Southern Arizona Rocketry Association
Tucson, AZ
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March 2001 SOUTHERN ARIZONA ROCKETRY ASSOCIATION (SARA) 2001 CALENDAR YEAR LAUNCH SCHEDULE NOTIFICATION LAUNCH SUNDAY MARCH 25, 2001 *GENERAL MEETING* WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 2001 NOTIFICATION LAUNCH SATURDAY APRIL 28, 2001 WAIVERED LAUNCH SUNDAY MAY 20, 2001 NOTIFICATION LAUNCH SATURDAY JUNE 30, 2001 NOTIFICATION LAUNCH SUNDAY JULY 29, 2001 WAIVERED LAUNCH SATURDAY AUGUST 25, 2001 NOTIFICATION LAUNCH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2001 NOTIFICATION LAUNCH SATURDAY OCTOBER 27, 2001 WAIVERED LAUNCH SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2001 NOTIFICATION LAUNCH SATURDAY DECEMBER 15, 2001 Until further notice, all launches will start at 9:00AM and end at 1:00PM. During the Summer months we typically start and end earlier to avoid the heat. 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 or containing up to 4.4 ounces of propellant. Waivered launches are where the FAA grants approval to SARA to launch rockets that exceed the launch weight and a propellant load imposed by a standard notification launch. Our launch site dimensions support models that are limited to a maximum altitude of 4500 feet above ground level (AGL) and use a motor of K impulse or less. All Launches are conducted at The Tucson International Modelplex (TIMPA). Direction to TIMPA and other launch information is listed below. **HELLO AND WELCOME First off, an apology to the few of you that get this correspondence via regular mail. An oversight on my behalf prevented The February 2001 SARA News from reaching you this way. All the rest of you that read this on email were kept up to date. Again . . . sorry to those that I missed! Yours truly missed the February 24th launch. It wasn't that I didn't receive the latest SARA News . . . Actually, I was on a family getaway to San Diego. While the rest of you enjoyed a break in the rainy Tucson weather long enough for a good launch, I was dodging hailstones on La Jolla Beach! I did, however, get a chance to visit the San Diego Aerospace Museum . . . a beautiful collection of aviation and space memorabilia. Ben Nead **GENERAL MEETING The SARA Board of Directors has set aside a date, time, and place for it's general membership meeting. It will be Wednesday, April 11, from 7:00PM to 9:00PM at the Woods Memorial Library on 3455 North 1st Avenue. This is your chance to meet yor fellow SARA members and Board and to discuss issues pertaining to our club and it's future growth. Please attend if you can. As you are reading this, the information is already posted on the SARA website . . . www.sararocketry.org Please check the website for the "latest breaking" news regarding SARA activities such as this one. **MEMBERSHIP As of January 2001, SARA has revised it's membership dues policy. The fee structure is outlined below. Many of you became paying members at the February launch. All on the SARA board of Directors extends it's thanks to you for your financial contribution. These membership fees will help us initiate new launch site improvements and pay for other club related activities. An official membership package is in the works and will be delivered to you shortly. JUNIOR MEMBER (17 years of age or younger) . . . $10.00 SENIOR MEMBER (18 years of age or older) . . . $20.00 FAMILY MEMBER (Adults and children together) . . $25.00 DAILY RANGE FEE ALL CLUB MEMBERS (Unlimited # of launches) . . . $3.00 ALL NON-MEMBERS (Unlimited # of launches) . . . $5.00 **FEBRUARY 2001 LAUNCH REPORT SARA held a waivered launch at the TIMPA field on February 24, 2001. The weather was good with a few clouds, temperatures warming up to the mid 50s, and wind mostly below 8 mph. There were a few holds for aircraft. 25 people took advantage of the nice conditions and made a total of 58 flights. The success rate for "clean" flights was up from previous launches: 46 of 48 (96%) of low and mid power flights, and 9 of 10 (90%) of high power flights. This is an average of 93% for successful flight by SARA launchers . . . very good! The failed flights consisted of 2 body/nosecone separations and 2 tangled recovery devices. Thomas Gonzalez made the most flights of the day with 7. Two launchers had 5 each, two other had 4 each, three had 3 each, seven had 2 each, and ten of our launchers got a single flight in. Special mention goes to Jerry King, the person who compiles all the launch statistics that you are reading here. He made NAR Level 2 certification with an EZI-65 on a J350 motor. Congratulations, Jerry! There was also a successful clustered 4 motor flight and a flight with electronic dual deployment. Below is a breakdown of the motor used during the launch . . . 1/4A . . . 2 1/2A . . . 4 A . . . 7 B . . . 6 C . . . 10 D . . . 10 E . . . 2 F . . . 4 G . . . 6 H . . . 5 I . . . 3 J . . . 2 **STANDARD LAUNCH PROCEDURES Each individual model rocket flight must be documented on a SARA flight card. All models require inspection by the range safety officer (RSO) before they can be placed on a launch pad. The RSO has the authority to determine if the rocket in question is able to launch. We will have an extra table set up at all future SARA launches to facilitate RSO inspection and fee collection. This will help alleviate the crowds that appear around the launch control table during our busy launches. **SAFETY ISSUES It may be very dry at the launch site. Therefore, 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. 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, please check with the RSO. Many fliers will have extra wadding at the launch and they will be happy to lend you some. The fluffy household insulation that is blown into roof and attic dormers is used by many and is flameproof, inexpensive, and readily available. Fire is something that we all need to take very seriously. If you see smoke or fire, 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, fire extinguishers, and a shovel on hand at every launch. The 55 gallon drum near the launch control area is also filled with water. **TIMPA FIELD USE Flying rockets at the TIMPA site is only permitted at club events or by prior arrangement. Fliers who intend to use the field outside club events must be either current National Association of Rocketry (NAR) or Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) members. Tony Gonzales, our Range Operations Director, is the person to contact. He will need to know the number of models you intend to launch. Information on launch weight and propellant weight will need to be available as well. The TIMPA caretakers have been instructed to call the Pima County Sheriff and to pursue trespassing charges if no previous arrangements exist. Here is how to contact Tony Gonzales . . . tgonzo@uswest.net or by phone at (520) 790-1006 **SPACE MODELING SOLUTIONS (SMS) Peter Riddell and his wife from Space Modeling Solutions make the drive from Phoenix to attend almost all of our launches. He always brings an assortment of model kits, motors, and building supplies . . . many of which can't be found in Tucson area hobby stores. You can contact Peter in the days leading up to our scheduled launches. If he is planning to attend, he will be happy to bring down special items for you . . . riddell@prodigy.net or by phone at (480) 497-1960 and Fax at (703) 832-3237 **DIRECTIONS TO THE LAUNCH SITE From I-10 and Speedway, exit 257 . . . A) 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! B) 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. C) 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 turns into a dirt road. D) At about 3.5 miles past the Mile Wide/Sandario intersection, Mile Wide makes a forced turn to the right and changes it's name to Reservation Road. You are now heading due north. E) 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. Please park to the north or to the east of the launch range. |
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