Southern Arizona Rocketry Association
Tucson, AZ
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------------------------------------------------------------------------ **HELLO AND WELCOME Late September in The Sonoran Desert still feels a bit like Summer but cooler launch weather is just around the corner. We are still maintaining our Summer launch window of 8AM to 12Noon for this next Sunday, September 22nd. In October, we will start our cool weather launch window of 9AM to 1PM. It was good to see so many of you brave the August heat last month after not being able to fly in July. Jerry King has a complete flight report below. A late update that I just got from Mark Koenig mentions that our new gated entrance to the TIMPA launch site has been completed. There is still ongoing construction near the intersection of Sandario and Mile Wide Road as noted below. There is also a sink hole problem on Speedway Blvd. just east of Silverbell. This should be fixed by October but will still be an issue for September. You might want to use Grant Road or 22nd Street as a detour to connect to Silverbell and then to Speedway. 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. **AUGUST 2002 LAUNCH REPORT Sara held a launch at the TIMPA site on August 24 with an FAA waiver in effect. The weather was good for flying rockets with very low winds and clear skies. It was pretty hot and there were a few holds for aircraft. There were many new faces at the launch and a large number of families flying together. Thirty one (31) fliers took advantage of the launch and made 70 flights of which 56 (80%) were clean; there were 6 each tangled recovery devices and separations, and one each lawn dart and no ejection. The most active flier was Davin Porfirio who made 6 flights, other activity was (# flights-# of fliers): 5-1, 4-4, 3-2, 2-14 and 1-9. Motor usage was: 1/2A-2, A-5, B-21,C-26, D-2, E-4, F-4, G-4, H-2, and I-1. There was a two stage flight attempt using a Estes Commanche (C11-0, B6-6)which was unsuccessful as the second stage did not ignite. Mike Kruger of Cosmodrome flew his Delta E for the first time and had a really nice flight. Kevin Houser flew a video camera in a scratch built rocket based on an old Centuri design and obtained some marvelous video. Jacob Dennis had another picture perfect flight of his upscale Gemini DC. It is hoped that all the newcomers had a good time and may will become regular fliers. Once again many thanks to all those who helped with range work. Gerald King, NAR Senior Section Advisor **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 Appointees selected for 2002 NAR Senior Section Advisor . . Jerry King **SARA 2002 LAUNCH CALENDAR / TIMPA FIELD LAUNCH SITE Here is the launch schedule for the remainder of the calendar year. All scheduled launches will be conducted at the TIMPA launch site unless otherwise noted. SARA is now able to accommodate high power rocket models at each scheduled launch. Each launch is now an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waivered event. Waivered launches are where The FAA
grants approval to SARA to launch models that are limited to a maximum altitude
of 4500 feet above ground level (AGL) and use a K impulse motor or less .. . .
restrictions imposed by our launch site dimensions. Please check the SARA web site for last minute updates on all launches. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2002 8AM to 12Noon The Summer launch window of 8:00AM to 12:00PM is still in
effect. In October, we will switch back to or 9:00AM to1:00PM cool weather
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 but . . . THE CITY OF TUCSON IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED WITH AN EXTENSIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT THIS INTERSECTION. WE WILL BE ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH BUT YOU MIGHT BE ASKED TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES TO ACCOMMODATE THE CONSTRUCTION. PROCEED WITH CAUTION THROUGH THIS AREA AND OBEY ALL DIRECTION FROM THE ROAD CREW FLAGMEN. Just pass the construction are, 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 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 . . . tgonzo64@myecel.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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