Southern Arizona Rocketry Association
Tucson, AZ
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------------------------------------------------------------------------ NEXT LAUNCH - SATURDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2004, 9AM to 1PM LAUNCH PAD CHAT FROM THE SARA PRESIDENT Its February and time to get your SARA membership in. This year is going to be a great year to be a member, besides the reduced launch fee we are trying to add a number of other benefits for joining. Doug Forester announced that Competition Hobbies is giving a discount to SARA members, we will continue trying to get other hobby shops to do the same. Mark Koenig has added a forum section to our website where members can discuss a number of topics such as construction techniques, electronics, hybrids and more. There is currently discussion about a possible club project, building a rocket and a Mars Lander for an upcoming competition. Check out the forums at the sararocketry.org website. Even more benefits are in the works, so remember to get that membership form filled out and ready to send, or bring it to the next launch. I am also planning to have that picnic soon, I am thinking about right after the March launch, the weather should be great, before it gets too hot. Hobbytown promised to donate some prizes. It will be a good opportunity to bring the family and possibly get some new people interested in rocketry. Please feel free to contact me if you have any feedback or suggestions. Bring your current projects or favorite rockets to show off, lets get some new pictures for the website. Do not forget that Just Rockets will be attending the February launch, so bring that tax refund. Happy Launching (and Recovering) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- **RENEW YOUR SARA MEMBERSHIP FOR 2004 While our main push for annual memberships to SARA typically occurs at the beginning of the calendar year, we welcome your financial support at any time. Anyone can participate in a SARA launch by paying the $5.00 daily TIMPA range fee but you can save money each month by joining as a member. We encourage you to consider joining SARA 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 ouruse of the launch facility. The membership fees, on the other hand, are what pays for
SARA's anticipated annual operating expenses (NAR chapter membership, There is also the ongoing expense of maintaining and/or improving our launch equipment. Now that may begin to make choices about purchasing storage magazines and/or hybrid motor ground support systems, those dollars from membership fees are now more critical than ever before. 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. Application forms are on hand at each monthly launch. Benjamin Nead, SARA Membership Director ----------------------------------------------------------------------- **JUST ROCKETS AT THE NEXT LAUNCH Las Vegas based rocket distributor "Just Rockets" will be attending the February launch. Just rockets carries a selection of mid and high power rocketry materials including reload kits, motor casings, building materials, and electronics. In addition, they indicate that they will have a pretty good supply of Estes materials at the launch. Check their website at www.justrockets.com to see what's available. If you miss them at this launch they indicate that they will be attending our launches on 17 April, 18 July , 21 August, 19 September, 16 October, 21 November, and 18 December. Let's make it worthwhile for Just Rockets to make the trip and support us in Tucson. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- **HYBRID ROCKET MOTOR GROUND SUPPORT SARA has started a fund to allow the section to purchase the specialized launch equipment required for hybrid rocket motors. Many of the hybrid rocket motor systems require a launch system that permits tankage of the nitrous oxide oxidizer at the launch pad. The cost of this equipment is approximately $600.00 to $1000.00. The intent is to have a shared launch system to reduce the cost per member. Since interest in this equipment may be limited to a relatively small number of high power flyers donations are being solicited to purchase the system rather than paying for the system from general club funds. If you want to donate towards the system you may make your donation payable to SARA and earmarked to the "hybrid" fund. SARA falls under the National Association of Rocketry's non-profit umbrella so donations are tax deductible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **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 website from one of their computer terminals. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **JANUARY 2004 LAUNCH REPORT The first SARA launch of 2004 was held at the TIMPA site on Jan. 18th. A FAA waiver to 4500 feet AGL was in effect. The weather was a bit cool and breezy during set-up, but it soon became a very nice day for flying rockets. Twenty five (25) people took advantage of the day to
launch 84 rockets of which 68 (81%) were clean nominal flghts. There were 5
tangled recovery devices, 3 separations, 2 lawn darts, and 1 each: shred, early
ejection, CATO, kicked motor, no glide, and no main deploy. Two people made 8
flights each for a tie for the most active rocketeer, the other activity was (#
flights each-# fliers): 7-2, 6-2, 5-2, 4-2, 3-2, 2-5, and There were several notable flights including the first flight of a TARC (Team America Rocket Challenge) 2-stage, dual egg-loft rocket with a goal altitude of 1250 feet exactly (by on board altimeter). The staging and flight were perfect, however the egg capsule and chute caught a thermal and was not recovered. There were 3 cluster 3-motor flights and a 2-stage flight that were all successful except that in two of the cluster rocket flights only 2 of the 3 motors ignited. There was a very nice first flight of a 'K-mart special' cat toy saucer rocket. Once again thanks are due to all of those who helped with the range. Your efforts are appreciated. Jerry King, NAR Senior Section Advisor ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **2004 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND APPOINTEES This is the group of people that were elected or appointed
this past December that keep things running smoothly. President . . . . . . . . . . . Jay Dickhous 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 2004 LAUNCH CALENDAR / TIMPA FIELD LAUNCH SITE Below is the schedule for the TIMPA launches for the
calendar year 2004. SARA is able to accommodate high power rocket models at each
scheduled launch. Each launch is a Federal Aviation Administration We do several non-launching activities each year, such as building sessions and static displays, and we will add these to the calendar as planning begins to develop and exact dates are confirmed. 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. SUNDAY, MARCH 21 9AM to 1PM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **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 1mile 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
eventsyou must be either a current National Association of Rocketry Tony Gonzales is The Range Operations Director for SARA. He can be reached 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. 3) Only FLAMEPROOF, biodegradable wadding (no fiberglass)
is allowed on the flying field. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
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