The Apollo 15 Liberty Bell 7 Commemoration Event is being postponed due to forecasted rainy weather conditions. The event will now be next Saturday August 7th from 9:00-2:00 pm. Cross your fingers for good weather next Saturday. Please pass this information on to anyone you know of who was planning on attending.
Dave Kovar asked me to check with Ron Becherer of Belleville Wholesale Hobby (https://bellevillehobby.com) in Belleville, IL (just 10 miles from my - Darrell Weber - house in Millstadt, IL) about purchase costs for mid-power engines (Black Powder E12-0, 4, 6, 8; E16-0, 4, 6, 8; F15-0, 4, 6, 8, and Composite F26-6 and F50-6).
Ron gives a 41% discount, and I can pick them up so their would be no hazmat or shipping charges.
The engines have to purchased in a case, and cases can not be mixed.
Below is a spreadsheet with information about each engine, the Estes cost, and Ron's cost.
When we make an SLRA order Ron isn’t certain when the shipment would arrive. He pointed out the slow drying time for the black powder engines.
If you are interested in ordering any of these engines then e-mail Darrell Weber at: weber.ddw56@gmail.com
Indicate the engine and the number of packs that you want. I will place an order on August 11th if we have a sufficient number of engines (cases) to order. We can settle up the costs at an SLRA meeting once the shipment has arrived.
Check back on this post, for I intend to update the number of engine packs currently requested.
Darrell Weber - SLRA former Secretary (618) 972-6010
SLRA President, Dave Kovar (kovardad@gmail.com) says we still need the following for our Apollo 15 50th, and Liberty Bell 7 60th Anniversary event at Buder Park this coming Saturday, July 31st, which runs from 9:00 am till 2:00 pm.
So join us for this great event, revisiting our Nations rich Space Heritage.
SLRA President, Dave Kovar (kovardad@gmail.com) is looking for someone who has access to a printer larger than 8 1/2" by 11". He is going to make indoor and outdoor signage for the Apollo 15 - 50th, & Liberty Bell 7 - 60th Anniversary launch event at Buder Park, set fro Saturday, July 31st.
I, SLRA Secretary, Darrell Weber, have access to 11" by 17" printing. But, our laminator is only 8 1/2" by 11". Yet we can mount the 11" by 17" sheet on foam board and coat it with a clear coat acrylic so it can withstand wet weather.
If anyone receiving this has access to a bigger printer, then please contact Dave Kovar at: kovardad@gmail.com
Thanks; Darrell
Great News!!
Belleville Wholesale Hobby (https://bellevillehobby.com) has agreed to sponsor our Commemoration Event. A big thank you to Ron Becherer.
We now have Estes SLS Ready-to-Fly rockets that will be presented to the Junior and Senior Class champions of our Precision Duration Splashdown Spot Landing Competition. (Yes...I changed it to a Splashdown Spot Landing Competition so it fits both Liberty Bell 7 and Apollo 15).
Belleville Wholesale Hobby also provided us with a 1:100 scale Estes Saturn V/Skylab that we will raffle off to NAR and Tripoli members who participate in our event.. Those who volunteer will receive 3 tickets and those who just participate in the Sport Launch or spectate will receive one ticket. Please volunteer to help with this event. Your President would greatly appreciate it.
I've updated the attached event informational PDF with this information.
Note: Since this is a Precision Duration Splashdown Spot Landing Competition, we will not need the moon. If we find it, then we could put it out as a cool display.
We are also hoping to give away Estes Alphas (about 6 of them) to kids who attend our event?
Happy Rocketeering!!
President Dave
Hello Fellow SLRAers,
The first is an updated promotional PDF.
The second is an update on event preparations and a proposed schedule for the day of the event. The yellow highlight indicates that either someone else besides me is providing it, or I need someone to take responsibility for . This is a club effort so the more members that participate, the .
A couple things to note:1. For this event we will be needing 3 launch racks. I have one and I believe the other two are in the SLRA Trailer. . One rack will be dedicated to the Mercury Redstone rockets, another will be for the scale replicas of the historic White Sands Missile Range and NASA rockets.. The third will be used for the Sport Range. 2. I currently have 9 mico clip chords and will need 10 more in order to have enough for all three launch racks.3. We will also need a couple more 1/8" and 3/16" rods to ensure we have enough.
4. I have highlighted the proposed scale reckets we could launch for the Historic White Sands/NASA launch activity. I have most of them but would like other SLRA members to provide them.5. There are some positions I am in need of Volunteers to staff on event day: Set-up, Sport Launch LSO, event RSO, loading rockets on the Mercury Redstone and Historic White Sands/NASA Launch Racks, and PA announcer6. I am in need of a car-sized battery for powering my Saturn V Launch Pad.7. We still are in need of awards for the Precision Duration Lunar Spot Landing Competition. My thought is to obtain sponsorship to provide an Estes plastic Saturn V and an SLA rocket for the winners of the Junior (Falcon) and Senior (Endeavour) Class.
I am going to contact Ron from Belleville Wholesale Hobby to see if he would be willing to sponsor our event.
I look forward to hearing back from y'all!
Happy Rocketeering!!
Your President,Dave
SLRA is having our regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, July 27th.
It will be held at Bandana's Bar-B-Q, 11750 Gravois Road, Sunset Hills, MO 63127-1804.
Due to COVID-19, this meeting will also be held on Zoom:
Topic: SLRA July Business Meeting
Time: Jul 27, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88391812412?pwd=MmZGZ3VON2JDbENrUGhmOXBEWnhNUT09
Meeting ID: 883 9181 2412
Passcode: 143122
If you're a member of SLRA and are registered on the website, you can view minutes of previous meetings here: Meeting Minutes Page, The meeting minutes will be the basis of our "old business" discussion.
THE STANDARD AGENDA FOR ALL MEETINGS IS AS FOLLOWS:
1. Minutes
2. Treasury Status
3. Recognition of Achievements and Contributions
4. Members expenses
5. Old Business
a) Launch Report / Schedule,
b) Trailer Status,
c) GSLMA report,
d) Wireless Cellphone Weather Station
e) NARAM Update
f) Swap Meet / Garage Sale
g) Election of Officers and Directors
h)
6. New Business
a)
b)
Online and paper membership forms with payments received by mail to be processed by treasurer and president.
Please email admin@stlouisrocketry.com if you have new business for the meeting.
Fellow SLRAers,
Due to weather conditions, today’s Night Launch has been postponed and rescheduled for Saturday August 28th. Check out the SLRA website for additional information. Happy Rocketeering!
President Dave
Dan Welling (danw1963@hotmail.com) was recently contacted by David McMurty. David would like to organize some sort of memorial for Bruce Weidner (a co-founder of our SLRA) to be held on Saturday, October 2nd. No details yet, but likely a celebration of his life - or story swapping session.
We would like to get a rough "straw" count of those who would likely attend. So please respond to this post, and or e-mail Dan Welling as our point of contact with David McMurty.
Also, if you have a way of passing this on to past members of our SLRA, we would greatly appreciate it. Please pass this on to them, and if possible pass on their contact info to Dan Welling as well.
Blessings and Thanks for helping us to remember and honor Bruce for his continuing legacy of our SLRA.
Darrell Weber - SLRA Secretary, NAR 103676, L2, TRA 17763, L2
SLRA will hold their first ever night launch at Buder Park Saturday June 26th, 2021, starting at 6:00 pm and going till possibly 11:00 pm. Attaching glo sticks to the outside of a rocket is easy. And some rockets have a clear payload tube in which to put glo sticks. Or come up with your own unique way of illuminating your rocket. So come and enjoy the sights of Night launched rockets.
Keep your eye on the weather as 40% chance of rain could scrub the event.
If the sky is clear, Heino Pull will bring his telescope for viewing of the night sky. Venus and Mars are low on the Western horizon. And the Moon and Saturn rise on the Eastern horizon around 10:40 pm.
Launch pads are usually set up in the southeast corner of the park, but this may change based on wind direction and other activities nearby.
Anyone who is a current, paid member of the National Association of Rocketry or Tripoli Rocketry Association is welcome to participate. Due to insurance regulations, those who are not a member of one of the two national organizations will need to have a NAR or Tripoli member inspect and fly their rockets for them. Non-members will also be asked to sign a liability release. If you wish to fly your own rockets, please be prepared to show your NAR or Tripoli membership card, or a receipt of payment if you are a new member who has not yet received a card.
Please note that these launches may be cancelled for a number of reasons, notably: weather conditions (rain, high wind), park conditions (mud, flooding), or scheduling conflicts (another group’s use of the park makes it impossible to safely launch, or not enough SLRA members are available to run the launch). Please check the “current launch status” on the front page of our website, https://www.stlouisrocketry.com, before making your way to the park. Also, the number of people in attendance has a bearing on how long the range stays open.
Buder Park launches are conducted under the NAR safety code as “Class 1” rocket launches. Class 1 launches carry the following restrictions:
Rockets must weigh less than 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) at liftoff, including propellant.
Rockets must contain no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant – this includes most motors up through G class (although see the note below regarding high-altitude launches). Only certified, commercial motors are allowed.
Rockets must be made of wood, paper, or breakable plastic, and contain no substantial metal parts.
Rockets must employ a recovery system such as a parachute, streamer, helicopter, glide, tumble or featherweight recovery
Decisions of the LCO (launch control officer) and RSO (range safety officer) are final with respect to these restrictions and safety in general. Our goal is safety for everyone involved.
The total size of Buder Park is approximately 2100 x 1200 feet, which according to the Model Rocket Safety Code is large enough to fly a G motor rocket. However, please keep in mind that we are usually not the only users of the park – we share it with radio control aircraft flyers, archers, sports teams, joggers, and many others. Also, the perimeter of the park is lined with very tall trees, and just beyond the north treeline you will find the Meramec River. Have some idea of how high your rocket is expected to go before you launch, keep the wind conditions in mind, and use common sense. Experienced SLRA members will be happy to advise you to make sure your rocket is safe and likely to be recoverable.
Finally, please remember to take adequate precautions in hot weather – use sunscreen and bring water or sports drinks to stay hydrated. One nice thing about Buder Park is that there is plenty of shade around the edges of the field, so please take shelter from the sun when you need to.