Launch sites, bay area california

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superstringman

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I used to launch model rockets a bunch as a kid and someone made the mistake of recently getting me one for christmas. Now I'm hooked once again. Unfortunately after my first day of launches I looked on the internet and realized the park I was at has strict rules against model rockets, good thing I didn't get caught! I was wondering if anyone out there lives near oakland, CA and knows of any launch sites. I found some clubs, but they're all a fair distance to drive. I'm looking for a local park or field that someone knows is ok to launch at.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Well, anywhere in the State of Claifornia, you need BOTH:
Permission of the property owner
and
A Permit from the Fire Authority having Jurisdiction.

Clubs are usually the only ones able to obtain the 2 million dollars insurance required by most parks and recreation departments.

List of clubs:
https://nar.org/NARseclist.asp

Info on getting your own launch site in CA (or anywhere):
https://home.earthlink.net/~mebowitz/siteaid.pdf

Originally posted by superstringman
I used to launch model rockets a bunch as a kid and someone made the mistake of recently getting me one for christmas. Now I'm hooked once again. Unfortunately after my first day of launches I looked on the internet and realized the park I was at has strict rules against model rockets, good thing I didn't get caught! I was wondering if anyone out there lives near oakland, CA and knows of any launch sites. I found some clubs, but they're all a fair distance to drive. I'm looking for a local park or field that someone knows is ok to launch at.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Check out local clubs, even if they are not extremely "local".

They are ALL worth the drive.

There is more fun in a group and you can watch them burn up hundreds of dollars of THEIR motors without you having to pay for any of them.

;)
 
Thanks for the info. I'll probably look into the "local" clubs and see what they're about. A lot different than just using the big field behind my house as a kid.
 
The official Bay Area club is DARS, but I'm not sure how active they are or if they currently have a field. They were using parking lot in De Anza college, but that was awful and I'm not sure if they still use it.

"My" rocket club when I lived on the Penninsula was LUNAR, out in Livermore. They have a very nice low power field (used to be higher power, but the developers chipped away at the surrounding empty land) and, out in the boonies, a large ranch where big things happen.

LUNAR is VERY well run. The launch setup procedure and operations are expertly run. The people are knowledgeable and helpful.
 
School yards are the best bet in towns or cities. Just pick a weekend when there aren't any other activities going on. You don't need to bug the authorities. You'll just be asking for trouble if you do and not get the answer you'd like. They won't understand what you're talking about and just say no because they're clueless. I'd recommend taking a copy of the estes information leaflet about model rocketry with you in case the police stop by. If you belong to the NAR then you might keep your membership card handy.
 
But of course then you're doing illegal activities, and if the police DO have a clue, then you're screwed...
 
You are not 'screwed".

You are subject to a $1000 fine and/or up to a year in jail for EACH violation of the CA State Fire Regulations. If you launch twice, that's $2000. Etc.

Encouraging others to violate the State Fire Regulations is not a good idea. An NAR membership card will not get you out of a fine or arrest. An NAR membership card is not a license to violate State Fire Regulations.

If you cause a fire while launching illegally, other criminal penalties may apply.

Originally posted by cjl
But of course then you're doing illegal activities, and if the police DO have a clue, then you're screwed...
 
... you Californians have it rough. I guess that's why there's that California firemarshall thingy on engines. Hopefully no other state legislatures will get 'smart' like California lawmakers have anytime soon.
 
Hiya Mark-
We have it almost as bad in Howard Co. The parks are pretty much off limits unless you get a permit. Luckily most of the schools are ok with small launches, and I've seen lots of folks out at Centennial while I've been helping TARC teams over the last couple of years.

kj
 
Shread you really need to chill out. At worst if he lauches in an area where he shouldn't be(assuming he doesn't know) they will just give him a warning and say to pack it in for the day. You should read the RC plane boards,, those guys really go through hell. Most city parks hate rc planes but the guys fly anyway and the cops aren't about to throw some kid or adult in jail for flying a stinking airplane just because officially he shouldn't.. They will tell him not to come back though.. although some stories I've read went the other way,, the cops would stay and watch and not even have a problem with it. Or, they'll say to fly when there isn't anyone around which is always hte wisest course of action so you don't bother anyone. School fields are probably the best bet for rockets.

If you know ahead of time that you shouldn't fly in a certain area then personally I wouldn't fly there but I seriously doubt you'll get fined or hauled into the poky.

Originally posted by shreadvector
You are not 'screwed".

You are subject to a $1000 fine and/or up to a year in jail for EACH violation of the CA State Fire Regulations. If you launch twice, that's $2000. Etc.

Encouraging others to violate the State Fire Regulations is not a good idea. An NAR membership card will not get you out of a fine or arrest. An NAR membership card is not a license to violate State Fire Regulations.

If you cause a fire while launching illegally, other criminal penalties may apply.
 
California is one of the most liberal states in the country and therefore we have the most laws on just about everything. From guns to fireworks there's a string of laws to protect us... When I got back into rockets I was amazed that you could buy motors down at walmart. I figured they probably could only be sold in hobby shops. I'm still amazed that you can even buy estes rockets period in california since we don't allow aerial fireworks. The manufacturers must have had one hell of a lobbying/education effort to explain the safety of rocketry.

Interestingly enough if you look up the maps on the net that show which states allow what types of fireworks you'll find that they also tend to have the best gun laws. A state like nevada that sells what we would call illegal fireworks also lets you have a machine gun with proper permits(Class 3 ffl) :) There's even schools you can go to to learn to be proficient with weapons like an Uzi for instance(somewhere by reno I think). Kentucky has the annual machine gun shoot which I understand is quite impressive.


Originally posted by MarkH
... you Californians have it rough. I guess that's why there's that California firemarshall thingy on engines. Hopefully no other state legislatures will get 'smart' like California lawmakers have anytime soon.
 
You are not a lawyer and you are incorrect.

Model Aircraft are not covered by CA State Fire Regulations. If a local entity (city or school district) has 'banned' model aircraft flying on their property, it is NOT the same as the permit and permission requirements of the Ca State Fire Regulations.

Years ago, people did often get a first time verbal warning to stop and go away. That DOES NOT happen very often these A days. There are many reports of people getting the $1000 or $2000 fine and even going before a judge facing jail time.

Noted stories I have first hand knowledge of:

In the San Fernando Valley a woman was out with her kids launching their Estes Alpha III from a starter set. They launched it twice while a policeman watched and ate his sandwich. he then walked over and handed them a $2000 fine. She was very annoyed and went to the hobby shop that sold it to her and screamed at the owner because he did not warn her about the permit requirements.

A man in Long Beach launched in El Dorado Park. He was cited big time. We don't have details about his behavior with the police officer, but he called our club looking for advice because he was going before the judge facing up to a year in jail. We never heard from him again, so we don't know how that turned out.

In a city in Orange County a hobby shop (now out of business) was fined $1000 for selling motors to a child under the legal age allowed to buy motors. the child ignited them in his bedroom. Irate mother called the authorities.

Stories told to me by fire officials:
teacher sets fire to hillside next to school yard because they used the most powerful motor possible and rocket flew unstable then stabilized and flew horizontal beyond the school yard boundary. The FD would never have given a permit for that motor size on that property. Teacher was cited. no idea if he lost his job or if union protected him.

Visiting instructor launched giant rocket on school yard to show little children rockets that big men launch. It used a motor without a CSFM seal. It crashed into a neighbors backyard and missed a 2 year old sitting in a lawn chair next to their mother by a few inches. Mother hysterically called the bomb squad. Fire inspectors got involved and interviewed Principal of school and rocketry instructor. Rocketry guy left to allegedly get papers to present to inspector and never came back. Fire inspectors are fully aware of safe and legal model rocketry and know the difference between that and what this guy was doing. That's why they tell others about these incidents. School Principal was deeply affected by the incident and it left a bad memory associated with rocketry.

Your continued encouragement of others to break the law makes you a serious danger to the hobby of Model Rocketry.

Do you encourage people to ship motors illegally also?

Are you arguing just for the sake of arguing?

Do you have a psychological problem with any laws or regulations and seek to have other defy them to make you feel better?

If you despise the laws or regulations, GET THEM CHANGED instead of using this forum to encourage others to break the law.

Doesn't that violate a rule of this forum? Or is encouraging others to break the law and endanger the hobby OK on this forum?




Originally posted by danc
Shread you really need to chill out. At worst if he lauches in an area where he shouldn't be(assuming he doesn't know) they will just give him a warning and say to pack it in for the day. You should read the RC plane boards,, those guys really go through hell. Most city parks hate rc planes but the guys fly anyway and the cops aren't about to throw some kid or adult in jail for flying a stinking airplane just because officially he shouldn't.. They will tell him not to come back though.. although some stories I've read went the other way,, the cops would stay and watch and not even have a problem with it. Or, they'll say to fly when there isn't anyone around which is always hte wisest course of action so you don't bother anyone. School fields are probably the best bet for rockets.

If you know ahead of time that you shouldn't fly in a certain area then personally I wouldn't fly there but I seriously doubt you'll get fined or hauled into the poky.
 
OK, back to the question at hand ...

Superstringman - make the trip to Livermore to fly with LUNAR. great club, great people, very kid friendly, and it's legal to fly there!

you might go down to the Berkeley Marina, the old dump site. I believe rockets are still allowed there. but it's often windy so the flying isn't very good.



Stefan, DARS is in Texas, BAYNAR is the south bay club. it's defunct but there are some folks who want to get a south bay club going again.


Danc, oh never mind.
 
You are not 'screwed".

You are subject to a $1000 fine and/or up to a year in jail for EACH violation of the CA State Fire Regulations. If you launch twice, that's $2000. Etc.

Encouraging others to violate the State Fire Regulations is not a good idea. An NAR membership card will not get you out of a fine or arrest. An NAR membership card is not a license to violate State Fire Regulations.

If you cause a fire while launching illegally, other criminal penalties may apply.

I'm a Police Officer in California. If I ever rolled out to a call where somebody was launching model rockets the only time I would ever cite is if the person was negligent (launching at dwellings/people/structures). If it was brought to my attention by some disgruntled reporting party of the penal code for launching rockets (I don't know any of my peers who could cite the PC/BP code for launching rockets), I would suggest to the person launching the rockets to find a new location. If I ever cited for launching a model rocket, my Sgt's might be upset because I'm likely already down other paper which pertains to real crimes.

Point being, use common sense when choosing a location... if you're in a smaller area, use smaller engines and don't launch where a lot people are around, and don't launch in an area likely to cause a fire.
 
Welcome to the forum Cape ! And thank you for your service. How in the world did you find this fourteen year old thread ?

LOL! I didn't realize it was 14 years old. I was googling launch sites in the Bay Area and came across this thread. This past year I got into rockets again and am reliving some good memories with my kids. Looking to expand into multi-phase rockets, but nowhere is really suitable. I was wondering if there was an area I could go that wasn't over an hour drive away. Any ideas?
 
No worries, I enjoy a good thread resurrection. My idea would be to seek out a local club even if you don't end up flying with them. The locals would be the best source of information about conditions in your area. The fact is finding a place to fly is tough all over. Our club in Dallas makes sure our launches are family friendly and I can say with a high degree of certainty that the outfits out your way do the same. Here are a couple of websites to search:

https://www.nar.org/find-a-local-club/

https://www.tripoli.org/Prefectures
 
No worries, I enjoy a good thread resurrection. My idea would be to seek out a local club even if you don't end up flying with them. The locals would be the best source of information about conditions in your area. The fact is finding a place to fly is tough all over. Our club in Dallas makes sure our launches are family friendly and I can say with a high degree of certainty that the outfits out your way do the same. Here are a couple of websites to search:

https://www.nar.org/find-a-local-club/

https://www.tripoli.org/Prefectures

Thanks a bunch for the links, I'll check them out!
 
Thanks a bunch for the links, I'll check them out!

Clubs are the way to go, because the club handles getting permission and arranging all the legal details. If you live in the Bay Area, unfortunately, your main club launch sites are going to be about an hour and a half away depending on where exactly you are. But the sites are nice and the clubs are fun, so make a day of it. This is the time of year they are most active because fire danger is low.

The LUNAR club has a launch site out highway 4 past Farmington, before Copperopolis, called Snow Ranch. The ranch is a working cattle ranch and a beautiful place to fly. Rockets range from typical low power Estes rockets up to high-power M motors, so there’s something for everyone. It usually takes me about 1hr 15 min to drive there from Dublin. Next launch is February 1. Here is the LUNAR website. https://www.lunar.org/

T
he SARG Club launch site is located near Antelope north of Sacramento, so that’s a bit further for me and takes me an hour and a half or more. The site is a nice little county park called Gibson Ranch County Park. There’s play equipment for kids and a small lake, which is nice if kids get bored with rockets. The club is a bit smaller than LUNAR, and the rockets are smaller too. Rockets are limited to G motors or smaller, and the ceiling is 1,500 feet or less. Next launch is January 25. Here is the SARG website. https://sargrocket.org/index.html

There are a few more clubs that are even further away, but those two are probably the best for what you are looking to do. Good luck picking a spot and maybe I’ll see you at a launch!
 
A possible source of info is the guy that runs Bay Area Rocketry over in Castro Valley. He's a vendor of High-Powered stuff, but I'm sure he knows the local clubs and fields


Mike Gentile from Bay Area Rocketry is the vendor who attends the LUNAR and SARG launches. He also goes to the TCC launches near Fresno and the big launches out at the Blackrock desert in Nevada.

I think there are some smaller clubs in Nevada too. Sierra is one. There’s a Reno club. And something with a name that sounds like a Rock On.

Cape was asking about sites which are close to the Bay Area, and I think LUNAR and SARG are the best bets for nearby clubs, and everything else is several hours away. Maybe Mike knows of something closer, but I’m not aware of any. When I first met Mike I mentioned I sometimes flew smaller rockets at the local middle school, and he strongly encouraged me not to do that and to join a club instead. I’d love to find a nearby field that allowed rocketry outside of club launches, but I think it’s really unlikely in this area.
 
LUNAR is really the best bet. They have two launches a month. One is at Moffer Field and the other is at snow ranch. Moffet field altitude is limited to 1k feet I think and maybe H motors. I think Snow ranch is 15k and level 3 is ok. Launches at snow ranch are during rain season only.
 
LUNAR is really the best bet. They have two launches a month. One is at Moffer Field and the other is at snow ranch. Moffet field altitude is limited to 1k feet I think and maybe H motors. I think Snow ranch is 15k and level 3 is ok. Launches at snow ranch are during rain season only.

I'm guessing you haven't flown at LUNAR in some time. The Moffett field launches have been maybe one or two each summer.
 
LUNAR is really the best bet. They have two launches a month. One is at Moffer Field and the other is at snow ranch. Moffet field altitude is limited to 1k feet I think and maybe H motors. I think Snow ranch is 15k and level 3 is ok. Launches at snow ranch are during rain season only.

For now, the Moffett launches are completely suspended. The club had an agreement with the new administrators of the field through 2019. But that’s over now. And the club is having some issues with getting a new agreement for 2020. Hopefully it gets resolved.
 
Too complicated! Where can I launch the rockets I just built with my daughter? Based on this thread the answer is nowhere unless done with a club. In doing a quick search on clubs there seems to be very few in this area. I have to say this is extremely discouraging when trying to inspire our youth
 
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