to the summer launches up North. Members in attendance were myself, Steve B., Roy Potter, Bob B, Terry Baucom, Tony Casey, Jim Crabtree, Mark Ferrel. The Sheas and the Lowes, however, they were not there when we had a straw vote. The consensus was to go ahead and move it. I am polling the rest of the current membership for your opinion. Which would you prefer, the 4th or 5th weekend of April. Let me know over the next day or two and we will make a final decision. Call me at 704-568-1070 or email me at roccprez at bellsouth dot net . Also, there was a new joint statement released concerning the Fed vs Rocket Hobby court case and then what we fliers need to do posted by NAR and TRA. Basically, nothing has changed,if you fly HP motors you need a LEUP to purchase. The next court dates may run down into July before we hear anything else. I have just renewed my LEUP and I am expecting it any day. I can still grant permission letters for contingent storage in my magazine so let me know. Thanks, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez

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The pictures are back.

They're not in a flashy gallery, but the pictures are finally back on the site. I'm still looking into some kind of gallery software, but at least these are here. On that note, if you have pictures, send them to us, and we'll get them posted.

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The world is catching up with science fiction

Looks like another Star Trek gadget is on the verge of becoming reality. Here's the link. In a similar vein, I highly recommend this show to any Star Trek fans: How William Shatner Changed the World. Inventions inspired by "Star Trek" help change the world; host William Shatner. It's on the History Channel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Regards, Bob Bernatchez

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March 2006 Launch is a go

Everyone: Ralph Roberts here, The March Launch is a go at Williams Farm this coming weekend March 18th and 19th. Ken Allen from Performance Hobbies will be at the launch both days. Come buy some stuff! If you want something special contact him before the launch. www.performancehobbies.com or just call him. Note: Due to the recent fire danger alerts, please limit flights accordingly. If you have a marginally stable shot planned, lets wait till close to sunset to fly when the winds are lowest. Also I will have the Fire Extinguishers recharged. Also, there will be two TARC groups trying to certify for the Rocket Competition, you NAR guys check in with me if you can help witness their flights. NAR contest this month, really, due to winds last month the contest was delayed until now. We'll do what we've been doing: 1/2A Boost Glider duration, C Eggloft duration 1/2A Parachute duration. We will have the Boost glider kits for sale for $5.00, a version of this kit has won the last two boost glider contest. Call me before the weekend if you want one before Saturday. The 2006 membership drive continues, please renew or join at this launch. We will also have the T-Shirts for sale. Sizes from Youth Large to Adult 2XL. We will start the launch at 11:00AM to extend the day. We will be running the launch from 11:00AM to 6:00PM each day. Setup is at 10:30AM. We will have the Porta-A-Jon at this launch. This is another expense we have to add onto our budget per launch, it cost $58.00 a month to have a porta-Jon on the site. Please come out and support the Porta-Jon! We need as many people as we can to make our flyer fee goal. Last month we had a small turnout again. We need everyone and their donations so please contribute if you fly. Remember our recommended donation is $8.00-$10.00 per flyer per day, families with lots of young flyers maybe a $10.00 donation would be good. Again, these are recommendations not harden rule yet. The requested weekend land fee from the land owner is $250, so we need everyone to drop a little something in the jar. Anyone needing to certify, please contact me ahead of time. Todd Haring or Terry Baucom can arrange to have the Level 2 NAR test delivered to the field and we can have others administer the test. Club Meeting: Per straw vote it was decided to move the April launch to the 4th weekend, Easter is the 3rd weekend. So April launch date is set to April 22nd and 23rd, Ken will not be here unless his schedule could change. Summer field to fly on. Brad Shea has done some homework here so hopefully he will have some information for us. Corn will be planted in the fields this year, We will be able to fly through May, and maybe June if we move the launch up a weekend or two. Lets discuss. If you have any questions please email me at _ROCCPREZ@bellsouth.net_ () or call me at 704-568-1070. PRE-LAUNCH TASK JOHN HOOD - Call the waiver in, contact Ralph to confirm. BOB B - Let us know what you need and how much help you will need for the contest. STEVE B - I remember Roy mentioning flight cards, do we need for this launch, if taken care last month disregard. Thanks, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez

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NAR Sport Rocketry this month

Check out this month's issue of Sport Rocketry magazine from NAR! Our friends and family are all OVER it! Great write-up and photos from Freedom Launch in Orangeburg last summer. Great job all!!! See you this weekend at the farm..... DR

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Setup Diagram for the New Launch Control System

Here is a pdf of the diagram for setting up the new launch control system.

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