Hi Frank - welcome to the forum.
I fly with both TWA and Woosh at Bong. Unfortunately, I won't be there this coming weekend to see your successful L1 flight (Homecoming Dance at school) - I can share some tips that might make your cert a bit less stressful.
BRING YOUR CARD
I assume you are a member of a NATIONAL organization either Tripoli or NAR. If not, you have to join one or the other before you can cert. You don't necessarily need to be a member of WOOSH or TRA, but you do need to bring your TRA or NAR card (or a receipt if you just joined) Hint - join online before the launch.
A CHECKLIST IS YOUR FRIEND
Remember to bring the rocket and motor and any other stuff... parachute, camera, etc. It's easy to forget things. Make a list.
BRING A PRINT-OUT
Super prepared people (like you and me
) go online and print out the cert form at home.
NAR FORM TRA FORM
When you print out the form at home, you get a chance to look it over and see just what you are getting into.
Also, the NAR form can be filled in with your information (It's a fillable PDF doc) so all your info is nice and legible. (you can fill in the TRA form with a pen) The NAR form has an excellent Safety Checklist that will really help you understand what the cert-team is looking for when they examine your rocket. Read that checklist over about 6 or 8 times to become a safety expert. Bring the checklist along, the cert-team will fill it in. BONUS POINTS
bring a stamped business-size envelope addressed to NAR or TRA so you are ready to mail in the completed cert. (WOW are you prepared or what?!?!
)
KNOW YOUR CP & CG
Mark the CP (Center of Pressure) right on the rocket with paint or a magic marker. You will find the CP in the kit instructions or in the sim you created or modified to match YOUR rocket dimensions. If possible, put your rocket together just like you would when getting ready to fly it. Maybe do this a couple of times cause its good practice. If you are using one of those motors that need to be built ** don't build it ahead of time ** The cert-team will want to watch you (might assist you) to build it. Use something that weighs
the same as the motor when you are putting it all together at home. When you have it all together - including the right motor weight - BALANCE IT. Where it balances is the CG (center of gravity).
This next part is key. The rocket must balance at least one diameter in-front-of (closer to the nosecone) than the CP. EXAMPLE - a 3-inch diameter rocket must balance at least 3 inches (or more) ahead of the CP. Most kits are designed this way and you usually have nothing to worry about. If the rocket is not balancing far enough forward - you must add nose weight until it does. SHOW-OFF POINTS
Bring a sim print-out (OpenRocket or RocSim) to show the cert team. Totally unnecessary for L1, but some superstars just can't help going overboard.
BRING FRIENDS
Friends and family can help you celebrate your successful cert. Plus they are helpful to watch where the rocket went. Ya gotta' bring it back in good condition after the flight to complete the cert. Many people will say "recovery is the hardest part of rocketry'... they're not lyin!
ROCKET FOLKS ARE FRIENDLY
Please ask ton's of questions and have lots of fun. This is gonna' be a BLAST!
-Good Luck!
