2018 National Sport Launch (NSL)

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This goes out to everyone who is planning on bringing an RV to the field. First and most important, please PM me and let me know the size of your RV or trailer, and when you plan to arrive. We need to have an idea as to how many we can expect.

These are some rules and guidelines.

1. All RVs must be self-contained. There are no electric, water, or sewer hookups.
2. Absolutely no tents.
3. To burn a fire - You must have a raised outdoor fireplace (MARS has one and it will most likely be used...a lot). No fires on the ground.
4. NEW YORK STATE LAW... All firewood must be purchased locally by a retail firewood vendor. You may not bring your own. You cannot bring it in from out of state. When you buy firewood (Byrne Dairy has it as does Wegmans, and Walmart), KEEP YOUR RECEIPT UNTIL ALL YOUR FIREWOOD IS BURNED! This is critical to show proof of local purchase. You can be arrested and possibly removed from the field in handcuffs (I've seen this happen) if you cannot show proof of local purchase. At the very least, you are subject to some heavy fines.
5. We are asking that no RV park closer than 250' to the flight line. You can set a separate easy-up closer if you want, but considering the value of some of these, we want to make sure the risks are reduced and we also want to make sure that views up close are not blocked.
6. We need to make sure that there is a clear path from the museum through the middle of our gathering to the flight line. We want to keep the fire department happy. RVs cannot be in the way.
7. If you are planning to arrive Friday, please be there by 730 PM (before sunset). This is a great field, but it does have surprises and if you are not familiar with it, it can bite you. It would be even better if you arrived in time to help set up.
8. The general parking plan for RVs will be to have them line up behind each other in rows lined up north to south. with the front of each RV facing north. That way your main doors and awnings should be facing east. You will pull in behind the nearest RV in front of you, leaving about 10' to 15' between units. (New York law is a minimum of 5' between camping units). When one row fills up, we will start the next row farther away from the flight line. Rows between each line will be about 30' or so wide. That way when you leave, you just pull forward and when you get to the end of the row, turn left toward the museum, follow the path, and get back on the road. No one should need to back up.
9. This is carry-in-carry-out. Please take all your garbage with you.
10. PLEASE make a generous donation to the museum as a way to say thanks for letting us camp here. Camping at this field is relatively new for us, so anything we can do to let the museum be comfortable with it will help us in the future for both NAR and NYPower events. They will have a display at the field during the launch.

Thanks.
 
Do you know if Ms. Belle is airworthy?

(Is she still being overhauled?)

Movie Memphis Belle is airworthy. She'll be at the Niagara Falls air show on June 9-10, but has nothing scheduled during NSL, so she'll hopefully be in attendance.
 
you can bring APCL into the US, you cannot bring it into Canada..

(Thanks BATF ruling!!)

And I confirmed that composite motors are fine as long as they're for personal use with both my brother-in-law (who is one of those border guys) as well as during my interview for the NEXUS trusted traveler program.

Chris
 
Movie Memphis Belle is airworthy. She'll be at the Niagara Falls air show on June 9-10, but has nothing scheduled during NSL, so she'll hopefully be in attendance.

We should see a lot of Whiskey-7 since she has a couple traditional Memorial Day fly-overs. They generally get her out and test her for these flights. Plus there will be a couple other planes that will do fly-overs or escort W-7. The Movie Belle is a little iffy because she is hangared elsewhere, but comes here for service.

BTW - Today is the last day to register online and get BOGO raffle tickets.
 
I hate to disagree with Evan but the Movie Bell is hangered in Geneseo, at least for the next several years. She is currently finishing a winter tour in the warm weather.
She is scheduled to return to the NWM in the next few days, Hopefully should be giving rides.. NOT Cheap for a ride on that plane though!!
 
I hate to disagree with Evan but the Movie Bell is hangered in Geneseo, at least for the next several years. She is currently finishing a winter tour in the warm weather.
She is scheduled to return to the NWM in the next few days, Hopefully should be giving rides.. NOT Cheap for a ride on that plane though!!

I cheerfully stand corrected.
 
Your always soo Cheerful...
In your line of work its cheerful of death..
 
I should mention the Movie Bell is in Dayton with 2 other B17's


32679707_10156008300201072_7547809585633951744_n.jpg
 
So let's see some NSL projects! This is my Big @$$ Alpha. Successful ground test today meant I could paint it. I have the e-bay and decals left to go. Mark Hayes set me up with some cool vinyls of the original configuration in the 1967 catalog.

Painted.jpg
 
It's still a week away, but rain is in the forecast for all 3 days. Let's hope that changes.
 
I was checking the forecast this morning and saw this too. I guess there's nothing to do but keep our fingers crossed.

There are predictions of thunderstorms late in the day Sat and Sun. UV index is very high, however, and that suggests there will be a lot of sun. 13WHAM.com suggests that Saturday will be sunny and hot. Accuweather says possible late PM showers on Sat. and Sun with clouds early Monday then sunny later in the AM. Those two resources I have found to be far more accurate than Weather.com.

'Tis the season. We will still be flying. Might have to dodge a raindrop or two, but that will be short.
 
We’re getting close to NSL and some of you are most likely on the road. Here are some alternative highways and routed to consider.

If you are coming from Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, and even parts of SE Georgia, consider coming up I-77 instead of I-75. You will miss the major construction on I-75 through Atlanta and it is actually take about 3 less hours to drive from Tampa to Cleveland that way. Drive from Tampa, up 75 to Ocala then cut NE on 301 to I-95, I-26, then I-77 through Charlotte than to go through I-75. That way the only major city you have to encounter really is Charlotte, vs. Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Columbus.

If you are taking that route, you can cut up I-79 from Charleston, WV to Erie, PA as well. While you drive just west of Pittsburgh, you miss downtown, and you also miss Akron where there is construction, and I-271 around Cleveland where there is construction and congestion. I have driven that stretch of I-271 for the past 15 years. There has never NOT been construction on that stretch of road. It must be a hobby to the state of Ohio.

If you are headed east across I-90, consider taking I-86 which veers off I-90 just before you cross into NY from PA. From there you can either meet I-390 or just before it if you aren’t towing a huge trailer, you can take SR 36 from Arkport to Dansville, NY and meet I-390 there. This however is a 2-lane winding road and takes you up over a hill (if you’re from CO…mountain if you are from FL) then back down.
Coming from NC, Virginia, DC and MD, consider taking US Hwy 15 across PA (which later becomes I-99). It meets I-86 near Corning, NY and from there it is west to I’390 and up. You will miss I-81 traffic through Wilkes-Barre and Scranton as well as the mess to the west of Philly.

Coming from Boston, Hartford, and other points east, consider Taking I-88 to SR 17 (“future I-86” – Interstate quality highway) to I-86, to I-390. You will miss Syracuse and you should save a little time.

Coming from Colorado Southern IL, and other points west, avoid Indianapolis if you can. Some of the worst drivers in the country are there, and they all seem to come out at once.

Coming from MI, parts of Northern IN, and Chicagoland, if everyone in the car has their passport or an enhanced license, you are not carrying any AP, and just a few BP motors (6 is the max, I believe), you can save up to 2.5 hours if you cross the International Bridge in Detroit (or cross in Pt. Huron if you are farther north) and take the 401-403-434-405 across Southern Ontario and over to the Peace Bridge in Niagara Falls. Just remember, you must to go through customs into Canada, and back into the US.

Driving Alternatives.jpg Driving Alternatives 2.jpg
Drive safely, and we’ll see you this weekend.
 
It's still a week away, but rain is in the forecast for all 3 days. Let's hope that changes.

What other "profession" can you be wrong MOST of the time and still get paid crazy money, AND people think your smart!

Just now they are calling for 40% chance of Spotty showers, but mostly sun and clouds??? WHAT??

Weather Guessers! They called for rain last year at NYPOWER a few out of towner's skipped and it was GLORIOUS! Their LOSE!

Funny I looked at the weather again and now its 20% chance of spotty showers on Saturday... 5 minutes LATER!
 
What other "profession" can you be wrong MOST of the time and still get paid crazy money, AND people think your smart!

Just now they are calling for 40% chance of Spotty showers, but mostly sun and clouds??? WHAT??

Weather Guessers! They called for rain last year at NYPOWER a few out of towner's skipped and it was GLORIOUS! Their LOSE!

Funny I looked at the weather again and now its 20% chance of spotty showers on Saturday... 5 minutes LATER!

National Weather Service forecast for Geneseo.
 
The last coats of finish are dry.

The rockets are ready.

The car is packed. We leave Boston for the drive to upstate NY tomorrow. Can't wait!

Bill hit the nail on the head about the weather forecasts. Similar "gloom and doom" was predicted for NYPOWER21 last May and it all turned out fine. Someone told us last year that you can't trust the forecasts, and you can't even believe the radar when it shows weather coming-in to this area, as "the lake often just swallows-up the weather before it gets here." They were right! NYPOWER21 was great...Glad we ignored the weathermen and just made the trip. Expecting similar luck this time for NSL.

Safe travels to all the folks making the trip out to Geneseo. Looking forward to a big weekend of burning lots of BP and AP!
 
Weather Underground, part of the miltitary-industrial-complex, owned by IBM. AI-controlled forecast, optimized to influence public behavior for the highest bidder, government or capitalist.

Shhhhhsh
 
I have found that Accuweather is the most accurate. We might dodge some raindrops late in the day, but the UV predictions are still "Very high" and that means lots of sun.

My camping trailer is all packed. I make the 45-minute drive from Penfield in the AM to help set up. Then I drive back to Penfield to get my rockets. My car is packed with NSL prizes. Since I am the treasurer of MARS, I am approving the purchase of firewood so that all who arrive on the field by Friday evening and intend to camp, as well as those who have taken hotels can gather around the fire and get to know each other before all Hell breaks loose Saturday morning.
 
Where? I am at Econo Lodge Henrietta
Since you guys have arrived and have time to kill, partake in some wonderful food.

Highly suggest Steve T's -- get the garbage plate. Won't be disappointed. Probably a 20 min drive from Henrietta... I used to take the zippy route to Steve T's so probably not best to suggest that to visitors to town... Google Maps will suit you well.
 
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