Why I do love night launches?

I will let the pictures speak for themselves:

https://www.facebook.com/SARArocketry/photos/a.3074295162587990/3074295385921301/?type=3&theater

Since TRF seems to be more open to the creation of special interest sub forums now, would anyone be interested in one dedicated to night launches?
Light up the night!!

terryg said:

I will let the pictures speak for themselves:

https://www.facebook.com/SARArocketry/photos/a.3074295162587990/3074295385921301/?type=3&theater

Since TRF seems to be more open to the creation of special interest sub forums now, would anyone be interested in one dedicated to night launches?
Light up the night!!

Click to expand...

Those are some fantastic photos!

I used to be really into night flying with RC models. It was a blast building light kits and taking long exposure shots.

I'd be all over a night launch forum... I think I'll need to build a rocket for doing so. What are the limitations for night launches? Any special rules or regulations to adhere to?

KC3KNM said:

Those are some fantastic photos!

I used to be really into night flying with RC models. It was a blast building light kits and taking long exposure shots.

I'd be all over a night launch forum... I think I'll need to build a rocket for doing so. What are the limitations for night launches? Any special rules or regulations to adhere to?

Click to expand...

It depends on the club. We fly up K motors, with a maximum altitude of 3000 ft. with our waiver. Redundant light sources are required and anyone on the field has to have a light and a reflective vest.
You can do class 1 launches without a waiver, as long as you stay under the 1,500 grams (53 ounces) total rocket weight with no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant (up to baby H motors).
Lights have to be visible at all times, not just at deployment.

Great pictures.

Here....

I have always wanted to do a night launch. Looks like some serious fun!

I love sparkies at a night launch. One of these days I am going to build a night launch rocket designed around the long burn Cesaroni J145 Skidmark. 5 seconds of sparky goodness into the night sky. lol

Very cool. I have failed to participate in night launches to date. Usually after flying all day and then going to dinner, I collapse and need intensive care and don't make it back out to the range.

Okay, it's not that bad. Maybe I'll hit up a NARHAMS night launch some time. Looks fun.

Our club Tripoli Prefucture #5 Tripoli San Diego , will not petition for a night launch waiver .. so either have to stick to Class 1 fun or travel - ROC and Tripoli Vegas will get permits at their Spring and Fall events .

Locally will fly my Funk Saucer on a Pro38 H123-SK or fly my thrash 2.6" booster with a LED strip payload on a AT DMS H115-DM for the column of sparks at night .

For waivered flights I like the Funk Saucer on a AT DMS H45W for a long burn of six seconds . My main night launch rocket is a 4 inch fiberglass Diab-Glo clone with an extended MMT/stuffer wrapped with 5630 red leds & a Nite bow blinking Red in the nosecone. Its called the RED ALERT and mostly flies with an AT H170-M or a 29mm AT Redline . It is a 54mm so I dared to fly on a Pro54 I140-SK ..it seemed to hang forever , it was quite the hike to retrieve .

Our beloved Wayco is the night launch guru , he says METALSTORM is the ticket .. his night launch rocket sets the standard .

Kenny

We applied for a night waiver and for the first time they denied it...

I didn't participate, but witnessed a night launch once and that was enough for me. Great pics. by the OP, but all pics / videos of launches day or night look great. I prefer rockets by day and fireworks by night.

Flyfalcons has some night launch mixed in with day launch videos. I bet night recovery is hard.

Actually if you have decent lighting, it is much easier to find the "glow" where rocket lands.

Even in weeds or brush the lights make surrounding vegetation glow brightly.
However that is assuming you follow the flight & lights don't go out.

It doesn't need to be high POWER to be:
*High Intensity* - *High drama* - *High Excitement* *Highly Entertaining*

*-*-*-*- At NARAM a few years ago - these rockets recovered themselves *-*-*-*-*-*

Lots of Kid's and others flyers - just brought them back for us - they're so bright - you can't miss them!!!

At Orangeburg, our night waiver was 3000 feet, no motor limit. Had one for a research launch and couldn't resist

At ROC we include night launches in our waiver request. Typically we do night launches on the available evenings of multi-day launches.

Our current plan for is to have night launches on Friday and Saturday during NSL 2019. The rockets must have a light visible during the entire flight.

Model rockets are most popular, but some flyers do build some very cool high-power night rockets. I personally use a strobe light like you use on a life jacket inside a white plastic nose cone, and some glow sticks on the fins.

Sabrina, your night rockets look fantastic! Hopefully one day I can build one half as cool.

DaveW6DPS said:

At ROC we include night launches in our waiver request. Typically we do night launches on the available evenings of multi-day launches.

Our current plan for is to have night launches on Friday and Saturday during NSL 2019. The rockets must have a light visible during the entire flight.

Model rockets are most popular, but some flyers do build some very cool high-power night rockets. I personally use a strobe light like you use on a life jacket inside a white plastic nose cone, and some glow sticks on the fins.

Click to expand...

We noticed with our current waiver there were several different "typos", one was the altitude had changed (for the better), and that the dates foe or June 3-day launch were June 07, 07, 09 which should have read June 07, 08, 09. I wonder if they were just hugely overwhelmed and missed the request gor a night waiver, which was submitted as part of our regular waiver.

My favorite night launch rocket is an upscale Solar Flare that flys with K reloads. I will be flying it at NSL on a K540 metalstorm.

Another favorite of mine is "The Rainbow Connection" which I normally fly on an Loki I377 cocktail (the violet color looks great at night). At NSL it will fly on a I357 Dark Matter reload since you cannot fly Loki in California.

NARHAMS hosts a night launch every September in Mt Airy, MD. It is great fun. The late John McCoy (micromeister) had a passion for light launches. He put together 3 Tech Tips on the subject which can be found in the NARHAM online Library here:

022a: Night Launch History and Techniques (PDF, 10 MB)

022b: Night Launch Battery Installation (PDF, 229k)

022c: Night Launch Parts and Pieces (PDF, 86k)

fulldec said:

NARHAMS hosts a night launch every September in Mt Airy, MD. It is great fun. The late John McCoy (micromeister) had a passion for light launches. He put together 3 Tech Tips on the subject which can be found in the NARHAM online Library here:

022a: Night Launch History and Techniques (PDF, 10 MB)

022b: Night Launch Battery Installation (PDF, 229k)

022c: Night Launch Parts and Pieces (PDF, 86k)

Click to expand...

I might try to get out there this September, Don. I am inspired by this thread.