marclee
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- Joined
- Aug 14, 2001
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An interesting thing happened to me yesterday:
In the area where I live, rocket-flying fields are basically nonexistent. Lucerne Dry Lake (a popular launch site where the ROC launches are held) is 2 hours away. There is nothing else that's legal, and getting chased by police helicopters can get old.
Our local athletic/park field is privately owned by our association (do you guys have those in the midwest?) and EVERYTHING is illegal there. It's even posted in 6-inch letters, "NO MODEL AIRPLANES/ROCKETS/ETC."
I decided to try something. I approached the full-time security guard (no I'm not kidding- we have one of those) with my box of rockets. I sat down as he was writing "reports" (of what I don't know- gophers? dry grass? kids peeing in the pool?).
I said, "I would like to ask your permission to use this field to launch these model rockets. I know it's probably not allowed, but my kids are with me and I would just like to shoot a couple off. Nothing huge, just some afternoon family fun. What would you say to that?"
He looked at me, then the rockets, then me again and paused for about 10 seconds ( a long time). My wife was in the car with her eyes hidden so as not to laugh to hard at my nerdiness...
He then said, (and I quote), "Sure, but only if I can watch you do it. It would be the most fun I've had in weeks..." !!!!???
After I closed my gaping mouth (and trying hard to resist the temptation of bowing down and exclaiming, "I Love You."), I parked the car and started to set the pad and rockets up. We had a glorious afternoon launching c-motor rockets with no CATO's or mishaps.
My point is that sometimes, even if it's "illegal" or "prohibited" or whatever, sometimes...just asking will get us what we want. It turned out that about 20 onlookers came, sat down on the grass and watched as I launched everything from an Estes Redstone to a scratch-built. The ooo's and aaaa's were great. The upside is that he said he'd be happy to allow me permission any afternoon he works the park.
The point is sometimes it IS easier to ask for permission. And not everybody is against rockets. Here was a seemingly impossible request and he said YES and I gained a new place to launch! Just thought I'd share that with you all...My wife still can't believe it.
Marc
In the area where I live, rocket-flying fields are basically nonexistent. Lucerne Dry Lake (a popular launch site where the ROC launches are held) is 2 hours away. There is nothing else that's legal, and getting chased by police helicopters can get old.
Our local athletic/park field is privately owned by our association (do you guys have those in the midwest?) and EVERYTHING is illegal there. It's even posted in 6-inch letters, "NO MODEL AIRPLANES/ROCKETS/ETC."
I decided to try something. I approached the full-time security guard (no I'm not kidding- we have one of those) with my box of rockets. I sat down as he was writing "reports" (of what I don't know- gophers? dry grass? kids peeing in the pool?).
I said, "I would like to ask your permission to use this field to launch these model rockets. I know it's probably not allowed, but my kids are with me and I would just like to shoot a couple off. Nothing huge, just some afternoon family fun. What would you say to that?"
He looked at me, then the rockets, then me again and paused for about 10 seconds ( a long time). My wife was in the car with her eyes hidden so as not to laugh to hard at my nerdiness...
He then said, (and I quote), "Sure, but only if I can watch you do it. It would be the most fun I've had in weeks..." !!!!???
After I closed my gaping mouth (and trying hard to resist the temptation of bowing down and exclaiming, "I Love You."), I parked the car and started to set the pad and rockets up. We had a glorious afternoon launching c-motor rockets with no CATO's or mishaps.
My point is that sometimes, even if it's "illegal" or "prohibited" or whatever, sometimes...just asking will get us what we want. It turned out that about 20 onlookers came, sat down on the grass and watched as I launched everything from an Estes Redstone to a scratch-built. The ooo's and aaaa's were great. The upside is that he said he'd be happy to allow me permission any afternoon he works the park.
The point is sometimes it IS easier to ask for permission. And not everybody is against rockets. Here was a seemingly impossible request and he said YES and I gained a new place to launch! Just thought I'd share that with you all...My wife still can't believe it.
Marc