FLASH Rocketry

Located in Southwest Florida, the club is both a prefecture of the Tripoli Rocketry Association and a NAR section. Club members gather once a month to fly rockets powered with motors ranging from 1/4A to K. For L-M flights, contact the prefect for pre-flight approval. No sparkies please. The FAA waiver is good for flights up to 15,000 feet. New fliers and spectators, of all ages, are always welcome. Enjoy the company of fellow rocket enthusiasts and watch rockets of all shapes and sizes take to the skies.

Club project photos | Mega-K launch video

GSE to launch floating-injector type hybrid motors is available. Email Bob before a launch if you will need it for a flight.

Photos & videos from the May 2nd launch.

Click here to see all the flights we had this launch. There appears to be some issue with the camera used, making nearly all images and video blurry. Sorry about that.

5/1/08 I am ready to launch. Are you?

Man, can you believe the weather this year? It has been cool and not too dry. Perfect flying weather with no interuption so far. I, for one, am ready to launch. We are going to have a great day this Saturday. Bernie will be there. The new trailer bathroom is completed. And don't forget our new, super duty, extra cool wire reel (courtesy of Bob -- thanks Bob!). And, of course, Marc is bringing his new super humongo rocket (if it is finished) with the removable fin design we will steal for the next project, which by the way will fly on the newly certified O 8000 from CTI (did I say that?). I am telling you, there is lots to see, so come on out.

Also, if you happen to see Bernie on the side of the road when you are coming to the launch, toss him an extra transmission, and grab me some stuff, will ya?

Have fun,
Harold

Photos & videos from the April 5th launch.

Click here to see all the excellent flights we had this launch..

4/3/08 Launch information, be sure to read it all........

Ok, this will likely go down in history as my longest launch announcement ever. In fact, it is so long, I will have to break it up into movements. See if you can recognize the theme......

Launch movement number one: the invitation. Ready, go. Ok, so we are having a launch on Saturday at the usual time and usual place. The weather has been very cooperative and the drought index numbers are low. Of course, using care is always prudent this time of year. I plan on doing something really silly this month. I am actually going to fly a high power rocket with a K motor in it. Can you believe it? Amazing. Details to follow.....

Launch movement number two: vendor enhancement. Ready, go. You all remember Bernie, right? Well, if you have forgotten, he is our beloved vendor, the purveyor of fine rocket stuff. Now I know he has not been out in about a hundred years, and you guys pretty much wrote him off, but he has assured me that he intends to return to our launches on a regular basis, starting this Saturday. That's right, Bernie will be out at the launch, so it is a perfect time to come with a fat wallet, intending to lighten it some.

Launch movement number three: shameless self promotion. Ready, go. Ok, I think at some point, all heavily addicted rocket people have considered selling rockets. Or maybe that was just me. In any case, our very own Marc Slabbinck has actually done it. He has opened a new online rocket store, and is selling favorite rocket kits at a really good price. You can check it out at http://www.rocketarium.com. And, for members of our club you can order and pay for your kit online, but get free shipping by having it delivered to the field. To do this, simply enter the coupon code FLASH on the checkout page and the shipping will not be charged, informing Marc that you will pick it up at the field.

Launch movement number two hundred thirty seven: TARC teams. Ready, go. Last week the club on the other side of the state weenied out just because of a little highly noxious, poisonous spraying that was being done, so with this being the last weekend for TARC teams to qualify, I was called by TWO different teams on that side of the state. They are both planning to come out and attempt their qualifying flights with us. This is always a lot of fun, and the experience of watching true innovation at work is great. We are proud to have them come.

Launch movement number four, the attempt to score free motors. Ready, go. Many of you know we have a local small motor maker amongst us. His name is Jim Harris, and his company is Gorilla Rocket Motors. He is located somewhere in the Tampa area, and has a number of motors certified with Tripoli. So far, only 54 mm motors have been certified, but he also has a bunch of 38's sent in, waiting for Tripoli to get them done. I have flown a few of his motors, and they work well. In fact, the K motor I will be flying on Saturday, is a K327, one of his long burn white motors. I am expecting 4-5 thousand feet. You can see his website here http://www.gorillarocketmotors.com. Probably the best part is that I think we can arrange for free delivery to the field, saving major bucks in the form of hazmat charges. Check it out.

Ok, so that should be enough to keep you busy for a while. See you Saturday,
Harold

Some photos from our March launch.

Click here for photos and videos of the second launch this year.

Some photos from our January launch.

Sorry for the limited report : click here

3/1/08 A LAUNCH IN THE MIDDLE OF DRY SEASON?

Yup, that's right. The fire index is still low enough to have a launch, so we will fly this Saturday, March 1st. The weather looks fine, and it should be a good time. You never know when we will be shut down, so come on out and have fun.

See you there.

Have fun,
Harold

1/31/08 NO LAUNCH SATURDAY

I regret to inform you that there will not be a launch this Saturday (2/2). We wil be on a month to month for the balance of the dry season, so be sure to check her, or with me, before each launch.

BTW, I do not have current email addresses for Bob Chilmonik or C Kohlman. If they see this, or someone who knows them sees this, please ask them to email me with a current address.

Thanks,
Harold

First Launch of the New Year, 1/5/08

Happy New Year to all. Welcome to 2008. Well, fortune has smiled upon us, and the drought index is still within acceptable levels, albeit just barely. So, this Saturday will be our first launch for the new year. And what a glorious day it will be. High around 80, lots of sunshine and rockets galore. Plus, a special treat for those who have been hearing about our club project and wondering what that is. We will have the big rocket at the field for deployment testing. And I am talking big. It is 12" diameter and 10 feet long. Quite a sight. We are hoping to fly it at the Winternationals next month. Hope to see you there.
Harold

PS. Did you notice I got the date right?

Club contacts:
Prefect Harold Sasloe
President Robert Backlinie