Southern Arizona Rocketry Association
Tucson, AZ
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------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOUTHERN ARIZONA ROCKETRY ASSOCIATION NEWS APRIL 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **HELLO AND WELCOME Wind and fire are key topics this month. The breezy conditions were, once again, a factor to contend with during our last launch. The monthly launch report, below, spells out the details. April's launch may be another windy one if the recent weather is any indication but, hopefully, we will get a reprieve long enough to get some models safely into the air. Speaking of safety . . . the fire danger issue that I alluded to last month continues on as we are still experiencing the driest conditions ever recorded here in Southern Arizona. The danger of fire will continue until we get a good stiff rain and this may not happen until monsoon season later this Summer. This has forced us to temporarily suspend the launching of certain models that pose a greater danger. Please read the below notice concerning cluster motor and multi-staged models. The Arizona Daily Star featured a very nice article in their Saturday, March 30th, Accent section on local model rocketry activities. SARA founder Steve Lubliner was shown with a couple of his models and was interviewed. The thoughts of SARA NAR Advisor Jerry King as well as hobby retailers Jason Rose (HobbyTown) and Peter Riddell (Space Modeling Solutions) were also featured. Other than incorrectly promoting a scheduled SARA launch for Easter Sunday, the article was a great promotional piece for our club. I will be sure to bring a copy to the April launch in case you didn't get to see it. **NO CLUSTERING OR STAGING OF MOTORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Due to the ongoing historic dry weather situation, The SARA Board has decided that we can not allow the launching of either clustered motor or multi-staged rockets until further notice. These models have a higher than average chance of starting a fire when compared to single motor models. We will let you know when this temporary ban will be lifted on both our web site and in this monthly newsletter. Assuming that we will get our seasonal monsoon rains later this Summer, this ban may be only for a few months. If you have never constructed a model of this type or if it has been some time since you last built one, this might be a good time to put one together. When the ban is lifted later this year, we can celebrate with a special launch that features clustered and multi-staged models . . . perhaps even a contest. Share your ideas with us and stay in touch with us concerning this issue. **SARA MEMBERSHIP Please consider becoming a contributing member to SARA. We initiated a paying membership in 2001 and 32 of you joined up. The money accrued in 2001 (over $630.00) went a long way in helping us make launch site improvements, maintaining a website, conducting a Summer youth build session, and generally keep the organization on a solid financial footing. Beyond standardized memberships, we also received some generous cash donations and this is always welcome. We have the following suggested annual membership levels . . . Junior/Youth (under 18) . . . . $10.00 Single . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00 Family . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00 You can join at the next launch and be paid up for all of 2002. Beyond the satisfaction of knowing that you will be keeping SARA functioning and growing, members are entitled to a $2.00 reduction on the $5.00 monthly launch fee. This $3.00 member launch fee, by the way, is paid directly to TIMPA for use of the field and is not used for other SARA activities. Annual memberships and other donations are what keep us going. Please remember that this is YOUR rocketry club. We want to hear your ideas and thoughts on how we can make SARA more responsive to your needs. Thanks for your support! **2002 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Here are the folks that keep everything running. If you are new to SARA, please feel free to introduce yourself to any and all of the board officers and appointees at the next launch. President . . . . . . . . Mark Koenig Secretary/Treasurer . . . Doug Forester Vice President . . . . . Ben Nead Member At Large . . . . . Curtis Farrell Appointees selected for 2002 NAR Senior Section Advisor . . Jerry King Range Operations . . . . . . . . Tony Gonzales **WEBSITE Much of this information is already posted on our website. Those of you reading this on email can go there directly by clicking the URL below http://www.sararocketry.org When you get there, add it to your web browser as a bookmark or favorite. Check back often to keep yourself up to date with what SARA is up to. Even if you don't own a computer, you can visit your local public library and log on for free. Your librarian can help you connect to the SARA website if you are unsure how to do it. Benjamin Nead, SARA Membership Director/Vice President ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARCH 2002 LAUNCH REPORT On Sunday March 24, 2002 SARA held a launch at the TIMPA site with a FAA notification for large model rockets. The day was nice and clear with pleasant temperatures. There was a moderate wind when the range was being set up, but this soon became much less only to return with vengeance at about noon when there was a shift in direction, a gust of at least 45 miles per hour, a sudden drop in temperature from a downburst and the wind persisted a high strength for more than an hour. The gust knocked over launch equipment (some loaded with rockets) and scattered some of SMS's merchandise. The launch was cancelled at about 12:15. While the range was open 21 fliers made 53 flights with 50 (94%) of these being clean or nominal. There were 2 tangled chutes and one very impressive CATO (for the first time I can recall there were no separations). Steve Lubliner made the most flights with 7, the remainder broke down as (# flights-#fliers): 6-2, 4-2, 3-2, 2-6, and 1-8. The motor breakdown was: 1/2A-6, A-8, B-7, C-19, D-5, E-2, F-5, and G-3. Among the interesting flights were a Demo launch by Peter Ridell of the new Estes C11 motor in an Estes Eliminator, a 2 engine (1/2As) cluster flight by Steve Lubliner and Jay Dennis had a nice 2 stage flight (B to B) of a SAM-X. Five people were unfortunate enough to have rockets on the pad at the time of the major wind gust: Jay Dickhous, Celycia, Christopher, John Grove and Kevin Houser. Hopefully their rockets were not badly damaged when the wind tipped over the pads. Once again thanks are due to all who helped with range duties. Jerry King, NAR Senior Section Advisor ----------------------------------------------------------------------- **SARA 2002 LAUNCH CALENDAR / TIMPA FIELD LAUNCH SITE Here is the launch schedule for the remainder of the calendar year. We may have to reschedule one of our Fall 2002 launches so as not to conflict with a large R/C model airplane event already scheduled. Please check the SARA website for last minute updates on all launches. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2002 NOTIFICATION SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2002 WAIVERED SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2002 NOTIFICATION SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2002 NOTIFICATION SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2002 WAIVERED SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2002 NOTIFICATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2002 NOTIFICATION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2002 WAIVERED SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2002 NOTIFICATION Notification launches are where SARA notifies The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that we will be flying models up to 3.3 pounds of launch weight and/or containing up to 4.4 ounces of propellant. Waivered launches are where The FAA grants approval to SARA to launch models that exceed the launch weight and/or propellant load noted above imposed by standard notification launch requirements. Our site dimensions support models that are limited to a maximum altitude of 4500 feet above ground level (AGL) and use a K impulse motor or less. The Winter launch window of 9:00am to 1:00PM is now in effect. This will be the standard launch window for our TIMPA events until the hot weather returns this next Summer. We then switch back to an 8:00AM to 12:00 Noon launch widow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **DIRECTIONS TO TIMPA FIELD LAUNCH SITE . . . . from I-10 and Speedway, Exit 257 . . . 1) Travel west on Speedway past all building developments. Proceed with caution as Speedway crests over Gates Pass and turns into Gates Pass Road. The road is very narrow, winding, and often used by bicyclists. Enjoy the view. 2) Continue on Gates Pass Road until it ends at the "T" intersection, Kinney Road. Turn right here as if you were headed towards the Desert Museum. At about 1 mile past the museum entrance (about 10 miles past I-10 and Speedway), Kinney Road changes it's name to Mile Wide Road. 3) The next intersection, about 6 miles past the Gates Pass/Kinney "T", is Sandario Road. Come to a complete stop as the north/south traffic does not. Proceed through, heading due west. You will eventually cross 2 bridges. After the 2nd bridge, Mile Wide Road turns into a dirt road. 4) At about 3.5 miles past the Mile Wide/Sandario intersection, Mile Wide Road makes a forced turn to the right and changes it's name to Reservation Road. You are now heading due north. 5) The main TIMPA Driveway (marked by a sign) is on the right at about 1 mile past the forced right turn. Go another 1/2 mile past this and turn onto the next right turn. At this point, you should be able to see rocket launching activity. We now have a collapsible sign posted on launch days at the intersection. Please park to the east of the launch range. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- **STANDARD LAUNCH PROCEDURES Anyone may launch model rockets with NAR or Tripoli approved motor at a SARA launch. All models first require inspection by The Range Safety Officer (RSO) and a SARA flight card must be completely filled out for each individual launch. After this is done, the model and flight card can be taken to The Launch Control Officer (LCO). It is here that a launch pad will be assigned to you. A range fee of $5.00 is to be paid at the beginning of the launch day. This fee for SARA members is $3.00 for the day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **TIMPA FIELD USAGE Use of the TIMPA site is only permitted at club events or by prior arrangement. To access the TIMPA field outside of scheduled club events you must be either a current National Association of Rocketry (NAR) or Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) member. The TIMPA caretakers have been instructed to call The PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF and to pursue trespassing charges if no previous arrangements exist. Tony Gonzales is The Range Operations Director for SARA. He recently changed his email address so please update it if you still have his old one on file. He can be reached at . . . tgonzo64@msn.com . . . or by phone at (520) 790-1006 Tony will need to know how many models you intend to launch as well as their respective launch weights and propellant loads. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **FIRE SAFETY 1) Please note that there is NO SMOKING permitted on the range area. Smoking is only permitted on the dirt road adjacent to the launch site. Cigarette butts and ashes are to be placed in a metal container or ash tray. 2) Fire is something that needs to be taken seriously. If you see smoke or flames, yell it out loud and clear. If we have fire on the range, EVERYBODY needs to drop what they are doing and assist in containing the fire. There are water bottles, ABC rated fire extinguishers, and shovels on hand at every launch. The 55 gallon drum near the launch control area is also filled with water. 3) Unless you are using a Nomex parachute heat protection cloth in your rocket, you will need to use a FLAMEPROOF wadding of some sort. Toilet paper and paper towels are not acceptable. If you need clarification on what to use, check with the Range Safety Officer. Many flyers will have extra wadding on hand and they will be happy to lend you some. -------------------------------------------------------------------- **SPACE MODELING SOLUTIONS Pete Riddell and his wife of Space Modeling Solutions in Phoenix attend almost all of our launches and offer rocket kits, motors, and other hard to find building supplies. Contact Pete in the days leading up to the launch and he deliver that special order to you at the launch site . . . launch@smsrocketry.com . . . or by phone at (480) 497-1960 or by fax at (703) 832-3237 |
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