October 24, 2026 – ELSBERRY HIGH POWER ROCKET LAUNCH

Launch Director: Jason Garbus 314.779.7419

Contact info: jason.garbus@outlook.com

Date and time: 10/24/2026, pending landowner permission due to weather forecast for the week leading up to the launch. The waiver will be active between 10:00 AM CST and 4:00 PM CST.

****PLEASE FOLLOW THE MAP BELOW TO ENTER THE FIELD ****

If a cancellation is made, we will do our best to communicate as early as possible, but no later than Friday evening. Cancellation announcements will be made via the website and Facebook webpage.

Location: Elsberry, MO.

Our waiver will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The range may or may not remain open until 4:00 pm, depending on how many people attend and how many rockets we have to fly.
Our waiver is 6,000′ AGL with call-in windows to 14,000′ AGL.

Note: We would like to try to minimize impact to FAA traffic, so please email Jason Garbus if you will need a window for your flight so we can try to group the flights together.

The club equipment trailer should arrive at the field around 9:00 am for us to begin setup. We would greatly appreciate as much help as possible with setup and cleanup, so please plan to arrive early if you can.

We will be broadcasting all announcements on both the PA system and FM 99.5 If you have a portable radio, it would be handy to have it at your range table to listen along to the flights.

There will be neither food concessions nor restroom facilities at this site, but it is a ten minute drive into town for fuel, food and restroom.

For current SLRA members, there will be no launch fee 

If you’re not a current SLRA member, low power rocket fees are $5, and high power fees will be $10.

You must be a current Tripoli or NAR member to be on the flight line. You will be required to provide proof of current membership prior to being admitted to the event. If you are handling any rocketry related material while on site you must check in, provide proof of NAR or TRA membership and sign a waiver. Membership is not required for spectators.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF MEMEBRSHIP YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO FLY OR WORK ON ANY ROCKET RELATED ACTIVITIES.

All flight will be conducted under the current Tripoli Safety Code: https://www.tripoli.org/safetycode

All participants will be required to sign a hold harmless agreement. A copy may be filled out prior to arrival to save time in the field. THIS WILL BE REQUIRED AT EACH FLIGHT

We plan to have various sizes of launch pads set up, from the 1/8′′ model rocket rods up to 1515 rails.

If you are wanting to make any of the following flights, please reach out to Jason Garbus (contact info above) as soon as possible:
● A certification attempt, whether with NAR or TRA. Please include details such as Name, Certifying Agency, What level you want to attempt, and if you are wanting to do a L2 attempt. Tripoli testing is available online and should be completed prior to the launch. Please bring your passing result report.
● A multi-stage flight attempt that is not black powder (i.e. using composites and electronic staging) with details of your flight.
● As mentioned above, in need of a window for your flight ( Flights > 6,000′, and less than 14,000′)

As always, please be courteous to our hosts and respectful of their property, including driving slowly on all farm roads. Once we get on site, we will clarify where it is okay to drive and park. Do not attempt to drive on the field.

Launch site location and directions to field:

From the St. Louis area, take MO highway 79 north to Hatfield Rd. (If you get into the town of Elsberry itself, you’ve gone too far.) You will cross over the ACTIVE railroad tracks and past a new water treatment plant on the right. Follow Hatfield Rd ~0.6 miles and turn right into the field and follow the path.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE BELOW ROUTE TO THE FIELD. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THE FIELD FROM THE “WOODEN BRIDGE” ENTRY. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE STOP AND CALL

SLRA’s Annual “Spooktacular Night Launch” weather forecast

The Weekend forecast is looking great for this Saturday’s  Spooktacular Night launch at Buder Park. After thunderstorms till early hours on Friday morning then it’s all clear and sunny for Saturday. Set will start around 4:00PM. Launching will be 4:30 till 10:00pm.

Forecast for Saturday’s Buder Park launch according to weather underground

2pm – Sunny     59° - 3mph  E wind

4pm – Sunny     60° - 3mph  ESE wind

6pm – Sunny     56° - 2mph  E wind

8pm – Clear       47° - 1mph  SE wind

10pm – Clear     44° - 1mph  SE wind

22 September 2026 SLRA Meeting Minutes

Attendees (22): Doug Probst, Dave Pape, Molly Meckfessel, Emma Meckfessel, Chuck Meckfessel, Sydney Rice, Jason Garbus, Oliver Garbus, Don Hanson, John Sullivan, Jessica Fox, Chris Franklin, Chris Lagemann, Larry Hileman, Dennis Tuchalski, Bruce Meier, Henry Wright, Joe Avins, Rob Benton, John Hilker, John O’Neill, John Buckley

Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63127)

Called to order at 7:00 p.m.

New Attendees: Bruce Meier from Illinois, been in and out of the hobby since the 70s. No certifications yet, but plans on pursuing them.

Achievements and Contributions:

  • Don’s birthday
  • Dennis T got his L1 at Airfest
  • Oliver G got his TMP L1 with his Shapeshifter on an I257

Meeting Minutes Approved for September 22nd meeting.

Treasury Status:

  • Current Balance: $2606.09
  • Deposits: none
  • Expenses: none

SLRA Membership Total:

  • 73 Members (70 Senior, 3 Junior)
  • Reminder: associate SLRA with your NAR and Tripoli profiles!

Launch Reports:

  • Airfest in Argonia, KS - lots of SLRA members volunteered. Jason G did 7-8 cert flights. Lots of issues with Featherweight trackers. Minie Magg drag race (John H, Oliver G, Chuck M, Molly M) will be featured in Nadine’s calendar for next year. John H has photos from Airfest.

Upcoming Launches:

  • September 26th Buder Park Launch.
  • October 3rd Buder Park Launch and October Fly.
  • October 17th Spooktacular Launch.
  • Midwest Power in Quad Cities, IL November 7-9.
  • October 24th tentative Elsberry Launch.
  • November 14th Elsberry Launch.
  • November 28th Elsberry Launch.
  • December 12th Elsberry Launch. 

Old Business:

  • Chris L has reached out to Buder about the grass and it has been resolved.

New Business:

  • Club meeting location discussion will happen at the next meeting (Oct. 27) to determine if we want to stay at Bandana’s or move elsewhere. Bring suggestions! 

Meeting Adjourned 7:21 p.m.

Raffle Items: Estes SpaceShipOne kit won by Dennis T

New High Power Launch dates

These dates are tentative and subject to change with the following day (Sunday as a possible backup date) and more dates to be added for 2027.

October 24th - if cops are all in

November 14th

November 28th

December 12th

As always these dates are pending land owner approval, weather conditions, and other pre-requisites. The Sunday (following day) may be a backup date if possible.

Range setup will begin at 9:00am and we can start flying rockets as soon as setup is done – so the more people that come early to help, the sooner we can start!

This will be a Tripoli launch held under Tripoli Research rules, so experimental motors are allowed for Tripoli members with the proper certification (although the RSO of course has the final say). We will have 1/8″, 3/16″ and 1/4″ launch rods along with 1010 and 1515 rails. If you are launching a rocket weighing more than about 25 pounds and need our “monster” launch pad, you must let us know ahead of time, as we may not bring it if it’s not needed.

Our FAA waiver permits flights up to 7,000 feet MSL (approximately 6,250 feet AGL) with call-in windows to 15,000 MSL (14,250 AGL). If you are planning a flight over 10,000 feet AGL, please bring simulation results to show to the RSO, to avoid any risk of violating that waiver altitude. (We have a great relationship with the FAA and want to keep it that way!)

For non current SLRA members, there will be a daily launch fee: $10 for high-power fliers or $5 for Model rocket flyers.

As always check the website for current updates on status of all launches.

Please email admin@stlouisrocketry.com or SLRA Prefect jason.garbus@outlook.com if you have any questions.

Update for the Oct 3, 2026 event

Update for the Oct 3, 2026 event

Club’s equipment will start setting up at our normal time of 08:30 with SLRA sport launching to follow.

The October Fly competition will start around 12:00 noon. These competitors will most likely use their personal launch equipment.

October Fly may also continue on for Sunday the 4th.  Check with John B. for more October Fly info. (SLRA equipment and sport launch will only be for Saturday at this time of posting)

Weather forecast for Saturday:

7am – Sunny                  51° - 3mph N E

9am – Mostly Sunny  54° - 5mph ENE

11am – Sunny                65° - 6mph ENE

1pm – Sunny                  72° - 7mph ENE

3pm – Partly Cloudy   75° - 6mph ENE

5pm – Partly Cloudy   74° - 5mph ENE

Weather forecast for 9/26/2026 launch

Still watching the weather for this weekend – small showers in the 7pm hours on Saturday but the forecast is constantly changing for the weekend. At this point I’m still planning on Saturday with having Sunday as a backup.

Forecast for Saturday’s Buder Park launch according to weather underground

5am – Cloudy    62° - 2mph  E

7am – Cloudy    61° - 2mph  E

9am – Cloudy    63° - 3mph E   

11am – Cloudy    66° - 4mph ESE

1pm – Cloudy    68° - 4mph ESE

3pm – Cloudy    70° - 4mph E

5pm – Cloudy    69° - 4mph E

7pm - Showers  .01inch

Forecast for Sunday –

7am Cloudy  59° - 2mph E

9am Cloudy  63° - 3mph E

11am Cloudy  67° - 4mph ESE

1pm Cloudy  70° - 4mph ESE

3pm Cloudy  73° - 3mph ENE

25 August 2026 SLRA Meeting Minutes

Attendees (23): Don Hanson, Molly Meckfessel, Chuck Meckfessel, Emma Meckfessel, Sydney Rice, Rob Benton, John Hilker, Jason Garbus, Oliver Garbus, Chris Lagemann, Dennis Tuchalski, Doug Probst, Charles Barnett, Larry Hileman, John Sullivan, Tim Gannon, Joseph Avins, John Buckley, Joe Bryant, Shawn Faulkingham, Evelyn Nutt, Michael Thomas, Chris Franklin, and Dan Cella.

Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63127)

Called to order at 7:00 p.m.

New Attendees: Evelyn Nutt from California, who did rocketry before moving to the area. Currently has her L2.

Achievements and Contributions:

  • Doug Probst finished his Intimidator for his L3 certification. 

Meeting minutes for August 25th, 2026 meeting approved.

Treasury status

  • Current Balance: $2606.09
  • Deposits: $62.58 from PayPal
  • Expenses: $100 for past IRS filing, paid with the income from the raffle.

SLRA Membership Total:

  • 69 Members (66 Senior, 3 Junior)
  • Reminder: associate SLRA with your NAR and Tripoli profiles!

Launch Reports:

  • August 8th Buder Park Launch - 50 flights, Boy Scouts came out to fly with us.
  • August 22nd Buder Park Launch - 39 flights. Scott Nokes launched a 3-motor cluster Phoenix. The grass was very tall, which made it difficult to recover rockets.

Upcoming Launches:

  • September 26th Buder Park Launch.
  • October 3rd Buder Park Launch.
  • October 17th Spooktacular Launch.
  • Airfest in Argonia, KS September 4-7.
  • Midwest Power in Quad Cities, IL November 7-9.
  • Elsberry Launches tentatively starting in October or November. Remember to have NAR and Tripoli cards ready to go for when launching starts.
  • First weekend of October - John Buckley will be having a dart friendly launch.

Old Business:

  • Review of Club Election results:
    • President: Chris Franklin
    • Vice President: Doug Probst
    • Treasurer: Dan Cella
    • Secretary: Molly Meckfessel
    • Board Members: Charles Barnett, Chuck Meckfessel, John Buckley
  • WashU - haven’t heard any news from them.

New Business:

  • Buder Park issue for Spooktacular event has been resolved.
  • Jason Garbus has revamped club ID badges.

Meeting Adjourned 7:33 p.m.

Raffle Items: John Sullivan won Estes Protostar. John Buckley won a mystery box. Shawn Fulkingham won a launch controller. Charles Barnett got a pack of B6-4s.

Sept 22, 2026 SLRA General Meeting Announcement

The Next SLRA Meeting/Build Session is next Tuesday, Sept 22nd, 2026, at the Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63127) Coordinates 38.53096/-90.38616.

6:00 - 7:00 PM – Rocket Talk Social Hour/Dinner/Build Session
7:00 - ?:?? PM – SLRA Meeting
Post Meeting – More Rocket Talk and Build Session until 9:00 pm

The meeting location is in the basement of the restaurant. You’ll need to enter from the back of the restaurant. We have lots of room to spread-out. There are lots of tables for enabling us to have a coincident Build Session.

If you have a rocket project you’re working on, bring it to the meeting. Be sure to bring a table cover (newspaper/poster board) and cutting board to prevent damage to tabletops.

This is also a great opportunity to bring rocketry-related questions to ask seasoned Low to High Power Rocketeers who will be in attendance. Interested in Competition rocketry, those questions can be answered as well.

Schaefer’s Hobby is nearby as well. They’re open till 6:00 pm.

If you’re a member of SLRA and are registered on the website, you can view minutes of previous meetings from our website’s Meeting Minutes Page, the unresolved discussions from our previous meeting will be the basis of our “Old Business” discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.