Chat Archives - Page 8 of 8 - Northern Colorado Rocketry

Feb. 3 Launch – GO!

January 29, 2018 July 15, 2018 itemprop="discussionURL"0

We are GO FOR LAUNCH on Saturday, February 3rd at the ATLAS SITE. The current weather forecast, subject to change, predicts un-comfortable temps and probable windy conditions for flying. Range and waiver are expected to be ready for operation starting at 9 AM and lasting until 3 PM or until we run out of motors, lose interest or the weather chases us away, whichever happens first. This launch opportunity will be for commercially approved motors only and all flights must remain under the 12,000 foot AGL ceiling.

Please note that all launch events will be conducted using nationally approved/accepted range safety practices. The launching of rockets on NFS land is normally prohibited under Forest Service regulations. The issuance of our permit allows launches to take place for approved launch events only.
As always, help is greatly appreciated with range set up, operations and clean up. For those of you driving a long ways to visit our launch, I’d recommend checking in with your favorite weather report or call the Greeley-Weld County Airport’s automated weather line at 970-352-3511
Hope to see you out on the range.

Archive, Launch

Go For Launch: Jan 6, 2018

January 28, 2018 May 6, 2018 itemprop="discussionURL"0

Members and Friends,

HAPPY NEW LAUNCH YEAR!!!! Resolve to launch more rockets in 2018, beginning on January 6th.

We are GO FOR LAUNCH on Saturday, January 6th at the ATLAS SITE. The current weather forecast calls for clear and cold conditions for flying, starting at 10 AM and lasting until 3 PM or until we run out of motors, lose interest or the cold chases us away, whichever happens first. This launch opportunity will be for commercially approved motors only and all flights must remain under the 12,000 foot AGL ceiling.

As always, help is greatly appreciated with range set up, operations and clean up. For those of you driving a long ways to visit our launch, I’d recommend checking in with your favorite weather report or call the Greeley-Weld County Airport’s automated weather line at 970-352-3511.

A Quick reminder: NCR Membership Business and Swap Meet Meeting will happen, snow or shine, on the 13th of January, 2018, at the VFW Hall in Ault. PLEASE ATTEND. The Agenda is full and NCR needs your input. Doors will open about 11 AM and the meeting will start by 1 PM. Please RSVP (reply to this email Yea or Nay for a lunch headcount) if you haven’t done so already. Lunch should be ready at approximately noon.

Back by popular response, this meeting will also provide the opportunity for members and friends to acquire or dispose of unwanted/extra rocketry related items. Come prepared to barter, buy or sell some real bargains. NCR will once again host a SWAP MEET. Got something rocketry related to sell or trade or give away? Bring it to the meeting.

Hope to see you out on the range.

Archive

LDRS 37 – Tripoli Central California

January 26, 2018 July 15, 2018 itemprop="discussionURL"0

LDRS 37 will be held at Tripoli Central California, May 16-20. The launch site is about 30 miles from Fresno, California on Maddox Dairy farmland (near Helms, CA).

Impulse up to M motors with 16,811 ft wavier. Night launch scheduled for Saturday night. There will Nike Drag race and other special events like the LDRS Banquet a Harris Ranch.

The site is excellent for rocketry and launch equipment is best you’ll find. There will be onsite food and rocketry vendors. Free Camping on site with hotels available in the area. There is a corner store at the Helm crossroad.

Registration and information about the launch can be found at https://ldrs37.org.LDRS 37

Archive

NOVEMBER LAUNCH SCRUBBED

November 1, 2017 April 8, 2018 itemprop="discussionURL"0

Members and Friends, November 1, 2017

NO GO FOR LAUNCH – “I’m sorry to once again be the bearer of bad tidings but with the current and expected weather (especially the high winds), the Ranger has now made the determination that fire conditions are too severe to allow NCR to proceed with this weekend’s scheduled launch event as planned. He has directed me to tell you to cancel the event.”

Jon Halverson
Recreation Special Uses Administrator/Forest Stock Manager

Forest Service

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, Pawnee National Grassland

Canyon Lakes Ranger District-Pawnee NG Zone

p: 970-295-6723
f: 970-295-6795
jhalverson@fs.fed.us

Sincere apologies for false hopes and another scrubbed launch. This has been a tough year for NCR.

Archive

NCR November launch

October 28, 2017 April 8, 2018 itemprop="discussionURL"0

Members and Friends,

There is a scheduled/approved Northern Colorado Rocketry launch event on Saturday November 4th at the North launch site.

With no fire restrictions currently in place in Weld County or on the Pawnee NG, the PNG Ranger has “green lighted” NCR for the event, subject to normal precautions. The Ranger says NCR can proceed with the November launch as planned but, as usual, that is subject to change. The prairie remains fragile and vulnerable. Vegetation is dry out there.

We are GO for Launch. Clear to partly cloudy skies, and temperatures reaching the low fifties are expected for launch conditions at the North Site. Current weather predictions appear favorable for flying rockets, opening the waiver and range at 9 AM and lasting until 4 PM or until we run out of motors, lose interest or the cold chases us away, whichever happens first. This launch opportunity will be our last visit to the North Site until April, 2018, with the 20,000’ AGL ceiling. “Windows” are available, to be coordinated in real time. Please advise me ASAP if you anticipate needing a higher altitude launch “window”.

For those of you driving a long ways to visit our launch, I’d recommend checking in with your favorite weather report or call the Greeley-Weld County Airport’s automated weather line at 970-352-3511.

An orientation briefing for participants will be held and will include a discussion of safety and emergency procedures, fire conditions and instruction, applicable rules and regulations, and what is expected of participants with regards to the use of NFS lands under our special use permit.

Please note that all launch events will be conducted using nationally approved/accepted range safety practices. The launching of rockets on NFS land is normally prohibited under Forest Service regulations. The issuance of our permit allows launches to take place for approved launch events only.

As always, volunteers are needed to help with range set up, operation and clean up. Hope to see you out on the range.

Archive, Launch

October Launch

October 2, 2017 May 3, 2018 itemprop="discussionURL"0

Members and Friends,

Mixed news from the Forest Service – The prairie has gone from too dry to maybe too wet. We have been approved to proceed with our scheduled Oktoberfest launch on Saturday and Sunday only, with the usual precautions and respect for the prairie. Conditions could be very muddy. Please tread lightly and protect our prairie usage. An important reminder – in spite of the recent moisture, the Fire Risk remains high – extra vigilance will be expected. The prairie remains fragile and combustible – NO SPARKIES ALLOWED.

Our waiver will be a constant 20,000’ AGL, with arrangements for “windows of opportunity” to be coordinated. If you will need a higher altitude “window” during the weekend, please advise me ASAP.

Remember Range Etiquette. If you find a gate closed, close it behind you. Stay on the authorized roads (Foot recovery only) and please don’t park more than 100’ off the road at the launch site. Be prepared for changing weather conditions. Afternoon thundershowers should be expected.

We anticipate having the range set up and ready by 9 AM on Saturday and we’ll operate until 6 PM. On Sunday, the range will open at 8 AM and probably close by 3 PM. ALL high power flyers must be current NAR or Tripoli members. Please remember that Range Safety is in everyone’s best interest.

The Pawnee National Grassland offers the ultimate in rustic, open space camping. Self sufficient camping is permitted on site. We are, however, limited to only one campfire in the established fire pit at the south end of the flight line. Firewood is nonexistent on the prairie so contributions are welcome. Please treat our National Grassland with respect. As is typical with camping in most public areas, we are required to remove all of our trash. Be considerate and responsible. If you bring it, be prepared to leave with it. Please clean up your parking and prep area before you leave and take all of your stuff with you.

NCR is an Authorized Permitee of the Pawnee National Grassland. A morning orientation briefing for participants will be held and will include a discussion of safety and emergency procedures, fire conditions and instruction, applicable rules and regulations, and what is expected of participants with regards to the use of NFS lands under our special use permit.

Please note that all launch events will be conducted using nationally approved/accepted range safety practices. The launching of rockets on NFS land is normally prohibited under a Forest Service Region 2 fire regulation. The issuance of NCR’s permit allows launches to take place by exempting the Holder from that regulation for approved launch events only. All launches, other than those conducted by the Holder during approved launch events, are outside the scope of this permit and are prohibited by Forest Service regulations.

As always, volunteers are needed to help with range set up, operation and clean up. Hope to see you out on the range.

Archive, Launch, Scrubbed

The Sky Has Fallen

July 3, 2017 April 8, 2018

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155549390734433&set=a.61127124432.54911.746879432&type=3

Launch, Photos

2017 Mayhem Recap

June 9, 2017 May 20, 2019 itemprop="discussionURL"0

In case you were wondering –

Despite the normal amount of un-certainty regarding the weather and vegetation conditions on the Pawnee National Grassland, Mile High Mayhem was another epic weekend for rocketry hobbyists. A slow start, 8 to 10 mile an hour winds and a short afternoon rain shower Friday afternoon didn’t hinder the efforts of 24 different flyers from launching 57 flights – 44 Class One and 13 Class Two. Much of the day was spent making final preparations for Saturday and Sunday’s flights.

Waiver opened on Saturday at 8 AM and our safety briefing was held around 10 AM to ensure most fliers were present and registered. For the weekend, we had a total of 67 signed in flyers, not including an additional 18 kids flying with parental guidance. One flyer made the visit from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, while the Yehle family came to fly from Salt Lake City. There were some flyers from Wyoming but the majority of flyers were from the State of Colorado – from the western slope (Delta and Grand Junction) and from down south (Pueblo and Colorado Springs) and from all over the front range population centers. 80 different fliers lofted a total of 215 flights – 148 Class One and 67 Class Two, including the highest flight of the weekend – 24,359’ and 2 newly Certified Level Three fliers. The Steve Frazier Memorial Drag Race and Memorial Tribute flights to Scott Corliss and Jeff Layne were also very special moments during the perfect day. Clear skies and plenty of sunshine helped make the afterglow events of the day all the better. While many folks packed in it after the glorious day, lots stayed for the stars and campfire.

Waiver opened again at 8 AM on Sunday but folks were a little slow to take to the skies. Still, 52 different fliers put up 104 flights -72 Class One and 32 Class Two before the heat of the day took its’ toll and we started breaking down the range. Waiver closed at 2:30 and cleanup was mostly completed by 4.

A grand total of 376 flights for the weekend. Not a new record number of fights but easily a launch event that will long be remembered.

We are all hoping the spotty rain showers continue and the grass stays green long enough for our next scheduled event – High Skies in July. I wouldn’t expect nearly the same number of fliers or flights but one never knows what’s going to happen until we have clear skies and permission to “push the button”. Huge thanks to all involved.

Archive

Mayhem Happening…..

May 24, 2017 April 8, 2018 itemprop="discussionURL"0

Members and Friends,

We’ve checked with the District Ranger and we are OK to proceed as planned with the scheduled 6/2-4 launch, subject to normal precautions. NCR is GO for MileHighMayhem the first weekend of June on the Pawnee National Grassland at NCR’s North Site. On-site registration will be available Friday, June 2nd, Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th. Port-A-Potties have been ordered for the weekend. Our waiver will be a constant 20,000’ AGL, with anticipated “windows of opportunity” for higher altitudes shots. Please let me know ASAP if you’re planning any “window” shots. We anticipate having the range set up and ready by 9 AM on Friday, and we’ll operate until 6 PM. On Saturday and Sunday, the range and waiver will be open at 8 AM. Wristbands will be required for ALL flyers and ALL flyers will need to be registered. The extended weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with characteristically light winds and comfortable temperatures for Spring on the prairie with the probability of afternoon thunder showers. In other words, it should be an awesome weekend for flying. Please remember that Range Safety is in everyone’s best interest.

The Pawnee National Grassland offers the ultimate in rustic, open space self sufficient camping. We are, however, limited to only one campfire in the established fire pit at the south end of the flight line. Firewood is nonexistent on the prairie so contributions are always welcomed.

Please treat our National Grassland with respect. Be considerate and responsible. If you bring it, be prepared to leave with it. Please clean up your parking and prep area before you leave and take all of your stuff with you.

Hope to see you out on the range.