I think it would be helpful to a lot of people preparing for their first cert flights to have a description of the process. Obviously, this sis aimed at people going for L1. There are lots of folks her eon TRF better qualified than I to offer this advice, so I'm just going to get the ball rolling. I'll be happy to delete most of what I write when other people do it better.
I suggest it would be a good idea to make this thread sticky.
There is already a plethora of information here on the rocket, stuff like selecting a kit and/or designing, construction techniques and materials, motor selection, preflight checklists, etc. The focus here in on the certification process itself (but I know that some spilling over is inevitable).
Here we go.
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GENERAL
Lunch hour is over, so I'll get back to this later unless someone beats me to it.
I suggest it would be a good idea to make this thread sticky.
There is already a plethora of information here on the rocket, stuff like selecting a kit and/or designing, construction techniques and materials, motor selection, preflight checklists, etc. The focus here in on the certification process itself (but I know that some spilling over is inevitable).
Here we go.
_______________________________________
GENERAL
- There are certification programs in the US from both the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA). TRA is international, and there are also other certifying organizations in other countries (I know of Canada's and I'm sure there must be others.) The rules vary somewhat in the details, but are generally very similar.
- I recommend browsing through this thread for a lot of good advice on mistakes to avoid.
- You will build and fly a rocket that uses either an H or I motor, and recover it successfully. "Successfully" means that the deployment device (parachute, presumably) is fully deployed, the rocket is found and returned, and the rocket has either
- Suffered no damage,
- Suffered only cosmetic damage, or
- Suffered minor, field repairable damage such that it could safely fly again the same day.
- Your flight and its successful result will be witnessed by a qualified person.
- Paperwork will be mailed to the certifying organization, whereupon you will receive an updated membership card, a pat on the head, a pin, a trophy, a Certificate of Achievement suitable for framing, and a solid 18 karat gold medal, or some subset of those things.
- Pick a kit or design a rocket, or design modifications to a kit to be suitable for H or I motor flight. There's lots of advice on this available elsewhere on TRF (and other sources) so let's not go into it here.
- Build it well, build it strong, avoid the temptation to overbuild. Again, there's lots of information on this elsewhere.
- Consider starting a build thread here in the HPS subforum. That will give you a good place to ask questions and receive both answers and unsolicited advice which you can take or leave as you wish.
Lunch hour is over, so I'll get back to this later unless someone beats me to it.