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.

6/30/10 No launch Saturday

The launch is scrubbed. Repeating, NO LAUNCH SATURDAY.

Thanks,
Harold

6/5/10 : Hot, hotter and very hot. Yes, SW Florida is hot this time of year.

See the Launch Photos & Videos.

June 3, 2010 Yes there is a launch on Saturday

WHEW!

That was close. Our waiver had expired and the new one did not show up. After many phone calls, it has been resolved, and the new waiver is firmly in hand. So, we are good to go, and go we will. We will have our standard regular monthly launch this Saturday, the 5th of June at the regular super secret launch location in Labelle. The weather is typical this time of year. It will be hot and might rain at any moment (thanks Bob). Of course, sparkies are still not allowed (Donald). I have an old Estes Saturn V that I hope to put up on an E15 just to see if it will fly. I hope to see you guys out there.

Have fun,
Harold

4/29/10 NO LAUNCH SATURDAY

Sorry folks, there will be no launch this Saturday. I have life issues causing a conflict.

Which brings up something else.....

I was not going to bring this up until election time in June, but it is becoming an issue for me, so here it is. After many years, I need to step down as Prefect. Not because I do not enjoy the club, and certainly not because I don't want to fly anymore, but it will increasingly become a conflict issue. Those of you that know me personally, know I have been going through life changes of late. Right now, everything is very precarious, and it is impossible to be sure if I will be able to make any particular launch, or if I will have the time to prep for the launch. I just do not know which way things will go. Eventually, when things stabilize, I hope to actually have plenty of time, but I do not know when that will be. Since, the launch depends on me, this situation is not fair to you. So, I am asking you to name a new Prefect.

What I do as Prefect is not mind boggling, but it is critical to the functioning of the club. Therefore, the new Prefect needs to be able to commit to duties he inherits. As Prefect you will need to obtain and maintain the waiver (I can help with paperwork), call NOTAMS and the airports, maintain and transport the equipment to the launch, set up and tear down the launch (I have been blessed with great help in this area the past few years--thanks guys-- but it is not guaranteed) and act as LCO and RSO. Also, as the official head of the club, you will field email from new folks and give out information as needed.

Whoever is put forth as a candidate will be presented to the club and must be accepted by the members. I will continue to do what I do, as best as I can, until a new Prefect is installed, but you should assume that last minute cancellations will happen.

I am sorry to drop this on you guys. It has been something I have been stressing over for a while, and it is something I do not do lightly.

Harold

4/3/10 : Excellent weather and even better flights.

See out the Launch Photos & Videos.

March 31, 2010 April Launch on Saturday

Ok, so here is the deal. Saturday 3rd of April is our monthly launch. Now, just so we understand each other, winter is over. It is going to be warm and sunny (or at least mostly), so you slackers out there have no excuse to stay home. I kind of let you slide the last few months because I know how some of us transplanted Floridian types shrivel up when it drops below 75, but those days are over. It is time to come out and enjoy a beautiful spring day launching rockets. There will probably not be any vendor available, so be prepared.

If I can get it repaired in time, I am hoping to bring out an old Estes Maxi Force to fly. This is NOT a single use rocket.....

Hope to see you there.
Harold

3/7/10 : Launch with lots of flights and better than predicted weather..

Check out the Launch Photos & Videos.

3/4/10 Launch Saturday

It is with great joy and jubilation that I have the extreme pleasure to announce we have a launch this Saturday. Now mind you, the weather will be nice, mid 60s with a light breeze. I am feeling much better and look forward to seeing many of you there. Period done.

Harold

Wait. Did I say trepidation? Yeah, add that to the list too......

1/2/10 : It takes more than wind and cold weather to keep real rocketeers from flying.

Check out the Launch Photos & Videos.

12/30/09 Launch on Saturday

Ok, so Friday is News Years day. That is good, and I want you spend the day resting and recuperating, because Saturday (January 2) is our first launch of the new year. It should be a beautiful day, like springtime up north. Ok, so that means it will be a little cool for us, but it will be an excellent break from the cold. No word from Bernie, so assume he will not be there (hey Bern, you listening?). Since we were rained out in December, I expect that many of you will want to come out and make up for lost time. Last I heard, the sky will still be there, so lets not waste it. Hope to see you there.

Harold

December 3, 2009 To launch or not to launch?

Wait! That's not the question. What kind of stupid question is that?

Seriously, we are scheduled to have a launch on Saturday, but you know, rain can be a good thing and a bad thing. Getting rain today and tomorrow is a good thing, because it means the field is too dry. However, getting rain on Saturday is a bad thing, because.... well I think you know why. Currently the forecast is calling for 50-60% chance of thunderstorms for Saturday, but we also know how reliable the forecast can be. So I will plan for the launch to go ahead, however, watch your email on Saturday before leaving. I will send a note before I leave here (approx 8 AM), or don't leave here as the case may be, to let you know how it looks. But I make no guaranty.

Don't you just love a positive launch announcement?

Harold

11/7/09 : Very windy day, altitude flights limited to our braver fliers.

Check out the Launch Photos & Videos.

Nov 4, 2009 Launch on Saturday (Turkey day soon too)

Hear ye, hear ye,

Let it be known by all people that this Saturday is our monthly launch. And now a word from our sponsor....

He folks, we have a special treat this Saturday. Besides Marc's M motor in a saucer I mean. Bernie is coming out. You remember Bernie. He's that guy that likes to go around accosting harmless prefects and selling stuff. Well, I have it on good authority that he has a fresh load of motors and is offering bargains galore. I happen to know a several of you guys have been complaining about not having motors, well this is your chance to stock up, so bring out the cash.

Also, not to depress anyone, but the drought index is starting to climb. That means, unless we get some more rain, our season is nearing an end in a month or two, so don't slouch. Make hay while the sun shines, as someone's father used to say. My father used to say "get up off your a**, you lazy @#$%^.....", or something like that.

See you Saturday,
Harold

10/3/09 : Great launch, lots of fun flights.

Check out the Launch Photos & Videos.

9/30/09 Yet another incredible launch next Saturday.

Ok , so let's see. Saturday is another launch. What can I say about this one. Hmmmmm.........

Oh I know, I am testing a new creation of mine. Now, before you get excited, it is not a big rocket, but rather a low power rocket. However, I have been playing with this for a while. It is a two stage Fat Boy with an Estes Astrocam nose cone on top. Kind of looks funky. It will fly on four C's in the booster and one D in the sustainer. Hopefully it will take a picture. Of course, I am not too sure about the stability, but hey it should be cool.

Wait, that's not exciting? Damn. Oh I know. I have heard through the grapevine (I would have said a little birdie told me, but don't get me started on birds......) that several of our esteemed members (cough cough) have banded together to put on a special show for us. Mind you, we are all confident that it will go well, but they are highly esteemed members after all. That's all I can say about that......

I hope to see you there.
Harold

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

Club contacts:
Prefect Harold Sasloe