April 26th & 27th - Launch - Swamp Meet - Night Launch - Campout

When: April 26 & 27, 2014

Where:   The Williams Farm. See Web Site for directions if you are new.

Set up Time:  9:45 am - We need Volunteers! 

Launch ends:   Approximately around 6:00 PM so we have some light to close up.      

Remember that this is a working farm, so dress accordingly, sturdy shoes and suggest you dress in layers so you can take layers off and on as the temperature changes.

LCO/RSO Rules

1. The RSO will be required to be Level 2 minimum, ROCC member, and a NAR/Tripoli member. The same person can volunteer to RSO/LCO in a given time slot, as long as they meet the RSO requirements.

2. The LCO will be required to be Level 1 minimum, ROCC member, and a NAR/Tripoli member.

3. Rockets that will be required to be inspected by the RSO:
   a. Any rocket flying on an E motor or above.
   b. Any rocket using more than one motor, either clustered or multi stage.
   c. Any rocket weighing more than 1 pound.

4. Groups that come out to launch will have a Level 2 member assigned to them to make sure all rules are being followed.

Duty signups sheet will be at the front table for RSO/LCO. If you’re a Level 2, we need you to volunteer!!!!

Events:

Swamp Meet - bring stuff to sell that you no longer need!

Saturday Night Launch, including high power. See rules on this site for the night launch. http://www.rocketrycarolina.org/contest-info/

Saturday Night Campout!

* Ken will be onsite for both days! 

ADDITIONAL, RE Night launch:

I have set the NOTAM to close at 5:00 PM on Saturday, so that we can all get a break for dinner and set up for the night launch. The night NOTAM opens at 8 PM and goes till 9:30.

Remember to follow the guidelines set forth in the night launch pdf, which you can download from the contest rules link in the sidebar.

Basic guidelines, all flights are to be I impulse or below, the rocket must be illuminated at all times while in flight and we strongly suggest a back-up lighting system.

There will be a dual check-in system for RSO. All rockets must be preflighted during the day Saturday, and you will receive a special flight card. On going to the pad, you will need to bring that flight card with the first approval to the RSO table to be checked in before you go to the pads. Your flight will be approved for a rocket & engine combo that will be checked for the 1,500' wavier complience.

I will have a table set up for the night flights during Saturdays flight day and we can answer any last minute questions. Feel free to shoot me an email if you have a big concern and I'll try and get you an answer by the end of the day Friday.

Thanks, Doc R.

April 26th & 27th - Launch

The April launch is right around the corner! In addition to the regular launch activities don't forget we have the following additions:

1. Swap Meet - Bring your rocket stuff you no longer want or need and sell it to the people that can use it.

2. Campout on Saturday night.

3. Night launch on Saturday night.

Altimeter / Dual Deployment Class

I wanted to thank both Dave Popkin and David Strunk for taking the time to prepare an excellent altimeter class yesterday. No doubt all in attendance learned something, and/or contributed to the discussion.

Also, I would like to thanks Louise Ferrell for providing the meeting facility.

If anyone has any ideas for future classes, please let me know.

A website for the truly geeky

It's science festival time around the country right now, and that includes the facilities of NASA. I caught something the other day that I thought was really cool, particularly if you love communications and technology.

There was a class taking the tours around JPL and one of the lecturers was the director of the NASA Deep Space Network, the folks that keep in contact with the various far-flung vehicles that have left the planet and, for Voyager, the solar system.

What caught my fancy was when they said that... "oh, yeah, all of this communications monitoring data is available in real time on the internet..."

Oh, so COOL!... here's the LINK

You can go and see the current state of the network, how fast the data is moving, who's on line... etc.

I think the topper was the bit with the Voyager spacecraft, that comunicates at the whopping speed of about 150 bits per second and a round-trip time of about a day and a half!

dr

Altimeter / Dual Deployment Class

On Saturday April 5th at 11 am - 2 pm we are holding our class on 
USING ALTIMETERS FOR DUAL DEPLOYMENT.

 
We will be discussing the types of altimeters available, What is the best altimeter choice for your situation, Designing and building an altimeter bay, Making ejections charges as well as how to prep your rocket for dual deployment. This class is great for beginners as well as those of you that already have some experience. We will be having a FREE raffle for those that attend and I already have a Missile Works RRC2+ Altimeter, Featherweight Magnetic Switch, Key Switches and T-shirts for the raffle. Louise has graciously found a room for our use but I will need to have you RSVP to me so I know haw many members will attend!

The address is 515 Clanton Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217 (this is exit 7 off of 77) Looking forward to seeing you there! (I will be supplying some snacks and water, just not a full lunch!)

Please respond if you can attend. For non members, you can let me know if you will be attending by sending me an email at: johnbergsmith@me.com 

March 15th & March 22nd launch reports

OK, we're not flying for a few weeks, so I'm posting Roy's extensive launch reports from March 15th and the 22nd make-up day. Remember, your penmanship counts! If he can't read it, don't blame us for spelling! Click the "Read More" link for the whole story... dr

Click to read more ...

March 22 - Launch is a go!

When: March 22, 2014

Where:   The Williams Farm. See Web Site for directions if you are new.

Set up Time:  9:45 am - We need Volunteers! 

Launch ends:   Approximately around 6:00 PM so we have some light to close up.      

Remember that this is a working farm, so dress accordingly, sturdy shoes and suggest you dress in layers so you can take layers off and on as the temperature changes.

LCO/RSO Rules

1. The RSO will be required to be Level 2 minimum, ROCC member, and a NAR/Tripoli member. The same person can volunteer to RSO/LCO in a given time slot, as long as they meet the RSO requirements.

2. The LCO will be required to be Level 1 minimum, ROCC member, and a NAR/Tripoli member.

3. Rockets that will be required to be inspected by the RSO:
   a. Any rocket flying on an E motor or above.
   b. Any rocket using more than one motor, either clustered or multi stage.
   c. Any rocket weighing more than 1 pound.

4. Groups that come out to launch will have a Level 2 member assigned to them to make sure all rules are being followed.

Duty signups sheet will be at the front table for RSO/LCO. If you’re a Level 2, we need you to volunteer!!!!

 * Ken will be onsite! 

Sunday, March 16th has been cancelled

Sunday, March 16th has been cancelled because of the weather forecast. We are planning to do a make up launch on Saturday, March 22.

March 15 is a go!

Saturday is a go, weather looks good. Sunday doesn't look good at this point, but we can wait until tomorrow to make the final call.

March 15 & 16, 2014 Launch

When: March 15 & 16, 2014

Where:   The Williams Farm. See Web Site for directions if you are new.

Set up Time:  9:45 am to avoid the weather.  We need Volunteers! 

Launch ends:   Approximately around 6:00 PM so we have some light to close up.      

Remember that this is a working farm, so dress accordingly, sturdy shoes and suggest you dress in layers so you can take layers off and on as the temperature changes.

LCO/RSO Rules for 2013/2014 

1. The RSO will be required to be Level 2 minimum, ROCC member, and a NAR/Tripoli member. The same person can volunteer to RSO/LCO in a given time slot, as long as they meet the RSO requirements.

2. The LCO will be required to be Level 1 minimum, ROCC member, and a NAR/Tripoli member.

3. Rockets that will be required to be inspected by the RSO:
   a. Any rocket flying on an E motor or above.
   b. Any rocket using more than one motor, either clustered or multi stage.
   c. Any rocket weighing more than 1 pound.

4. Groups that come out to launch will have a Level 2 member assigned to them to make sure all rules are being followed.

Duty signups sheet will be at the front table for RSO/LCO. If you’re a Level 2, we need you to volunteer!!!!

 * Ken will be onsite on Sunday, March 16 only.