5thDay
Well-Known Member
I've mentioned in the new member introduction area that I am working on forming a new club. The majority of the questions I have are (today) are ground related but before those I have a Forum Admin question:
I think a new section related to how to start/host launches would be helpful. Sticked info could be some NAR and Tripoli info, help obtaining FAA waivers act. The bulk of discussion could be on topics that section/chapter/club organizers could share related to launches, spectator policies etc. Could such a forum area be created?
On to questions I have come into recently that relate primarily to recovery but I believe the answer may lay more in having ground support.
1. Loosing sight of flying rockets, particularly smaller rockets which may not get parachute out. What technique best combats this? Being farther back from the launch, having people geographically spread out around the launch? At some point I imagine there are "recovery teams" out in the recovery area? Loss of rockets is a big reason I stopped flying from my residence and went to this larger field. Is not getting rockets back and littering launch sites par for the course?
2. Photos and video tips, both for quality and to aid in recovery? The more launches I do where I trust someone with a cell phone to record... the more difficult it becomes to say "thanks" for the shaky, fuzzy, or looking the other way videos I get. I've considered camera tripods with Alt Az mounts and wonder what other clubs use?
3. Pad assignments, on-rail or on-rod setup and recovery personnel? This is where living so far from any club makes setting up launches difficult because I haven't seen an organized launch. Who physically places the rockets and connects clips, caps etc. I had a CATO myself where I learned the lesson about how tight a cap can be on a composite motor. For a club launch is someone there to check for those things?
After a launch (hopefully someone spots it and sees where it landed) when is it retrieved and by whom? My guess is that this is where I hear "range is clear" over a PA system from launch videos? I just don't understand the entire flow of events launch to launch.
4. "Launch Staff" placement and safety. I understand the basics of field layout where spectators are allowed up to a line and higher and higher powered rockets are launched from further and further out but how do "officials" or persons recovering rockets work into this?
Sorry for all of my questions. I am having a blast and want to continue doing just that as more and more rocketeers join in during launches. With that fun however I believe must come safety measures and some generally understood practices that help to make things run smoothly and non-chaotic.
I think a new section related to how to start/host launches would be helpful. Sticked info could be some NAR and Tripoli info, help obtaining FAA waivers act. The bulk of discussion could be on topics that section/chapter/club organizers could share related to launches, spectator policies etc. Could such a forum area be created?
On to questions I have come into recently that relate primarily to recovery but I believe the answer may lay more in having ground support.
1. Loosing sight of flying rockets, particularly smaller rockets which may not get parachute out. What technique best combats this? Being farther back from the launch, having people geographically spread out around the launch? At some point I imagine there are "recovery teams" out in the recovery area? Loss of rockets is a big reason I stopped flying from my residence and went to this larger field. Is not getting rockets back and littering launch sites par for the course?
2. Photos and video tips, both for quality and to aid in recovery? The more launches I do where I trust someone with a cell phone to record... the more difficult it becomes to say "thanks" for the shaky, fuzzy, or looking the other way videos I get. I've considered camera tripods with Alt Az mounts and wonder what other clubs use?
3. Pad assignments, on-rail or on-rod setup and recovery personnel? This is where living so far from any club makes setting up launches difficult because I haven't seen an organized launch. Who physically places the rockets and connects clips, caps etc. I had a CATO myself where I learned the lesson about how tight a cap can be on a composite motor. For a club launch is someone there to check for those things?
After a launch (hopefully someone spots it and sees where it landed) when is it retrieved and by whom? My guess is that this is where I hear "range is clear" over a PA system from launch videos? I just don't understand the entire flow of events launch to launch.
4. "Launch Staff" placement and safety. I understand the basics of field layout where spectators are allowed up to a line and higher and higher powered rockets are launched from further and further out but how do "officials" or persons recovering rockets work into this?
Sorry for all of my questions. I am having a blast and want to continue doing just that as more and more rocketeers join in during launches. With that fun however I believe must come safety measures and some generally understood practices that help to make things run smoothly and non-chaotic.