Any annual events in Australia ?

[samb]

A thought occurred to me while enjoying my Sunday morning coffee: I need to plan a bucket-list trip to Oz. Then I thought it would be nice to attend a rocket launch as well. Are there any annual events like Airfest or LDRS in that part of the world ?

 

[manixFan]

I heard rumors of a big launch next fall – 2024. If it happens, I already know a handful of flyers who are very interested in going. Hopefully we’ll hear more now that you’ve asked.


Tony

 

[OverTheTop]

There have been a few in the past. Thunda Downunder was held 4.5 hours west of Brisbane in 2015 and 2019. Not sure we will get another of those anytime soon as Blake is busy with his aerospace company.

Williams "Wildfire" Westernationals was held in Western Australia a few times. Not sure when the next is going to happen there either.

Motors are a big problem down here currently. Pricing is horrendous. That would put many people off. Prices on last order were H motors starting at $AUD87, K550 at $AUD420 and N1000W at $AUD3145 (plus a bit more because SDL is required for shipping).

There are quite a few clubs around the country so you could just attend one of their launches. Details on Tripoli website, or ask here .

 

[samb]

What club do you fly with @OverTheTop ?

 

[OzHybrid]

Hi Sam,
Here's the link to Tripoli New South Wales, nswrocketry. In Australia, fire season goes from September ish to March ish and generally there are no launches then. But it depends on the location. Australia is roughly the same land mass as the US. So there's a bit of seasonal variation depending on the location.

https://nswrocketry.org.au/launch-info/

 

[OverTheTop]

What club do you fly with @OverTheTop ?

https://www.victorianrocketry.org.au/
The HPR launches are at Serpentine, about 2-2.5 hours out of Melbourne. Waiver is good to 25k'.
We have another site with a much lower waiver for smaller flights, Drouin, which is a bit closer to Melbourne.

 

[spigalau]

Not Australia, but just across the ditch in New Zealand.

https://sites.google.com/view/nzrocketry/events/national-launch-day
NZRA National Launch Day - March 3, 2024.

 

[samb]

Across the ditch huh... nice! I guess if I make it to the southern hemisphere I'm in the neighborhood, right ?

 

[OzHybrid]

Not Australia, but just across the ditch in New Zealand.

https://sites.google.com/view/nzrocketry/events/national-launch-day
NZRA National Launch Day - March 3, 2024.

Whats your AGL. launch limit for that

 

[spigalau]

Whats your AGL. launch limit for that

Regular site waiver is 9500' but we have had approvals for heights a lot higher than that.
At last NLD we had several flights booked for 30K.
The UoC team used it as a test for their winning 30K SpacePort entry.

 

[BrendanH69]

Regular site waiver is 9500' but we have had approvals for heights a lot higher than that.
At last NLD we had several flights booked for 30K.
The UoC team used it as a test for their winning 30K SpacePort entry.

Open to visiting Aussie flyers?

 

[spigalau]

Open to visiting Aussie flyers?

As long as there's no 'under arm' bowling... yes we do have regular flyers over from Aussie.

 

[OverTheTop]

 

[samb]

As long as there's no 'under arm' bowling... yes we do have regular flyers over from Aussie.

Cricket reference ?

 

[OverTheTop]

Cricket reference ?

Yes is the short answer.

 

[OverTheTop]

Long answer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underarm_bowling_incident_of_1981
It takes the kiwis a long time to forget

 

[BrendanH69]

Hmmmm ... could be a good name for a visiting Oz rocket .... "Under Armed"

 

[bad_idea]

Not Australia, but just across the ditch in New Zealand.

https://sites.google.com/view/nzrocketry/events/national-launch-day
NZRA National Launch Day - March 3, 2024.

I see on the Havoc in the Paddock page that TRA certs were recognized for that launch. Is that true of other NZRA launches? (Unlikely I'd make it over from the States next year, but maybe someday.)

 

[Ethan]

I see on the Havoc in the Paddock page that TRA certs were recognized for that launch. Is that true of other NZRA launches? (Unlikely I'd make it over from the States next year, but maybe someday.)

Hi Stephen - yes we do recognize certifications from TRA, NAR etc. We're hoping to formalize some sort of cross-approval this year so we can come over there, but in the meantime, you are more than welcome to join us!

Ethan

 

[bad_idea]

Thanks, Ethan. Good to know. Hope I can make it down to launch with you sometime (and with your neighbors across the strait too). Also hope that two-way recognition works out, but in the meantime, I'm sure your members would have plenty of folk willing to be flyer of record for them at a US launch.

 

[spigalau]

Thanks, Ethan. Good to know. Hope I can make it down to launch with you sometime (and with your neighbors across the strait too). Also hope that two-way recognition works out, but in the meantime, I'm sure your members would have plenty of folk willing to be flyer of record for them at a US launch.

lol - you do realize that this is one of Ethans birds...



Ethan in red shorts doing the project orchestration...

 

[bad_idea]

lol - you do realize that this is one of Ethans birds...

View attachment 605254

Ethan in red shorts doing the project orchestration...

I would love, love, love to see that thing fly.

 

[spigalau]

Well book for flights to be here Q1/2025...

 

[Splinter]

As long as there's no 'under arm' bowling...

Or sandpaper!