SoAR hosting GRitS launch April 1-3

Just can't get enough of that ol' AP? Got extra J & K motors just mockin' ya from your day box? Well, our buddies down in the Peach state have got the cure. I got an email the other day from Glenn Harper and the Southern Area Rocketry NAR section asking if we would help publicize their first big regional since they joined up with us & the folks in SC to pull off NAR's 2008 NSL in O'burg.

It's called "Georgia Rockets in the Sky" (GRitS) and will be held April 1st - 3rd in Calhoun, GA. The link to the official site is HERE.

The first day is a TRA research day, the weekend is under NAR sport rules. Sounds like quite the do.

So, if ya got a hankerin' to go and burn up some of that extra AP or just feel like bein' neighborly, they've invited us down for some Georgia hospitality. As they say in the south, "Y'all Come..."

DR

Reminder... launch weekend 19th & 20th

Weather Update: Saturday is going to be a bit windier than previously predicted, with winds starting out at 11:00 at about 13 - 15 mph headed toward the lower left hand field.

Sunday is predicted to have a 20 - 30% chance of rain, but lower winds.

Normal times in effect with set-up at 10:00 and flights to begin at 11:00. It looks like we could fly till about 6:30 or 7:00 with enough light to close down the field overnight.

Doug's USLI team will be needing some support on Saturday, just getting some supervision building motors and flying some test flights, just the general overall support our club seems to be willing to give to any new flyer. Just be aware that Doug won't be there to help them on Saturday so we should step in and just keep an eye on 'em, give them any help we can. 

Ken Allen from Performance Hobbies will be with us again, thanks Ken. If you need something specific you can email him at: kensrockets@rocketmail.com .

Ralph has confirmed that "Che' Roberts" will be open serving the best in tube steaks with appropriate condiments on the side.

Roy sent a reminder that the Rocket Raffel will continue, with several great rockets left in the pool, and he wants to work on having more available for the younger fliers next month. Just $1/ticket or 8 for $5.

Remember to bring your sun screen as it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day.

See ya out there....

DR

New Links & New Videos

Over on the links page, by popular request,  I've added our own Wayne Hill's paper rockets site. It's great fun as most of you have seen and he has some great models over ther. Check it out!

Also, Dave Strunk sent me some new videos of his Black Brant and his LOC Forte'. They're in the You Tube section.

DR

STS-133 in a new light

I ran across this video on the site Boing Boing... a software developer had the rare opportunity to shoot video of STS-133 from an aircraft as the shuttle Discovery passed them on it's way for it's last date with the ISS.

Here's the LINK.

DR

February 2011 launch report

Roy's HUGE February launch report is in and it's great stuff. Lots of flights, great attendance and some pretty good, albeit windy, weather made for a great launch weekend. Click the READ MORE link to get the straight skinny.... Thanks Roy!

Click to read more ...

Windy but wonderful rocket weekend

Big thanks to all who came out and flew with us this weekend. Lots of folks braved the winds of Saturday, clocked at over 25 knots right down the road in Locust, and had a much easier time on Sunday, and to top it off the Gaston Day School's TARC team flew a qualifying flight with a score of 3... that's fantastic.

Keep an eye out for the launch report...

Cheers, DR

February 19th & 20th launch briefing

Update for Sunday...

Winds look to be more favorable, from the south heading toward the right hand field at about 6 MPH, unlike yesterday's 15 to 20 MPH recorded.

While you're out, John Metcalf has lost an altimiter, it's out toward the deep right field as you're looking down the runway, it's got an orange flag on it, so keep an eye out if you would. There's more in the disscussion section.

I't predicted to be in the upper 50's, so dress accordingly.

See you there!

 Looks like we're a GO, normal 10:00 set-up, 11:00 launch, tear-down at around 5:00 or so depending on light. Right now the weather is looking great, 60's and mild winds, Saturday looks to be out of the North at about 8 mph, turning to easterly as the afternoon goes on. That will put recovery into the south field or farther down the runway.

Saturday AM wind update, starting out of the north, moving north-northwest at 8 mph by late afternoon, then swinging around 180 degrees by Sunday to be southerly at 6mph.

Ralph will be fixing Hot Dogs  (Yeah!)

Roy sent me info on an ROCC (almost) spring raffle: $1 per ticket. (You do not need to be present to win) Two drawings at  February Launch, remainder drawings at March Launch. (weather and schedule permitting)

Winner has Choice of one of the following:

One of Three Built, ready to fly “Extended Big Daddy’s”

( E9 low level flight, E15 for higher)

(painted, but can be repainted your way)

OR

A 3 foot, Estes, 1/5^th Scale, in the package,

D-Region Tomahawk Sounding Rocket.

( D12 low flight, E9 for higher, E15 for out-a-sight.)

OR

One of two medium sized plastic “Crayon” banks.

(very popular to make into rockets)

Ken Allen from Performance Hobbies will be there both days.

I've gotten several postings in the comments about folks being able to take a shift or help with set-up, and thanks for doing that. If you can post please let me know when or what you'd like to do and we'll see about some kind of scedule. I don't have a way to do a sign-up sheet on the site right now but we'll try and get a way to do that.

Renewals & memberships... please consider joining and/or renewing. We love to have folks come out and enjoy the launch but if it's a regular part of your life, please think about it. It's very inexpensive and it helps us provide you with a great experience by allowing us to keep up the equipment and the facilities. It also gets you log-in privileges on the website.

Elections... We will be voting on the following slate of officers, 2 PM on Saturday afternoon. Right now we have folks who are willing to serve in all the posts, but if you're wanting to take a more active role in the club, PLEASE, think about letting us know at the February launch. We're more than willing to step aside and let someone else have a go! Right now, our proposed roster for the 2011 year is: 

President - Brad Shea
VP - Doc Russell
Treas. & sec. - Roy Potter
Asst. treas & sec. - Louise Ferrell
Tripoli Prefect - Ralph Roberts
NAR Advisor - Bob Bernatchez

Tripoli secretary - Dr. Doug Knight

Volunteer... If you can sign in to the website, please post your availability for set-up and tear-down, RSO and LCO duties. If you can't log on, consider sending us an email at rocketrycarolina (at) gmail (dot) com. We need several folks for set-up and some more for tear down, and the RSO/LCO jobs are about 2-hour shifts each day. They really go faster than you think. Remember that the only jobs you need a cert for are the RSO (L2) and LCO (L1).

That's about all for now, we'll see you at the pads!

DR

January 22nd & 23rd launch report....

A big THANK YOU goes out to Roy Potter for the new post launch report from our 22nd/23rd launch weekend. Click the "Read More" link for the whole thing....

Click to read more ...

New Videos on the ROCC Channel, and a reminder...

I got the videos from Sandy to upload at long last (I don't know why they didn't want to go, but it's taken me several tries to get 'em up there) but they're up now and there's some great slo-mo footage, as well as some great shots from "Crazed Pink", a 2 stage flight. Check 'em out on the ROCC YouTube Channel link.

Now the gentle reminder. Please consider renewing or joining the ROCC ranks by paying your dues. It's not much, heck, $20 bucks get's you a membership and a regular T-shirt! (The long sleeves are $5 more by the way, they cost us more to make)

We use these funds to supply the porta-john, keep the equipment in working order, make the signs and pay for the expendable supplies like wadding and launch slips. We try very hard to use them wisely. If you've already "re-upped", a big THANK YOU. If you're a new member, a HUGE THANK YOU!

We're looking forward to our February launch, remember that we'll hold "formal" elections, if you'd like to nominate someone please let us know. We've spoken to all the current folks and they've all agreed to stay if no one else wants the job(s).

Lastly, think about volunteering for set-up, tear-down, LCO & RSO. If you want to do RSO you need to be L2, LCO can be L1, and for almost anything else, you just need to be willing to do it.

Thanks to all who make this a great section/chapter. You make me want to keep showing up even if I don't get to launch anything!

See you in February!

DR

Lets try this again... WE HAVE A GO!

Friday 8:30 pm....

So far the weather looks like it will cooperate, it doesn't look like the predicted rain for today is going to happen, if it does it's not supposed to be much.  Ralph has checked in with Kip and we are a GO!!

Please, remember to drive along the sides of the runway as much as possible. It's important that we don't chew up the ground as it thaws out during the day.

Times are our normal 11:00 till 5:00 or so, depending on field conditions and daylight. Set-up folks should be there by 10:00 so we can get a good start.

I emailed Ken from Performance Hobbies and he's planning to be there, so you can get pretty much anything you might need on site.

We'll probably set up in our normal configuration, with the flight line near the ditch, since the house isn't occupied, but that could change with rain and wind, so keep an eye towards what folks are doing when you get there.  Winds are predicted to be from 050 at 10 am, 360 at about noon, and 330 at 4 pm, between 4 & 8 mph. This puts it heading away from the Simpson's side and toward the trees on the other side. It does look like it will only get into the high 30's or low 40's so dress appropriately. Roy, if you could bring your fire pit this time it'd be welcome. If someone colud bring some extra wood to keep it going that'd be great. I have a bucket of scraps from the shop but if you have a couple of pieces to contribute it'd keep it going for a while.

That's all for now, See you THERE!

DR

Update on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 7:31PM by DOC R.

COLD!!!  But, a great day, 3 L1 certs, TARC got several flights in, Mitchell College's USLI team got in a few flights, all in all a really big day.

Remember to dress warmly tomorrow, it's supposed to be a few degrees warmer but not much.

If someone has a few sticks of firewood please bring it for the pit. Remember to drive on the edges of the runway. It's in fair shape, lets work hard to keep it that way.

DR

Update on Monday, January 24, 2011 at 7:17AM by DOC R.

Monday AM

Congrats to Sandy on his successful L2, and condolences to Louise for the incineration of her MiniMag. Big thanks to all who made it a great weekend, Roy will have the complete wrap-up shortly I'm sure.

Start working on February!