AIRFEST XXIII

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Listen up ... AIRFest 23 Pre-Registration ends on August 14, 2017. Period.

Don't miss out on a nice discount and a guarantee of getting a t-shirt. We will run out. If you're bringing guests, sign them up for the Saturday Burger Blast. Where else can you eat for $5.00?

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On-line only you can pay with a credit card (via Paypal) and the check-in process at the field is a piece of cake.

Go to https://www.kloudbusters.org/airfest/ Click on Registration

Don't delay, register today so you don't forget. Pre-registration ends soon. Really soon.

Also, we need Range Duty volunteers. Don't make me send Terry looking for you. Seriously, this is going to be a huge launch and we need your help. If each flyer takes a shift or two, there's still plenty of time over the weekend to get all your flights in. We truly appreciate everyone who volunteers and all volunteers will go into the vendor raffle.

Go to https://www.kloudbusters.org/airfest/ Click on Volunteers

Thanks, --Lance.
KLOUDBusters
 
I'd like to donate to the raffle for volunteers Lance...
And any other raffle you're having as well...

Teddy
 
Camping question - this is my first trip to the rocket pasture and really going to get the full experience by tent camping with my boys, hmm.

1. Are fires allowed (cooking)
2. Is the area for parking / camping mowed?
3. Any tips are tricks? . Besides a hotel :)
4. How far to nearest town / general convenient store

Thanks
 
Camping question - this is my first trip to the rocket pasture and really going to get the full experience by tent camping with my boys, hmm.

1. Are fires allowed (cooking)
2. Is the area for parking / camping mowed?
3. Any tips are tricks? . Besides a hotel :)
4. How far to nearest town / general convenient store

Thanks

1. fires must be in a metal enclosure like a fire pit. https://www.kloudbusters.org/airfest/camping.aspx
2. Depends on the spot some is mowed usually but the farther away from RSO/LCO it will be a little taller.
3. I camp in my trailer every year. Depends on the weather. It has been unusually cool so far this August. Plan on some jackets for evening if it is cooler. Of course in 2013 it was 105+ during the day and upper 90's at night. This summer hasn't been overly hot. We will see. Look up Argonia, Ks on Weather.com before you come for a forecast. Surprisingly bugs are not an issue normally. Bring lots of water or plan to get some.
4. Anthony is 17 miles away. The Argonia Mart is closed and for sale currently. Also in Wellington about 25-30 miles away has a Walmart.

Bob or Lance may have other suggestions too.
 
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It's really breezy and dry Nick...
Like Dave said,,,
lots of water to drink for you and your boys...

Teddy
 
1. fires must be in a metal enclosure like a fire pit. https://www.kloudbusters.org/airfest/camping.aspx
2. Depends on the spot some is mowed usually but the farther away from RSO/LCO it will be a little taller.
3. I camp in my trailer every year. Depends on the weather. It has been unusually cool so far this August. Plan on some jackets for evening if it is cooler. Of course in 2013 it was 105+ during the day and upper 90's at night. This summer hasn't been overly hot. We will see. Look up Argonia, Ks on Weather.com before you come for a forecast. Surprisingly bugs are not an issue normally. Bring lots of water or plan to get some.
4. Anthony is 17 miles away. The Argonia Mart is closed and for sale currently. Also in Wellington about 25-30 miles away has a Walmart.

Bob or Lance may have other suggestions too.
Nick,
Dave did a good job answering your questions. I'd like to expound a bit on the first question. Fires for cooking. You (and everyone else) will need to be extra vigilant when it comes to open flames in the parking area. The field that you will camp in is an unimproved pasture. It have been mowed and baled so you can expect to see "grass" that looks to be a couple of inches high in your campsite. When we were down there last week, this grass was very dry. We all will need to be extra careful not to set the pasture on fire. With that said, if you have a camp stove, you probably would be better served using it.
Bob
 
One more thing!
Over the past 4 weeks or so we have been going through the high altitude requests. To date, we have approved over 840,000' of requests. I don't think I've missed any but if you are still waiting on an approval from us, please send me another email!
We are less than three weeks out. The pre-registration numbers are through the roof! The field and all of our launch equipment is ready! What are we missing/short of? The short answer is volunteers. If you are coming, please volunteer for at least one shift. It helps us out immensely and gets you enrolled in the volunteer raffle for lots of cool merchandise.
See you on the Rocket Pasture,
Bob
 
WOW! Looking at the Preregistration, here is where people are coming from to visit the Argonia Rocket Pasture:

Map.jpg
 
Wow,, that's really cool to see that way..
I'm surprised at the white states in the east..
There are a lot of seriously cool clubs and flyers / people...
So Carolina,, No Carolina,, Delaware....
That's quite surprising...

Very cool to see in this format though...
Would you please keep updating it ??

Teddy
 
Nick most folks camp on the back row. You'll find RV's and all size of tents and trailers there. The sooner you arrive the closer you can get to the flight line.
 
Mind you the map above is based on the Preregistration list. It does not include those who at the last minute can't take it anymore, throw the rocket gear in the car/truck, and set the GPS to Argonia, USA.
 
WOW! Looking at the Preregistration, here is where people are coming from to visit the Argonia Rocket Pasture:
Well I'm originally from S.D. so you could color that at least a little green. I'll be there for the duration.


Tony
 
Thx for the camping suggestions everyone - we do have a camping stove , so no need for sparkies at cooking time.

I'm thankful for the cooler than normal temps, hope they hold out. Hope to meet several of you at the rocket pasture! Only able to hit 4 launches this year and this will be the biggest trip.

Only 6 planned flights for our camp
2- Mini AGM on G80's ( Sat my boys)
Ultimate QCC - O3400 (Sunday morning first thing when Gus arrives)
54MD - K675 or 535 - Sat
4" QCC - K675 or 535- Sat
MAC P Firestick XL tbt but want to try a Loki 54 depending on budget - Sat or Sun
 
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One more thing!

We are less than three weeks out. The pre-registration numbers are through the roof! The field and all of our launch equipment is ready! What are we missing/short of? The short answer is volunteers. If you are coming, please volunteer for at least one shift. It helps us out immensely and gets you enrolled in the volunteer raffle for lots of cool merchandise.
See you on the Rocket Pasture,
Bob

Sharon and I volunteered for a couple of slots on Sunday. We are hoping to arrive on Thursday early enough to help set up the range also. Really looking forward to this launch! Thanks for all you do Bob, and all the other Kloudbuster gang.
I have a question regarding the dry conditions, are we going to be able to fly sparkies? I have a K540 metalstorm and an L1250 dark matter.
 
Sharon and I volunteered for a couple of slots on Sunday. We are hoping to arrive on Thursday early enough to help set up the range also. Really looking forward to this launch! Thanks for all you do Bob, and all the other Kloudbuster gang.
I have a question regarding the dry conditions, are we going to be able to fly sparkies? I have a K540 metalstorm and an L1250 dark matter.
Wayne,
Yep, you'll be allowed to fly sparkies. The only rule we have for sparkles is that they must fly from the pads set up out in the dirt (60's or 70's) regardless of impulse.
Bob
 
I just received an interesting email from the FAA. Peter Cadra from VA is bringing a monster of a rocket that will be powered by a cluster of 5 N motors putting it in the P impulse range. The email I received was his executed Certificate of Authorization. I want to say thank you to Kent Newman and all his folks for putting together the application and PJ and Rodney for moving it quickly through the FAA system! If you are still sitting on the fence about attending AirFest, here's a very good reason to join us over the Labor Day weekend down on the Rocket Pasture!
 
I just received an interesting email from the FAA. Peter Cadra from VA is bringing a monster of a rocket that will be powered by a cluster of 5 N motors putting it in the P impulse range. The email I received was his executed Certificate of Authorization. I want to say thank you to Kent Newman and all his folks for putting together the application and PJ and Rodney for moving it quickly through the FAA system! If you are still sitting on the fence about attending AirFest, here's a very good reason to join us over the Labor Day weekend down on the Rocket Pasture!

Thanks for all the effort to make this launch what it is, and as for that flight...:horse::horse::horse::horse::horse::horse:
 
I just received an interesting email from the FAA. Peter Cadra from VA is bringing a monster of a rocket that will be powered by a cluster of 5 N motors putting it in the P impulse range. The email I received was his executed Certificate of Authorization. I want to say thank you to Kent Newman and all his folks for putting together the application and PJ and Rodney for moving it quickly through the FAA system! If you are still sitting on the fence about attending AirFest, here's a very good reason to join us over the Labor Day weekend down on the Rocket Pasture!

Makes me want to say Hmmm !!!
Could we get a bit more info. on the monster of a rocket?
 
Yeowza! Any idea what day Peter plans to fly? That'll be a pretty awesome flight!

-Kevin
 
Yeowza! Any idea what day Peter plans to fly? That'll be a pretty awesome flight!

-Kevin
Much like your projects "30 minutes from now!" Truthfully, no idea. If I were him I would want to see the weather/wind forecast before making that decision.
 
Makes me want to say Hmmm !!!
Could we get a bit more info. on the monster of a rocket?

Here's what the owner sent me a while ago "My BFR is just under 24 ft tall with the airframe transitioning from 16" to 12". It will weigh around 375lbs and be powered by 5 LOKI Blue reloads producing around 55K ns."
 
Wayne,
Yep, you'll be allowed to fly sparkies. The only rule we have for sparkles is that they must fly from the pads set up out in the dirt (60's or 70's) regardless of impulse.
Bob

Yeah, I remember that rule. First year we came, I had an Estes Executioner with a G75 Metalstorm. Hiked out to the 60's pads and set it up next to a guy loading a 2 stage. The only way I could tell where my rocket was, it was right next to this huge 12 ft. rocket. Learned my lesson, if you're gonna fly a sparkie, make it a BIG sparkie.

Here's what the owner sent me a while ago "My BFR is just under 24 ft tall with the airframe transitioning from 16" to 12". It will weigh around 375lbs and be powered by 5 LOKI Blue reloads producing around 55K ns."

Ok, 5 LOKI "N" motors.... Don't you have to get special dispensation from the Pope for that? Someone needs to give God a "heads up" for that flight, right?
 
Is there any information on frequency allocations and procedures for the different kinds of trackers? I am a new TeleGPS owner and would like to be as prepared as possible for my L3 certification attempt.

David
 
Is there any information on frequency allocations and procedures for the different kinds of trackers? I am a new TeleGPS owner and would like to be as prepared as possible for my L3 certification attempt.

David
David,
We do not track nor try to control tracker frequencies. We have tried in the past and there are always a lot of folks who do as they please. My only advice to you is to get off the default frequency. Those are always messed up.
Bob
 
David,
We do not track nor try to control tracker frequencies. We have tried in the past and there are always a lot of folks who do as they please. My only advice to you is to get off the default frequency. Those are always messed up.
Bob

Bob,

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll keep this in mind. I've got some other good advice, too, so I'll be as ready as possible.

David.
 
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