how many rocketeers are L1, L2, or L3 certified in the US?

[Dave S.]

I am NAR level 1, and I was wondering how many folks are actually certified L1, L2, or L3 in the US? [NAR and Tripoli combined]

Saw something that the numbers for NAR are a lot lower than I would have thought. I can't seem to locate that now. I am not sure about Tripoli.

If anyone has the info, please post it. Curious minds just have to know. I suspect this is a real niche hobby.


Thanks!

 

[Titan II]

Tripoli info is on their website.

 

[Steve Shannon]

Here’s the Tripoli stats:

 

[jmasterj]

I don't think anyone has the combined numbers, because you'd have to have the membership lists for both.

They're somewhere between min(NAR, Tripoli) and (NAR + Tripoli) for each level.

 

[Steve Shannon]

And here’s NAR’s as of February:

 

[tsmith1315]

What you won’t know from those reports is how many of those people hold membership/certs in both clubs. There will be overlap.

 

[samb]

Certainly "... this is a real niche hobby." But it's OUR real niche hobby!

 

[Hobie1dog]

I'm having a hard time reading the NAR toals because of my eyes so what are the totals between the two organizations for the three levels? and total number of members?

 

[Steve Shannon]

I'm having a hard time reading the NAR toals because of my eyes so what are the totals between the two organizations for the three levels? and total number of members?

Click on the picture and pinch out.
There’s no easy way to answer the total spread across the two organizations because of overlap.

 

[lakeroadster]

As I understand it, with Tripoli, your HP qualifications expire if you don't keep flying.

But with NAR, your qualifications are good forever.

I'm confused as to why everybody doesn't certify with NAR?

 

[tsmith1315]

I'm confused as to why everybody doesn't certify with NAR?

Cost of dual memberships and/or local flying club available.

 

[lakeroadster]

Cost of dual memberships and/or local flying club available.

As I understand it, NAR members can fly at all Tripoli events? If that is true, that negates that ^^.

 

[cerving]

As I understand it, with Tripoli, your HP qualifications expire if you don't keep flying.

But with NAR, your qualifications are good forever.

I'm confused as to why everybody doesn't certify with NAR?

Some of the Tripoli members do EX, which NAR doesn't support. It doesn't matter which affiliation a club has, because they have cross-membership flying agreements other than EX.

I personally have both memberships because it's good to support the hobby in any way that I can.

 

[tsmith1315]

As I understand it, NAR members can fly at all Tripoli events? If that is true, that negates that ^^.

It is true. But, to certify NAR, you must be certified by a NAR member. I know many hold dual memberships, but you can't count on that.

 

[troj]

As I understand it, with Tripoli, your HP qualifications expire if you don't keep flying.

If you don't stay a member. And full details on the expiration policies can be found here.

 

[Rocketjunkie]

I'm confused as to why everybody doesn't certify with NAR?

It's much more of a PITA to L3 with NAR. Lots more paperwork. Certify with one and if you're a member of both, provide proof and the other will upgrade your cert. The other levels are comparable.

 

[lakeroadster]

If you don't stay a member. And full details on the expiration policies can be found here.

For Tripoli, but for NAR "NAR HPR certifications, once earned, are valid whenever NAR membership is current, and are reinstated upon request after membership lapses." So there is no requalification if your HP certification is via NAR

 

[Rocketjunkie]

For Tripoli, but for NAR "NAR HPR certifications, once earned, are valid whenever NAR membership is current, and are reinstated upon request after membership lapses." So there is no requalification if your HP certification is via NAR

Tripoli gives you 5 years. After that, you have to re-cert.

 

[Ratmanman]

As I understand it, with Tripoli, your HP qualifications expire if you don't keep flying.

But with NAR, your qualifications are good forever.

I'm confused as to why everybody doesn't certify with NAR?

NAR as I understand it is only in the US, so for those of us outside the US then it is only Tripoli.

 

[MikeT]

Some of the Tripoli members do EX, which NAR doesn't support. It doesn't matter which affiliation a club has, because they have cross-membership flying agreements other than EX.

I personally have both memberships because it's good to support the hobby in any way that I can.

I'm with you 100%.

Mike

 

[troj]

I joined Tripoli initially, in early 2000. I joined NAR a few years after, and have been a member of each pretty much since then.

I do volunteer work for both, and think it's of value to the hobby that both exist.

-Kevin

 

[Hobie1dog]

The statistics show that most people obtain the L2 certification, and stop at that point.

 

[gbecker.kc6uvm]

Starting over again at L0. Managed to retain my "old" Tripoli membership number.
A few things survived. Other stuff was lost.
Just been taking it one day at a time.

 

[cwbullet]

I personally have both memberships because it's good to support the hobby in any way that I can.

Yes and the membership fees do a lot to continue the hobby.

 

[MikeT]

From the July Email.

NAR Membership
9,396
Junior: 645
Leader: 1,614
Senior: 7,003
Life: 134
High Power Certified
Jr. Level 1: 144
Level 1: 2,171
Level 2: 1,643
Level 3: 673


​

 

[WillMarchant]

NAR as I understand it is only in the US, so for those of us outside the US then it is only Tripoli.

This https://www.nar.org/local_club/airdrie-space-science-club-assc-794/ NAR section is in Canada. So if you want a non-USA section it seems like that can happen.

 

[n3tjm]

Interesting, I've always thought it was easier to get an L3 with NAR. That's why I went the NAR way. From what I understood with tripoli was everything had to stick to your flight plan. While NAR had a little more flexibility. For example. My L3 main chute for some reason didn't inflate property so it came down faster than planned. However it landed safely, without damage, and if I had another motor I could of flown it again immediately. So I passed.

 

[Hobie1dog]

Starting over again at L0. Managed to retain my "old" Tripoli membership number.
A few things survived. Other stuff was lost.
Just been taking it one day at a time.

to the forum

 

[cwbullet]

Interesting, I've always thought it was easier to get an L3 with NAR. That's why I went the NAR way. From what I understood with tripoli was everything had to stick to your flight plan. While NAR had a little more flexibility. For example. My L3 main chute for some reason didn't inflate property so it came down faster than planned. However it landed safely, without damage, and if I had another motor I could of flown it again immediately. So I passed.

I think the write-up was more challenging for NAR in the past, or at least my review of the rule made it look that way.

 

[n3tjm]

Personally the write up wasn't to bad for me. My L3 Guy allowed me to use my TRF post about the build as my write up with the addition to all the other sims, diagrams, checklists... which are a good idea to have anyway.