DAS ROCKET - Certification

   Tim Boschert
   NAR Section #523, UROC
   NAR 77002 Level 2 
National Association of Rocketry

It all started again just a few years ago when I bought my son Ryan an Estes model rocket.  I had enjoyed model rockets in my youth - so why wouldn't he.  I still buy the model rockets for simple launching pleasure, but am now involved with high power rocketry. What a blast. I had no intention of breaking into high power rockets.  I was content with popping little black powder motors into hobby store models say 500' to 1,000'.  The obsession took over and soon I was trying to jam bigger and more motors into the kits. In 1999 I joined the Utah Rocket Club (UROC) and found a great bunch of people equally driven to launch things.  Late in 1999 I won a rocket kit from Yank Enterprises - the Mystic Buzz. My obsession and downfall with high power flight thus began.

NAR LEVEL 1
The June 2000 UROC club launch at the Pony Express Test Range was the location for my NAR Level 1 Certification flight. I had notified the NAR advisor, Frank Hunt of my intention to certify. I borrowed the motor casing I needed and purchased an H180W-10 reload from the then UROC club president, Dale Dillon and had the assistance of David Urbanek to assemble the motor.  The flight prep and safety check were on me. Around noon I loaded my Yank Mystic Buzz on a far pad. The countdown was off and so was the rocket.  I had no doubt the rocket would fly well since it was a kit model. I was impressed mostly by the performance of the motor. I want more...... 

NAR LEVEL 2
NAR Level 2 in the high power realm of rocketry is a totally different mix of power and rocket.  Learn to appreciate it or prepare to pay the crushing fiberglass consequences.  Level 2 demands you know and understand basic rocketry principles as well as communicate with those that have gone before you.  I have Tracy Woods and Steve LaCroix, both Level Three, to thank for urging me to attempt (two) as well as providing fatherly advice. Frank Hunt, the UROC NAR advisor, and Steve LaCroix NAR L3 were my certification witnesses.  Note how interested they are in the photo at right. It must be that the Temple of AP is shrouding their heads. 

All systems were go for the attempt.  I had previously passed the written test and was ready to launch at the annual UROC Hellfire Launch, however national security reasons pre-empted all national high power launching.  I had to wait till the regular scheduled UROC October launch.

The morning of October 13, 2001 was as good as any to attempt the flight and recovery my Public Missile Limited- Ariel.  I had previously modified the old reliable Ariel with an additional 17" section to accept an altimeter bay.  I used an Aerotech RMS J350-14 reload as my weapon of choice.  Deployment for the Ariel was set up for dual parachute recovery.  An Olsen altimeter provided the electronic brains. The Temple of AP provided the knowledge, wisdom and "cult" feeling to belong to a higher order.

Up the Ariel flew and almost out of sight do to the wind conditions.  Recovery was made in the wanna be 4 wheel van of Steve.  Due to the acceleration the battery popped from the clip so the altitude only read 3,856'.  Even with the tube extension, RocSim and the PML charts show total altitude should have been somewhere near 5,300' - a mystery. The apogee and main chute were deployed by the altimeter and a reusable rocket retrieved. Cool! 
 

Taking the leap from model rockets to low and high power flight takes an understanding of the principles involved in rocketry. The National Association of Rocketry, NAR is a great organization to learn from. The NAR pages provide all the answers needed to understand rules and regulations regarding high power flight.  I have also found a great resource in the Internet.  Rocketry web rings and organizations and clubs abound. Start with Rocketry Online, EMRR, or Wild Rocketry. Go blast a few!
 
 

 Update: 10/19/01