Southern Arizona Rocketry Association
Tucson, AZ
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------------------------------------------------------------------------ **HELLO AND WELCOME It was nice to see some long overdue rain in Tucson this past week. The weather should to be clearing soon and forecasts are for temperatures in the upper 60's to low 70's with no mention of excessive winds for the launch this Saturday. Last month's launch also had great weather as a backdrop and Jerry King mentions this in his launch report below. These are, in fact, some of the best times of the year to come out to fly or watch. Many of the more popular mid and high power motors are becoming available again so we may see some action there this month. I'm also guessing that more than a few rocket kits purchased over the holiday season are being assembled or are ready to take their first flights by now. Whether it is powered by a 1/4A or a K really makes no difference. It doesn't matter if this is your first rocket or your hundred and first. Bring it out, give it a launch, and bring along a friend or two along with you if you can. SPECIAL EVENT AT THE END OF MARCH SARA is planning on having a static display table at the upcoming air show at Davis Monthan Air Force the last weekend of March (Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th). We have assembled displays at events like this in the past with great success. If you have a model that you would like to show off that weekend or have a few hours that you can donate to help staff the table on either day we would be very appreciative. Besides providing a great opportunity for use to reach out to the public, events such as this one enable club members to get to know each other away from our regularly scheduled launches. Please talk to one of the board members or appointees mentioned below at this month's launch for further details on how you can help us out. MEMBERSHIP IN SARA As with last month, I will remind everyone that this is the time of the year that we ask for our annual membership contributions. While anyone can participate in a SARA launch by paying the $5.00 daily TIMPA range fee, we encourage you to consider joining the club at any of the following annual levels . . . Junior (18 years or younger) . . . $10.00 Members pay only $3.00 for the daily TIMPA range fee so annual SARA membership basically pays for itself if you join and attend our monthly launches on a fairly regular basis. It should be noted that the range fee money that we collect DOES NOT get deposited in the SARA bank account but is handed directly over to TIMPA as payment for our use of the launch facility. The membership fees that we typically collect at the beginning of the calendar year, on the other hand, are what pays for SARA's anticipated annual operating expenses (NAR chapter membership, etc.) as well as any unexpected ones. SARA also reaches out to the public several times a year with youth oriented building sessions and static rocket displays at special events (such as the one mentioned above). There is also the ongoing expense of maintaining and/or improving our launch equipment. We think that these activities and endeavors are important enough to ask for your annual financial support. Please consider renewing you existing SARA memberships or by joining up for the first time if you haven't already done so. There will be plenty of application forms on hand at the next few launches. Benjamin Nead, SARA Membership Director/ Vice President **WEB SITE The Southern Arizona Rocketry Association maintains a web site that details all of our club activities. It's always a good idea to check it to see if there is a last minute launch cancellation or other late breaking news . . . http://www.sararocketry.org Even if you don't own a computer, you can check our web
site for free by visiting your local public library. Library staff can also
provide assistance if you are unsure exactly how to dial up our web site from
one of their computer terminals. **JANUARY 2003 LAUNCH REPORT SARA held the first launch of 2003 on January 26th with a FAA waiver in effect. The launch conditions were excellent with nice temperatures and only mild winds except for a microburst near the end of the launch which sent papers flying. This was a very active launch with 22 fliers making 102
flights of which 83 There were several successful and nice 2-stage flights. There was a spectacular lawn dart of a very nice rocket which occurred after the motor ejection charge went off (determined on motor inspection later), but failed to generate pressure in the rocket body cavity and no deployment occurred. We wish to welcome our new members, it is the beginning of a new year and time for SARA membership to be renewed. Once again thanks are due to all who helped with range duties, set-up and tear down. Gerald King, NAR Senior Section Advisor **2003 BOARD OF DIRECTORS This is the group of people that were elected or appointed
this past December that keep things running smoothly. President . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Lubliner If you are new to SARA, please feel free to introduce
yourself to any and all of the new and returning board officers or appointees at
the launch. **SARA 2003 LAUNCH CALENDAR / TIMPA FIELD LAUNCH SITE We now have the schedule for the TIMPA launches for the
calendar year 2003. SARA is now able to accommodate high power rocket models at
each scheduled launch. Each launch is now a Federal Aviation Administration Our first special event for the calendar year is the static display at the upcoming air show in March. We hope to do at least several non-launching activities like this in 2003 and we will add them to the calendar in future months. Please check the SARA web site for last minute updates on
all launches and events. We try to keep our calendar as up-to-date as possible
but there are always new events being added and the occasional last minute
substitution. We recommend confirming any last minute changes by visiting our
web site before making the long drive. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2003 9AM to 1PM ** AIR SHOW / DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE ** SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 8AM to 12NOON We are now in our annual 9:00AM to 1:00PM cool weather
launch widow. In the late Spring we revert back to our 8:00AM to 12:00 NOON
launch window for the duration of the Summer. **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. Continue north for approximately another 1/4 mile. 6) The launch site entrance is on the right side of the
road and marked with a sign. Proceed with caution and park to the west of the
main launching activity. **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 Tony Gonzales is The Range Operations Director for SARA. He can be reached at . . . rangeops@mail.sararocketry.org . . . 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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