Do I need a licence for this?!

[rocketman]

After realising that my dream rocket, the Cirrus Dart, would be suicide for a level 1 cert, i had a look at something smaller. I found the Loc/Presicion Aura.
(link here https://www.rocketstore.co.uk/shop/...artPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=any&PT_ID=all)
So, now I have enough money to buy it, i need to check one last thing. I want to fly it to a mile at a launch with my local club (I need a big field!.). The motor that I thought would be perfect, the G80, I could not find as a single use motor in the uk(well, i could, but the company would not deliver it). So, I decided to take Gillard's advice and look at reloadable motors. I found this:https://www.rocketmotors.co.uk/relo...d-120ns-g120-fast-8-second-delay/prod_24.html
and the case: https://www.rocketmotors.co.uk/casings/29mm/29mm-120ns-casing/prod_3.html
and the closures:https://www.rocketmotors.co.uk/casings/29mm/29mm-closure-set/prod_8.html
So, what licences/paperwork do I need to buy that reload? Do I need a level 1cert? How much would delivery be? How would I go about getting the paperwork, if any?

 

[WiK]

You should just need an RCA document, which lets you transport the motors.

RocketStore have a great page explaining all the legal stuff, and also provides a handy template letter to help you get an RCA. https://rocketstore.co.uk/info/engines_legal.aspx

Phil

 

[spacecadet]

Try this one over on the UKRA forum. Cath will give you a guest login.
My understanding now is that you don't need any licences if you collect your motor from a vendor at a launch and fire it there. You can't transport it without a RCA, which is not hard to get. The exemption only covers use and storage.
You only need L1 to fly above G-class, and it's a UKRA insurance requirement, not a legal one.
https://www.ukra.org.uk/legal

 

[spacecadet]

Beat me to it, Wik.

 

[Gillard]

After realising that my dream rocket, the Cirrus Dart, would be suicide for a level 1 cert, i had a look at something smaller. I found the Loc/Presicion Aura.
(link here https://www.rocketstore.co.uk/shop/...artPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=any&PT_ID=all)
So, now I have enough money to buy it, i need to check one last thing. I want to fly it to a mile at a launch with my local club (I need a big field!.). The motor that I thought would be perfect, the G80, I could not find as a single use motor in the uk(well, i could, but the company would not deliver it). So, I decided to take Gillard's advice and look at reloadable motors. I found this:https://www.rocketmotors.co.uk/relo...d-120ns-g120-fast-8-second-delay/prod_24.html
and the case: https://www.rocketmotors.co.uk/casings/29mm/29mm-120ns-casing/prod_3.html
and the closures:https://www.rocketmotors.co.uk/casings/29mm/29mm-closure-set/prod_8.html
So, what licences/paperwork do I need to buy that reload? Do I need a level 1cert? How much would delivery be? How would I go about getting the paperwork, if any?

hi, the link you have is for congreve motors, these are different from aerotech, the cases, reloads etc are not compatable, but and its a big but, they are cheaper. the guy how runs the site is also one of the founders of midlands rocketry club, and he is a great guy to deal with, gives honest advice and is very knowledgable. give him a ring or email and speak to him.
dispite having a alot of Dr. rocket and aerotech cases (18 cases + closures) i'm now thinking of moving onto the congreve system- i reckon it will be cheaper in the long run.
the RCA letter that WiK referred to is the one i posted in the other thread.

hope this helps.

 

[r1dermon]

a G120 is going to send an aura out in the blink of an eye...personally, i wouldn't risk a reload casing without some sort of tracker inside. good luck though, it's a really nice kit, and really easy to build.

 

[rocketman]

What sort of tracker should I use (I don't want to get a ham radio licence =)

 

[hardinlw]

The Aura is just a bit more than minimum diameter for a G80. I have made 4 flights of minimum diameter rockets on G80s without trackers and only got one of them back. I now have my amatuer radio license and a CommSpec tracker. I flew that in my Hawk Mountain Basilisk on a Loki J1000 at LDRS28. I saw it land, and it was way out. We drove out to near where it had landed and walked right to it using the tracker. Without the tracker, I would have been looking too far out. I therefore second the thought that you should not risk a reload casing in the Aura without a tracker.

My tracker is not all that big, but it has a 10" antenna that you have to put somewhere. I don't know how that would fit in an Aura. I've built one of those, and it barely has room for recovery wadding and the streamer. With a nomex chute protector, you could pick up a little room and I'd swap out the elastic shock cord for kevlar. I burned through the elastic on the first flight. Even if you manage to cram the tracker in, if you have trees where you fly, you are going to run the risk of hanging the rocket, reload casing, and tracker up where you might not be able to recover it.

Most of my G80 flying has been on an Aerotech Cheetah. That does a bit more than 3000 feet on the G80-10 and is still visible. If you don't have to worry about hanging it in a tree where you fly, I would not worry about flying it with a reloadable engine. I mostly fly SU G80s because I got a good deal on some a while back and I dislike cleaning the reload casing when I can avoid it. Unfortunately, my stash is about used up and the current price for SU engines is significantly higher than for reloads.

 

[Breeze1913]

I'm so glad I don't have to deal with all that.

 

[rocketstoreuk]

Try this one over on the UKRA forum. Cath will give you a guest login.
My understanding now is that you don't need any licences if you collect your motor from a vendor at a launch and fire it there. You can't transport it without a RCA, which is not hard to get. The exemption only covers use and storage.
You only need L1 to fly above G-class, and it's a UKRA insurance requirement, not a legal one.
https://www.ukra.org.uk/legal

I believe Congreve motors are UN0275 and UN0276. These are not exempt from an RCA, so one is needed for those numbers. Not sure which reloads use which number so best to check with Paul/Congreve on that point. These numbers are listed on Schedule 1 of COER so you dont need an explosives license for up to a total of 5Kg net propellant of the reloads.

One point that lots of people get wrong is that as far as we are aware and have been told by HSE currently, an RCA is needed whether you buy in person at a launch event or via mail order. The RCA is required to transport and/or transfer the items. (Transfer being the operative word, that means even handing to a person at the launch site).


Richard Brown
Rocket Store
www.rocketstore.co.uk

 

[Gillard]

rocketstore (richard)is right on the RCA point,
even moving it from the vendors store to assembly point to the launch pad requires an RCA, the only way around it it to have a friend with an RCA purchase the motor reloads and be with you at the launch, then they are doing the transporting - you can still build the motor and install it, and even press the button to launch!