Which Junior Program should I join, NAR or TRA?

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Lukun7

Young Rocketeer
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
159
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Location
The Woodlands, Texas (Near Houston)
I am 13 and want to become a member so I can fly high powered rockets. I know that there are two junior memberships, TRA has a test and mentoring program, while NAR i get to join without any tests. I know for NAR I can only get an L1 cert, but I do not know how big of motors I can fly for Tripoli. What are the pros and cons of each membership, and which should I join?
 
You need a mentor. Find a local club and ask what organization they belong to. That will likely drive the answer to your question.
 
The Tripoli program begins at 12. The NAR program begins at 14.
Yes, you have to pass a test for the Tripoli program. The answers are provided in the study guide. It’s to keep you safe. Don’t let that frighten you away.
The Tripoli program allows you to participate in any size of builds that your mentor is certified for.
Success in either program results in becoming L1 when you turn 18.
 
Flying High power rockets is almost always done at a "club" launch - so that's one consideration - which club will you be flying with the most, and are they NAR or TRA? o_O

You can Join both organizations if you want.:D


Here are some important points - you can build ANY size rocket you want - and you don't have to be a member of any organization. :eek: Really - this is totally true.

High power motors have to be purchased by a HP certified adult - in the USA, this is always the case. A JR certified member can't buy HP motors. :mad:

When you are ready to fly your awesome High Power rocket... a HP certified adult has to go with you to the pad to setup the rocket, and the HP certified adult has to be named on the flight card as the flyer of record.

2015-11-01 12.42.11.jpg
 
It says that for both organizations, while doing your cert flight, you can't handle the motor. My adult sponsor is not that "educated" in High powered rockets, and he is not certified. For my certifications, would he have to be certified L1? Also, at Tripoli Houston someone told me that the junior NAR program you get to have the rocket be called your own on the flight card. If juniors aren't allowed to put our name on the flight card, how does a junior still get the certification? After we certify, can we put our names on high powered flight cards?
 
It says that for both organizations, while doing your cert flight, you can't handle the motor. My adult sponsor is not that "educated" in High powered rockets, and he is not certified. For my certifications, would he have to be certified L1? Also, at Tripoli Houston someone told me that the junior NAR program you get to have the rocket be called your own on the flight card. If juniors aren't allowed to put our name on the flight card, how does a junior still get the certification? After we certify, can we put our names on high powered flight cards?

The whole reason for the Tripoli Mentoring Program is to have a young person learn
from someone who has expertise, i.e. a mentor. A mentee would not be able to do much with a non-certified mentor.
The flight card isn’t what you turn in for certification. You turn in a form showing that your flight was successful, signed by someone qualified to witness such an attempt. In Tripoli that’s a TAP, a Prefect, or a board member.
https://www.tripoli.org/TMP
 
First of all, I think it's great that you love rocketry and want to try your hand at high power. Congratulations! You picked a great hobby.

The most important thing you should be taking away from all these posts is that neither organization allows a person under 18 to go out and fly high power willy nilly without supervision! As stated above, these are learning programs. In most states, you are not legally allowed to buy or possess high power motors until you are 18. That's not a club thing, that's in the National Fire Protection Act.

At official NAR and TRA launches, people who are not HPR certified are not allowed to go out to the HPR pads for any reason. The only exception to this is via the youth mentoring programs. Even though you may receive a NAR junior level 1, you are not really level 1 certified. You can't be until you are 18. But you can learn to build HPR rockets, go out to the pads, turn on the electronics, load the rocket for launch, attach the leads, etc. The fact that your name does not go on the flight card is insiginificant. That is to legally protect the club from violating the law.

dhbarr already gave you your answer. What club would you be flying out of? If it is a NAR club, join NAR; likewise for TRA. If it is a hybrid, like my club here in Maryland, you have a choice. In either case, you must have a mentor who is over 18 and HPR certified. No way around that one.
 
Since in either case (NAR AND Tripoli) you are going to need a qualified rocketeer to sign you off for ANYTHING high power related, I would suggest for convenience find the closest club that routinely flies high power and start flying with them.
 
Welcome!

I started off in the Tripoli Mentoring Program when I was around 15 (when it first was a thing). It allowed me to build a rocket and fly it under the direct supervision of a mentor. Most people are willing to sign off on the flight card if you know what you are doing.

As for how big of motors you can fly, the sky's the limit. When I was 16ish, I got to fly a 9" diameter, 17' tall rocket on an N motor at LDRS36(?). A group of 4 teens and I designed and built the rocket, and our mentor just had to sign on the flight card.

It's a really great opportunity. Not to mention, once you turn 18, your cert flight is just another flight.

Let me know if you have any questions! I would love to help.
 
Welcome!

I started off in the Tripoli Mentoring Program when I was around 15 (when it first was a thing). It allowed me to build a rocket and fly it under the direct supervision of a mentor. Most people are willing to sign off on the flight card if you know what you are doing.

As for how big of motors you can fly, the sky's the limit. When I was 16ish, I got to fly a 9" diameter, 17' tall rocket on an N motor at LDRS36(?). A group of 4 teens and I designed and built the rocket, and our mentor just had to sign on the flight card.

It's a really great opportunity. Not to mention, once you turn 18, your cert flight is just another flight.

Let me know if you have any questions! I would love to help.

Almost two years ago we changed it so that Tripoli TMP participant can have a flight witnessed similar to the L1 flight. Then, when the participant turns 18 they receive their L1 certification.
 
Unless your rocket lands in another county ... :D:p:D

Another country AND another zip code. Give me the full credit. ;)

Almost two years ago we changed it so that Tripoli TMP participant can have a flight witnessed similar to the L1 flight. Then, when the participant turns 18 they receive their L1 certification.

Ah, I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for letting me know :)
 
I helped a Jr L1 certification flight last month. He had launched lots of low-power rockets with his dad, but since the dad wasn't L1 certified, he reached out to me through our club's facebook page. We messaged back and forth a few times, and then I helped him on the day of the launch. Everything worked like charm.
 
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