Rock Lake 21 - Official Updates

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Dipstick

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Hi everyone, I'll use this thread for updates from the LRA. If you have questions, I'll be happy to answer.

ROCK LAKE 21 - June 28-30, 2019

Lethbridge Rocketry Association (LRA) and the Canadian Association of Rocketry (CAR/ACF) are pleased to bring you the annual Rock Lake Launch that occurs in late June or early July each year. This 3 day event has grown to become one of the largest launches in Canada and its location enables flights that cannot occur in many other places. Standard ceilings of 20,000 ft AGL with windows to 50,000 or greater are possible.

This launch is held under CAR/ACF rules and all fliers must be members. Memberships can be obtained on site and there are many membership options to choose from. See the info from CAR/ACF below:

Type
Conditions Fee
Senior Over 18 on Jan 01 ---$65 per year
Junior under 18 before Jan 01 ---$15 per year
Family No limit to the amount of children ---$80 per year
Trade Rocket related suppliers and retail stores ---$65 per year

LAUNCH SITE/LOCATION DETAILS:
https://lethbridgerocketry.com/rock-lake

VENDORS:
-The only vendor we typically expect at the launch site, and usually limited to Saturday, is an individual selling model kits, Estes motors, and Aerotech mid-power with some high power available. Contact us for details.

-High Power motors must be preordered and brought to the launch site. The typical dealer is https://www.sunwardhobbies.ca/ (CTI) or https://www.allrockets.ca/ (Aerotech).


COMPETITIONS:
We will be hosting a number of competitions that will align with the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 flight and moon landing!

Contest 1 – Altitude

As this is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, and the moon will be approximately 364,000 KM from the earth at perigee around the dates of Rock Lake, we will be having two altitude contests.

A-G motors: Altitude to reach is 364 feet. Use your Jolly Logic or Estes altimeter to measure. Closest flight to that altitude on ANY model motor, will win a prize.

Highpower motors: Altitude to reach is 3640 feet. Use any reporting altimeter to measure. Closest flight to that altitude on ANY motor, will win a prize.

Contest 2 – Lander

Continuing in our Apollo 11 theme, we will have a contest for ANY lander of ANY scale. Object will be to land closest to the pin, but we will have a point structure that will encompass impulse landing location, landing upright, and other factors to allow ALL motor classes to compete together. Break out your stock or upscaled Mars Lander, Mars Snooper, Soviet Lander, Starship Vega, and Outlander. Or, maybe you have a great custom design that you want to use. The only rule is that it must have legs!
 
Things get better! We have received some great prizes and wish to thank a couple sponsors now. I can promise it is worth your time trying to win some of these contests :)

Any other companies interested in sponsoring the event, please send me a pm. You get some free advertising out of the deal.

https://www.lethbridgerocketry.com/news-events
 
Anyone thinking of going from BC? I've always wanted to attend, but flying into Calgary or Lethbridge will not work, as I'd have to leave rockets and motors behind. Driving from the coast might take a while but...

Is it feasible to commute to Rock Lake daily from lethbridge, or is it more fun to stay on site?
If staying on site, would tenting be horrible, or not too bad?

Hutch
 
Vancouver to Lethbridge is ,. what, an 10-12 hr drive? And along one of Canada's prettiest stretch of road: Crows nest pass / hiway 3 thru manning park, Osoyoos, Cranbrook, Castlegar.. Done the drive a few times, really really sweet!
 
Anyone thinking of going from BC? I've always wanted to attend, but flying into Calgary or Lethbridge will not work, as I'd have to leave rockets and motors behind. Driving from the coast might take a while but...

Is it feasible to commute to Rock Lake daily from lethbridge, or is it more fun to stay on site?
If staying on site, would tenting be horrible, or not too bad?

Hutch
I'm packing up the wife and kids and will be heading out there, coming from Surrey. Will be my first time. I rented a travel trailer to stay in. Gas will suck.
 
Anyone thinking of going from BC? I've always wanted to attend, but flying into Calgary or Lethbridge will not work, as I'd have to leave rockets and motors behind. Driving from the coast might take a while but...

Is it feasible to commute to Rock Lake daily from lethbridge, or is it more fun to stay on site?
If staying on site, would tenting be horrible, or not too bad?

Hutch
Hutch, tenting on site is feasible and you'd join a host of trailers and tents. You do need to bring everything you'd need though including water.

Driving from Lethbridge is about 45 min, if you do try book a hotel in the East side of Lethbridge. Anything in the vicinity of the Casino will be quite new.

Some also stay in Taber. About 30 minutes away and multiple hotels/restaurants/Walmart...if you don't stay onsite I'd recommend Taber.

Hope you can make it!
 
Is it feasible to commute to Rock Lake daily from lethbridge, or is it more fun to stay on site?
If staying on site, would tenting be horrible, or not too bad?

Bruce forgot to mention that port-a-potties will be on site ( I assume you have forgotten to announce Bruce....)

Also going with the 50th anniversary theme the Kronos E Team hope to be launching our 1:20 near scale project

https://www.facebook.com/kronospente/

David
 
Yup, that's a great time to arrive! Tim and maybe one other usually show up Wed. night, a lot of major equipment moving and setup happens Thursday followed by some great relaxation, then Friday morning is a final setup/test the system ready for 12pm start time.
 
So Tripoli certs are not respected? Does that mean if I joined CAR onsite that my level would effectively be 0 until I certified under CAR, restricting my flights accordingly?
 
So Tripoli certs are not respected?

Hi Michael

I am curious where you found the information that lead to your statement? NAR, TRA and CAR/ACF have a reciprocity agreement with respect to recognizing certifications granted from each organization.
https://canadianrocketry.org/membership.php

Although on the TRA site I see they do not mention CAR/ACF in the certification FAQ, just NAR. And on the NAR site well it just about NAR so maybe I answered my own question, you really have to hunt for it and may not find that information.

So, no you don't have to start at ground zero, CAR/ACF recognizes certifications of the other two organizations.

David
 
Hi Michael

I am curious where you found the information that lead to your statement? NAR, TRA and CAR/ACF have a reciprocity agreement with respect to recognizing certifications granted from each organization.
https://canadianrocketry.org/membership.php

Although on the TRA site I see they do not mention CAR/ACF in the certification FAQ, just NAR. And on the NAR site well it just about NAR so maybe I answered my own question, you really have to hunt for it and may not find that information.

So, no you don't have to start at ground zero, CAR/ACF recognizes certifications of the other two organizations.

David

Hi David,

Thanks for the response.

I was under the impression that there was a reciprocal agreement as well. However my interpretation of the original post was that a CAR/ACF membership was required, perhaps I am misinterpreting this?

This launch is held under CAR/ACF rules and all fliers must be members. Memberships can be obtained on site and there are many membership options to choose from. See the info from CAR/ACF below:

Type
Conditions Fee
Senior Over 18 on Jan 01 ---$65 per year
Junior under 18 before Jan 01 ---$15 per year
Family No limit to the amount of children ---$80 per year
Trade Rocket related suppliers and retail stores ---$65 per year
 
Hi Michael

I am not sure NAR and TRA call it a reciprocity agreement on the insurance side of things but to answer your hinted to question, can a flyer from another organization fly at a CAR/ACF launch, the answer is no. it is the same answer you would get for a CAR/ACF member's ability to fly at a NAR or TRA event.

Having said that, launches have combined CAR/ACF and TRA flyers, in Alberta at least, it is done through time separation. Not the cleanest solution but it lets people fly. Transport Canada Launch authorizations are submitted for both organizations for the same launch, because TC authorizations require insurance for the event and would like to know how much liability is covered.

David
 
I’ve flown at Rock Lake several times, starting in 2001. My Tripoli certification level was always translated to the equivalent CAR level. Then a few years ago CAR adopted a ruling that only CAR members could fly at CAR launches. I think that was because of the prerequisite test requirement.
Here’s what I know:
1. Tripoli members who join CAR have their certification level transfer.
2. CAR members who join Tripoli have their certification level transfer.
3. Tripoli insurance would cover Tripoli members following both Tripoli and CAR safety codes.
4. CAR insurance coverage doesn’t extend to non CAR launches. That’s an economic decision that I respect.
5. The cost to join CAR is very reasonable and the money helps a great bunch of flyers. I would urge all Tripoli members who want to fly at CAR launches to join CAR.
6. CAR flyers wanting world wide insurance coverage for Rocketry should consider joining Tripoli. [emoji851]
 
A little teaser? More like holy crap!! Thats amazing!!
Looking forward to seeing you all out at RL and the launch [emoji4]
 
Hi everyone, I need to put out this update for Rock Lake this year. While we have all approvals for launch in place, we do not have approval from the local fire marshal. At this point, he will not issue a permit, which means we will not be allowed to host Rock Lake this year either!

He will give us a couple more days to see if any rain falls at the site before he decides for sure, but from my conversation today we'd need a monsoon to change his mind.

I know there are a number of people with long distance travel plans so I wanted to give you a heads up early enough. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

I will let everyone know early next week if there is any change.
 
I wish we could send some of the 30 - 60 mm of rain we’ve been getting in Edmonton and area these past 3 days down to Rock Lake. It’s been non stop rain here the past 3 days.
 
I was somewhat surprised, it's dryish in Lethbridge but not worse then I've seen before. But Taber has had no more than 10mm in June, and Milk River 3.4mm in June. So ya...launch site must be a little crispy.

Meanwhile, rainfall warnings and flooding alerts in the rest of the province :(
 
Hi all, I heard back from the fire marshal this morning, and right now with some moisture and an inspection of the site, he IS willing to give a fire permit. So with that news, Rock Lake is a go for this weekend!

He did add the caveat that if conditions change, it could be revoked. There is some chance of moisture in the forecast through the middle of the week, so we're hopeful.

Quick, build your contest entries!
 
Hi all, I heard back from the fire marshal this morning, and right now with some moisture and an inspection of the site, he IS willing to give a fire permit. So with that news, Rock Lake is a go for this weekend!

He did add the caveat that if conditions change, it could be revoked. There is some chance of moisture in the forecast through the middle of the week, so we're hopeful.

Quick, build your contest entries!
Best news EVER!
 
I've printed myself out a bunch of flight data sheets to bring. Do I need pre-flight inspection checklists as well or do RI's have those?
 
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