eduncan911
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2016
- Messages
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How do I find a local launch site for low-powered rockets for ~100-500 feet? Think Estes starter rockets on A and B class motors.
Up here in NY Dutchess County, I am finding it extremely difficult to obtain permission from anyone. Schools, parking lots, etc.
The nearest local NAR club that has an active webpage is 4+ hours away!
/TL;DR
Back in the mid-80s, I recall walking down to the local High School and launching a rocket off the backup non-maintained football field. The groundskeeper came out and ran me off, saying I'd hurt the grass. My Estes Shuttle remained dormant for a few years, until Shop Class let us build rockets and fly them - I brought in the shuttle, and it did not eject in time - crashing landing and destroying the model.
Skip ahead 30+ years....
Now my 5 year old daughter has caught the model rocket bug. We've built 2 so far and she's loving it.
I called a local park's offices and left a message - no one responded all week. I drove into a local Park and asked to speak to a manager or someone else about the park policies. The ones I spoke to said, "Yes, model rockets should be fine. Just be safe and don't do it around others." So we flew 6 times and went home.
The next day I call back about my model rocket message I left earlier - they said they "do NOT allow model rockets. So, um, yeah sorry about that."
Talking with the local hobby store, they said they have launched them from local High School football fields in the past (10 years ago, don't launch any more they say). I've driven into 3 local High Schools, and 2 of them said NO while the other was just closed off from public access.
Talking with a local private school that has "Rocket Camp" during the summer, i was told they go down to another local park to launch them. That park they are talking about is tiny... Just 2 Junior League baseball fields. The "Rocket Camp" is for 5 to 10 year olds - so the rockets are small, and 1/2A-powered.
Using Google Maps I found a huge unattended field, around 100 acres of high grass except for a 2x football field sized area. When zooming in, I can see Model Airplanes on Google Maps! So I went driving by there and when driving onto the private road, I saw the house the land was registered to. I knocked on the door and left a message; no response in two weeks.
Where do I go?!?
The next time we move, I think I am know what I am looking for...
Up here in NY Dutchess County, I am finding it extremely difficult to obtain permission from anyone. Schools, parking lots, etc.
The nearest local NAR club that has an active webpage is 4+ hours away!
/TL;DR
Back in the mid-80s, I recall walking down to the local High School and launching a rocket off the backup non-maintained football field. The groundskeeper came out and ran me off, saying I'd hurt the grass. My Estes Shuttle remained dormant for a few years, until Shop Class let us build rockets and fly them - I brought in the shuttle, and it did not eject in time - crashing landing and destroying the model.
Skip ahead 30+ years....
Now my 5 year old daughter has caught the model rocket bug. We've built 2 so far and she's loving it.
I called a local park's offices and left a message - no one responded all week. I drove into a local Park and asked to speak to a manager or someone else about the park policies. The ones I spoke to said, "Yes, model rockets should be fine. Just be safe and don't do it around others." So we flew 6 times and went home.
The next day I call back about my model rocket message I left earlier - they said they "do NOT allow model rockets. So, um, yeah sorry about that."
Talking with the local hobby store, they said they have launched them from local High School football fields in the past (10 years ago, don't launch any more they say). I've driven into 3 local High Schools, and 2 of them said NO while the other was just closed off from public access.
Talking with a local private school that has "Rocket Camp" during the summer, i was told they go down to another local park to launch them. That park they are talking about is tiny... Just 2 Junior League baseball fields. The "Rocket Camp" is for 5 to 10 year olds - so the rockets are small, and 1/2A-powered.
Using Google Maps I found a huge unattended field, around 100 acres of high grass except for a 2x football field sized area. When zooming in, I can see Model Airplanes on Google Maps! So I went driving by there and when driving onto the private road, I saw the house the land was registered to. I knocked on the door and left a message; no response in two weeks.
Where do I go?!?
The next time we move, I think I am know what I am looking for...
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