Questions about LDRS and BALLS

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The Utah Prefecture of Tripoli has been looking at a launch site near Moab, UT for a launch next year that potentially could have a great waiver. If desert camping is what you're after it's hard to beat the Moab area with all of the beautiful scenery around there. It probably wouldn't be as long of a launch as something like BALLS or LDRS.
Many clubs have local launches that Tripoli and NAR members are always welcome at. I've been to launches at Black Rock twice now as well as LDRS this last year on the Salt Flats in Utah and both locations were amazing. The launches at Black Rock were not BALLS launches and were much smaller with only around 30-40 people. Both were fun in their own ways.
Just wanted to give a couple more options if LDRS or BALLS were not exactly what you were looking for. Several people from my local club have been to Airfest and told me stories about how much they enjoyed it. It is much more like an unofficial LDRS and several times has hosted LDRS. They always put on a great event and you can always meet with nearly every vendor at a launch like that.
Thanks - all of these sound very interesting. Would these events be open to international Tripoli members on a similar basis to BALLS? And when/where are details publicized?
 
http://www.kloudbusters.org/airfest/Default.aspxUROC.org
I believe most clubs have their own websites that would let you know specifics to each launch and would have contact details for the local club representatives so you could contact them with any questions you may have.
I would think most clubs will get their schedules finalized over the winter and once they have final details they will get them published to their respective websites.
I recall seeing a downloadable list that one of the members of TRF maintains for upcoming national and regional launches that could be a great resource for you. Hopefully someone can point us in the right direction to find that thread.
I would think most clubs would welcome international visitors as long as everything is handled per NAR/Tripoli safety codes.
 
Thanks - all of these sound very interesting. Would these events be open to international Tripoli members on a similar basis to BALLS? And when/where are details publicized?
The Utah club (UROC.org) would welcome any Tripoli or NAR member, including international visitors. The launch schedule will be sorted out by the end of the year.
 
http://www.kloudbusters.org/airfest/Default.aspxUROC.org
I believe most clubs have their own websites that would let you know specifics to each launch and would have contact details for the local club representatives so you could contact them with any questions you may have.
I would think most clubs will get their schedules finalized over the winter and once they have final details they will get them published to their respective websites.
I recall seeing a downloadable list that one of the members of TRF maintains for upcoming national and regional launches that could be a great resource for you. Hopefully someone can point us in the right direction to find that thread.
I would think most clubs would welcome international visitors as long as everything is handled per NAR/Tripoli safety codes.
Thanks very much. Getting my UKRA L2 / RSO cert 'translated' to Tripoli has been on my to do list for a while...
 
I know that this is going to sound funny, but one of my balls weighs a full 16 pounds, while the other one is only an 8 pounder. I suppose a bit of an explanation is in order.

I've participated in at least three different Bowling Ball Loft contests at three different LDRS's. There may have been others, but I only remember being in three of them for certain.......maybe four......... And one of them was at the only International LDRS that we've had so far: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and it was Lots of Fun. So my memories of them are just that...My Memories. Mark Clark might remember better than I. I seem to recall that one of them was in Orangeburg, but I might be wrong.

The BB Lofts have been of two different kinds, max altitude and parachute duration. Each contest had a standard minimum "weight" of the bowling ball and a maximum motor size. The three I remember were two K motor contests and one J motor contest. The best I ever did was come in 2nd place...sigh..... But I still had lots of fun.

The craziest part was the test flights at my own club. The RSO just about had a cow when I walked up with that 16 pounder. They made me fly at 500 feet, even the J motor one because they were a bit nervous. Both of the rockets flew well. They've both flown multiple times and I've gotten them back safely each time. Of course with a 16 pound bowling ball for a nose cone, some would argue that there is no such thing as a safe way to fly it. But I am willing to let them disagree as long as they don't want to stop me from flying.

If it was my choice, I'd say come fly at an LDRS. Lots of vendors which is very important. Lots of folks. Lots of fun. And usually four days of hard hitting flying of just about everything you can imagine. And the LDRS Banquet is usually a hoot as well.

BALLS is on my bucket list, but I try to never miss an LDRS.

Brad, the "Rocket Rev.," Wilson
 
The thing about BALLS that sets it apart from most other launches is its remote location

Aeropac launches there too.
The thing about Balls that sets it apart from all other launches are the projects and the international attendance.
 
We did the Bowling Ball Loft ten years at LDRS plus twice at BALLS.
First time was BALLS, Unlimited Impulse parachute duration.
The LDRS event was originally for altitude but quickly it was learned with the odd shaped rockets the data was junk. So we went to duration.
Aerotech made the H999 and I600 for the event, thanks Gary.
Once again I would like to thank the vendors who gave prizes inspite of people complaining about the event. One year the first place winner received over $2000 (two thousand) in prizes.
Watching a bowling ball on a chute going up in a Texas thermal is quite the sight.

M
my record is 16 pounds, 22 minutes


CFC130D5-0353-4025-9FDF-3E08B5D79247.jpeg
 
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We had started using the late September date before Burningman got big.
The weather is always a crapshoot whenever it is during the the year over the years there has been 100 degrees and there has snow. There has been three days dead calm and total blowouts. Recently smoke from forest fires has become an issue.
There was a BALLS launch before BALLS 1. It was a by invitation only and location was not publicly announced.


EVENTSPONSORDATENOTES
BALLS 1AEROPACAugust 19, 1991One day event in conjunction with LDRS 10
FireBALLS 2AEROPACAugust 17, 1992One day event in conjunction with LDRS 11
FireBALLS 3AEROPACSeptember 6, 1993One day event in conjunction with Aeronaut 4
FireBALLS 4AEROPACJuly1994Stand Alone
FireBALLS 5AEROPACAugust 1995One day event in conjunction with LDRS 14
BALLS 6LTRAugust 1996Stand Alone
BALLS 7AEROPACJuly 21-22, 1997Held in conjunction with No-Balls on July 19-20
BALLS 8AHPRAAugust 1,2 & 3, 1998Stand Alone
BALLS 9AHPRASeptember 1999Stand Alone
BALLS 10AHPRASeptember 29 October 1, 2000Stand Alone
BALLS Canceled Due To 9/11 2001No Launch This Year
BALLS 11AHPRASeptember 29, 29 & 30, 2002Stand Alone
BALLS 12AHPRASeptember 19, 20 & 21, 2003Stand Alone
BALLS 13AHPRASeptember 10, 11 & 12, 2004Stand Alone
BALLS 14AHPRASeptember 16, 17 & 18, 2005Stand Alone
BALLS 15AHPRASeptember 20, 21 October 1, 2006Stand Alone
BALLS 16AHPRASeptember 29,30 & 30, 2007Stand Alone
BALLS 17AHPRASeptember 27, 29 & 29, 2008Stand Alone
BALLS 18AHPRAOctober 2, 3 & 4, 2009Stand Alone
BALLS 19AHPRASeptember 24,36 & 26, 2010Stand Alone
BALLS 20AHPRASeptember 30 October 1, 2, 2011Stand Alone
BALLS 21AHPRASeptember 20, 21 & 22, 2012Stand Alone
BALLS 22AHPRASeptember 20, 21 & 22, 2013Stand Alone
BALLS 23AHPRASeptember 19, 20 & 21, 2014Stand Alone
BALLS 24AHPRASeptember 25, 26 & 27, 2015Stand Alone
BALLS 25TRIPOLI GERLACHSeptember 23, 24 & 25, 2016Stand Alone
BALLS 26TRIPOLI GERLACHSeptember 22, 23 & 24, 2017Stand Alone
BALLS 27TRIPOLI GERLACHSeptemeber 21, 22 & 23, 2018Stand Alone
BALLS 28TRIPOLI GERLACHSeptember 20, 21 & 22, 2019Stand Alone
BALLS Canceled Due To Pandemic 2020No Launch This Year
BALLS 29TRIPOLI GERLACHSeptember 24, 25 & 26, 2021Stand Alone
BALLS 30TRIPOLI GERLACHSeptember 23, 24 & 25, 2022Stand Alone
You left out Small Balls, Whitakers NC,1996. Weekend following LDRS Orangeburg.
 
Aeropac launches there too.
The thing about Balls that sets it apart from all other launches are the projects and the international attendance.
Good point that BALLS isn't the only launch at Black Rock. But I was really speaking of big national launches. We probably should mention AirFest in Kansas hosted by Kloudbusters. It's similar to BALLS in that it's held at the same location every year and has a national reputation. It seems to draw more folks from the eastern half of the US though compared to the western states. It's also always held over Labor Day which is fairly unique among the big launches.


Tony
 
Nothing compares to Balls.....nothing.
BALLS is my favorite launch as well, but in terms of attendance or number of actual flights, it’s smaller than LDRS and Airfest. If you want to see a lot of launches and vendors, either of those would be a better choice than BALLS. I was really surprised by (what seemed to me at least) the slow launch cadence at BALLS this year, in spite of the near perfect weather. But no where else can you see three R motor flights (or attempts) in a single weekend.


Tony
 
Balls is NOT a good launch to attend....period.
Mere attendance is not wanted. It's not easy to get to. Hard on camping gear & motorhomes.
Don't come unless you plan to fly and fly big.
Motors need to be K or LARGER.....much larger.
Balls is for people who want to fly.
 
The Utah club (UROC.org) would welcome any Tripoli or NAR member, including international visitors. The launch schedule will be sorted out by the end of the year.
Same with KLOUDBusters launches. We have overseas attendees from time-to-time. No restrictions, especially now that the BATFE restrictions are moot.

KLOUDBusters schedule will be released around Dec. 1. It will include AIRFest 28 September 2-5, 2022.

BALLS is quite unique and Black Rock is the Mecca of amateur rocketry. If you love rockets, build the most extreme rocket or motor you can and take it to BALLS. you won't regret the experience.
 
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I've been told not to mention Burning Man to anyone at BALLS because they're practically neighbors and don't get along. There are stories...

I haven’t see that much animosity. During Balls they are cleaning up after their event which ended a couple weeks previously. They even let us tour their 747!
 
In recent years the Burners have been great. They have been putting out miles on cones to mark the way to the launch site. Yeah it’s also so we don’t drive across the clean up area but it does help
 
We’ve had mixed experiences with the Burning Man clean up crews. When we first started going we ran into the crews as we were driving out to the launch site and they complained we were driving through ‘their site’, even though we were way off to the edge from what we could tell. But as Mark says lately they’ve been really good about about putting cones up to keep us away from where they are working.

And since this is a family oriented forum, I won’t relate the stories I heard about what went on inside that 747!!

Tony
 
How did the 747 get there?
https://mashable.com/article/747-burning-manIt got stuck on the playa longer than it was supposed to be there because it rained and they couldn’t tow it off. But a huge truck they hired to try and tow it helped us pull a rocket out of the playa that would still be there if it hadn’t helped. Just a part of BALLS.

Tony

here’s a still from a video of the tow vehicle pulling a fin can out of the playa: (the bottom of the rocket was about 2 ft below the surface)
13A73B07-B7A2-4F72-9978-D24DDEE5A84B.jpeg
 
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Thanks - all of these sound very interesting. Would these events be open to international Tripoli members on a similar basis to BALLS? And when/where are details publicized?

Aeropac launches in the Black Rock desert 4 times per year. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you are certified Tripoli or NAR you can launch high power. You can also certify for any level. We do set up some low power pads also. Altitude limits are 60,000' MSL daily with windows to 250,000' MSL. Limits are subject to change depending on military training exercises, weather, and forest fire smoke. Calendar is on our website at aeropac.org

Jim Green - Aeropac prefect
 
Aeropac launches in the Black Rock desert 4 times per year. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you are certified Tripoli or NAR you can launch high power. You can also certify for any level. We do set up some low power pads also. Altitude limits are 60,000' MSL daily with windows to 250,000' MSL. Limits are subject to change depending on military training exercises, weather, and forest fire smoke. Calendar is on our website at aeropac.org

Jim Green - Aeropac prefect
Thankyou!
 
Thanks - all of these sound very interesting. Would these events be open to international Tripoli members on a similar basis to BALLS? And when/where are details publicized?
Tim,
I believe that in general every Tripoli Member in good standing is welcome at any Tripoli or NAR launch, regardless of where they come from. Tripoli members who have Associate memberships must upgrade to a full membership in order to fly under Tripoli insurance.
Most Tripoli Prefectures have websites that can be found by visiting the Tripoli website and clicking on the menu item Prefectures. That takes you to a world map where you can zoom in to find individual Prefectures. At the very least you’ll find the names of the Prefectures which you can google.
I’m sure NAR has something similar.
Good luck. I heard that non-essential travel to the USA has just been opened back up so you should be able to come fly with us!
 
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