As of Tuesday, the forecast is for temperatures in the 50′s, winds near 20 miles per hour (gusting to 25 or more) coming from the northwest. But of course, that could change as we head closer to the weekend.

The membership pages of the new site will be up soon, but you can use the old site to join SoAR now!

Note that you can still do things the old way and write a check to Southern Area Rocketry and mail it to:

Kevin Scholberg
325 Kestrel Cove
Alpharetta, GA 30022

Here’s what you missed if you didn’t come to the SoAR RocketTalk meeting (second Thursday of the month):

Glenn Harper shows up with twenty plastic crayon banks that he proceeded to hand out as part of a contest to be announced….stay tuned!

Kevin Scholberg showed us his fabulous paper-on-fin technique and discussed a bunch of his current projects.

Roy Green and Kevin discussed the challenges of building the Estes Saturn V.

David Tripp showed an out-of-production clustered LOC kit that he fitted with an av-bay and air-start wiring and another completed rocket that’s supposed to get to 3,000 feet on a G80….awesome!

THIS JUST IN: Kevin Scholberg will give a short presentation on Papering Balsa Fins 101. How to cover your fins with paper…quick and easy method. Super strong fins (even from the wimpy soft balsa found in some kits) and best of all: super smooth paint finish – no more filling and sanding grain!

The meetings are very casual.  Drop in at any time.  If you can’t make it till 8pm – no problem. Have a pizza delivered if you want.

We cover everything: build questions and techniques; motors; recovery; new and old models; high and low power (someone needs to bring in some of those cool micros!!!!); model rocket history; real rockets: etc., etc. etc.  If it has anything to do with rockets, we love it!!!!  Bring in you newest rocket and show it off or bring in your latest lawn dart and get help fixing it. ” The only stupid question is the one that never gets asked.”

You are invited to join SoAR at Tellus.

• If you just want to come out to fly your rockets, come on over!  Walk around to the side of the museum with the windmill…you’ll see us from there.
• If you want to help kids with their first rocket building opportunity, come on over (building starts at 10:00am)  We will have up to four build sessions, but you do not have to help with all the sessions….build some, fly some….your choice.  Wear your club name badge and let the folks at the front desk know what you’re doing.
• If you want to support RSO, LCO, or pad assignment, please come on over. Again, you don’t have to work the entire time.

Per winter rules, the launch starts at Noon and goes until 5:00 pm or when everyone’s had their fill of flying.

Questions can be answered by using the contact form or by calling Jorge at 770.235.0273 cell.

(NOTE: There is a chance this launch will be cancelled due to weather)

On Saturday, SoAR’s regularly scheduled second-Saturday launch will take place at the Northwest Georgia Science Museum (Tellus).  As part of this launch, SoAR will be assisting the museum with a Build-it/Fly-it program for young rocketeers.  The kids will build their rocket in their assigned hour, then visit the museum for an hour, and finally return to fly their rocket.

You are invited to join SoAR at Tellus.

• If you just want to come out to fly your rockets, come on over!  Walk around to the side of the museum with the windmill…you’ll see us from there.
• If you want to help kids with their first rocket building opportunity, come on over (building starts at 10:00am)  We will have up to four build sessions, but you do not have to help with all the sessions….build some, fly some….your choice.  Wear your club name badge and let the folks at the front desk know what you’re doing.
• If you want to support RSO, LCO, or pad assignment, please come on over. Again, you don’t have to work the entire time.

Per winter rules, the launch starts at Noon and goes until 5:00 pm or when everyone’s had their fill of flying.

Questions can be answered by using the contact form or by calling Jorge at 770.235.0273 cell.

Also on Saturday February 4th, SoAR will hold its annual election. Plans for 2012 will be discussed and a state of SoAR club will be presented. Cuban delicacies will be provided. The meeting portion will start at around 3:00 pm and go to no later than 5:00 pm…unless people hang around in which case it could go till midnight. Children are welcomed but no babysitting will be available so be ready to “mind your own.”

Location:

Jorge Blanco’s Home
12110 Brookfield Club Dr.
Roswell, Ga. 30075-1264

Please make an effort to come out. Please consider running for one of the
offices or committee positions.

Current Officers:

• President – Jorge Blanco
• Vice President – Steve Corrigall
• Treasurer – Kevin Scholberg
• Secretary – Everett Stowe
• Section Advisor – Roy Green

Current Committee Chairs

• Contest Committee – Andrew McCallum
• Public Relations and Outreach – Glenn Harper
• Range Equipment – Open
• GRITS Launch Director – Bob Nowak
• Launch Activity – Steve Bellio

The high winds are back in the forecast, unfortunately, out of the west northwest, around 13mph gusting to 22mph.  Mostly sunny with a temperature around 60. Field conditions, however, will be wet!

Weather will be chilly and breezy, but it looks like the winds will be along the long side of the field.

Quote of the evening: “If you love rocketry, don’t build a cert level three rocket.” by Jorge
See y’all next time. We’ll probably be at a new venue, slightly easier to get to.

Though this isn’t a business meeting, a couple of the things that might be discussed are 1) where and when to have the required yearly business meeting, and 2) where to move the show’n’tell meeting to better serve the membership.

First of all, know that most park systems in the metro area have rules against flying objects of all types. Sometimes you can go fly a rocket or two in your local park, but at some point a friendly policeman will come by and say you can’t do that. That said, there are a couple of parks we have gotten assurances that model rockets are allowed. One is Garrard Landing Park on Holcomb Bridge Rd near the Chattahoochee River. The entrance to the park is in front of a large building; just follow the signs back to the park. Garrard Landing is suitable for the average Estes beginner rockets. Another park that allows rockets when other activities are not scheduled, is Custer Park in Marietta, on Hyde Dr. off of Fairground Street. Be very careful at this location as it is close to major streets and commercial areas.

Schools, church athletic fields, and, of course, private property can sometimes be used if you approach the appropriate people first.

The best advice we can give is for you to wait and attend one of SoAR’s launches, where you don’t have to worry about permission, or even whether your launch equipment works, since we provide it, along with free recovery wadding! For the next few months we’ll have two launches a month, one in Alpharetta for smaller model rockets, and one in Hoschton (exit 137 on I-85) for all model rockets. And then we have our big GRITS launch in April for rockets of all types near Calhoun.

And keep checking the web site. You never know when we’ll find other locations where we can fly.

Friday, Burl is going to have some big rockets going including his Fat Nike and his Patriot. Saturday will feature Everett Stowe’s 1/25 Saturn V flying on a central K, with two I and two H motors. He’ll also fly his 1/48 Saturn V with four F motors and a central G.

Waiver is 8000′, motor limit is M! In other words, no practical limits (ok, I guess Burl would consider that limited…:) Oh, and don’t forget the Saturday Night launch from 7-9pm (that is limited to class 1 motors — G and below, with some H possible). It’ll be cold, but entertaining!

Get info at GRITSLAUNCH.COM!