Monday, March 25, 2013 at 7:17AM Here's Roy's post-launch report on the windy March 16-17 launch. Saturday we were trying to stay under the max wind speed and Sunday was just the opposite until about 4 in the afternoon, with flights coming right back to the pads. What a wild St. Pat's day! Click the "Read More" link as usual... dr
Monday, March 18, 2013 at 9:44PM What a windy Saturday, but what a great change on Sunday! Congrats to the contest winners, check out all the great photos in the gallery! & good luck to the TARC & USLI teams... lots going on this past weekend!
Thanks all... dr
Friday, March 15, 2013 at 11:48AM When : March 16 & 17, 2013
Where : The Williams Farm. See Web Site for directions if you are new.
Set Up : We need Volunteers! Please be at the field at 9:30am.
Launch Start : As soon as set-up is complete.
Launch ends : Approximately around 6:00 PM so we have some light to close up.
Weather at this time : 72 Saturday/Breezy & 63 Sunday (Add'l: SATURDAY Winds ranging from 8-18 kts sustained mid afternoon, SSW to NNE, pushing into the northeast field)
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.
We will be using the new Launch procedures for this weekend. Please read the post on this site to become familiar with the new procedures. Duty signups sheet will be at the front table for RSO/LCO combined position. Also sign up for the equipment take down.
* Ken will be onsite on Saturday only!
* Carolina Composite Rocketry will be onsite.
* Ralph will be cooking food both days!
Keep checking this web page any possible last minute changes.
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 9:54AM It's a great day to shop in the ROCC store, Cafe Press is offering 31.4% off with the coupon code "INFINITY" at check-out time till 11:59 PM Pacific time on 3-14-2013
dr
Monday, March 11, 2013 at 9:16PM Faith & B'Gorrah, it Saint Paddy's Day this weekend! Bring you tamo'shanters and your Green motors & lets have a blast!
With any luck,the weather fronts are going to cooperate and we should have a nice weekend.
Sandy is up for the contests, much postponed as they were by the weather, and so is the golf ball launch, so there's lots to do.
Ken is due to be on site on Saturday, so bring your empty rangeboxes and fill 'm up!
More later, 'till then, go n-eitlímid earraí piriteicniúla
dr
Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 5:18PM Just a reminder that it's a ROSCO sport launch down in Orangeburg SC on the 9th and 10th . That means all flyers and sizes of rockets are welcome but no research motors.
If you've gotta fly then it's just a few hours down the road. Go to their website for more information.
Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 9:24AM We had a couple of hours of snow flurries to deal with in the morning, but it cleared and provided some perfect launch weather. Winds were 5 or less, and the sun was out for a good portion of the day.
We also helped members from a Boy Scout Pack earn their Space Exploration Merit Badge. I want to thank Tommy Propst for bring the scouts up to the field. Doug also helped a TARC team make some very successful flights.
So if you let snow flurries scare you off, you missed it! :)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 4:32PM Over the last couple of years, I've heard from a lot of members with ideas on how to improve the launch procedures. So starting this month, we will try the refined procedures listed below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at johnbergsmith@me.com.
1. We will not be pre-inspecting the rockets prior to them be loaded on the pads. The RSO/LCO positions will essentially be combined. The RSO/LCO will inspect the rockets at the pads focusing primarily on mid to high power models, and Odd Rockets. Just prior to launching, the LCO/RSO will conduct a walk around of the pads focusing on rod angles. The LCO/RSO will also read over the launch slips one final time, particularly HP, to determine if any threat to our waiver exists. If the LSO/RSO has any questions or concerns, they will seek a second opinion from the club leadership.
2. For Odd Rocks, it's up to the builder to prove stability, not for the RSO/LCO to make a field determination. A rocket design program printout, or if the model has been successfully flown will suffice in most cases.
3. For contests, it will be up to the CD to RSO all rockets to determine if the designs are safe.
4. For TARC/Boy Scout groups we will rely on their mentor or we will assign a Level 2 member to RSO their rockets.
3. At this point, I see no reason to require the LCO/RSO to be level 2. We have enough level 2 club leaders to support the LCO/RSO that is only level 1. However, by the start of next season we will require all LCO/RSO to be level 2.
Launch Flow - More Flights!
Most of the complaints I've received can be eliminated in these three steps. Starting this month we will make an effort to make sure these steps are being followed.
1. If you sign up for the LCO/RSO it's your job to keep the launches going. Don't wonder off, stay up front. It gives you time to see what people are bring up to launch to determine if we might have questions. Also, if we have two rockets on the pads, and nobody else coming, launch them.
2. Let the rockets be the star of the show. In other words, read the info on the card and let's go.
3. Once the rocket clears the airspace above the launch pads, and will land in the field, move on to the next rocket. We waste way too much time, particularly with LP, watching the entire flight.
Monday, February 11, 2013 at 10:58AM We will be limiting the size of the youth groups that come out to launch with us to (10). This number could increase to (15) depending on the age of the kids, day they choose to launch, and the amount of supervision the group will provide. Basically, I will be looking for the group to provide one parent for every two kids. We’ve had some complaints/concerns over the last two seasons, including from our land owner. I believe this new rule will address and reduce those issues.
Most requests come via are website, but if you have a group that has an interest in joining us, please have them contact me directly.
Thanks
John
Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 8:26AM Rain... Snow... Sleet... Mud... some elongated spheroid match... all were Conspiring Against Us!!! But at last, on February 2nd, we got in our January launch! (well, most of it anyway) Here's Roy's post-launch report on the whole enchilada...