AARG Meeting

July 27, 2002

The PPP field is still gasping along as a rocket field. The construction is intermittent, so we may get another monthly launch out of it. We will have to go launch-to-launch to keep up with the status of the construction.

The Wolbrueck field is north of the Hutto dump. Insurance is in place. A waiver will be requested once we have the exact coordinates. Until we get a waiver, we can do notification launches (once we get the coordinates). The street address of Wolbrueck field is somewhere in the email archives, and it pulls up an accurate map on Mapquest. There was also talk of a caravan from downtown Hutto to the site for first-timers.

NARAM is next weekend. AARG is in position to have a good finish. All AARG members should enter and fly. Even non-winners get points with qualified flights.

Luis is soliciting comments about the next contest year. The future of TSC is uncertain.

There is $1,331.31 in the bank as of July 26, 2002.

We still need a good trailer. If everyone pays his dues three years ahead, we can buy the trailer now. We are looking for a 6'x12' single axle trailer.

LDRS was hard on the launch equipment. It all needs to be cleaned. There will be a cleanup on July 27. Some of the equipment will be taken to NARAM.

Team America is a dual egg, precision altitude, staged rocket contest. AARG is available as a resource for schools. More information is available on the NAR website.

LDRS report: Pat and Loretta are largely responsible for the success of LDRS. The AARG shift went as smoothly as any. There were more newton-seconds flown at LDRS 2002 than any other amateur launch ever. In elections, Dick Embry is the new president. Bruce Kelly is now the magazine editor only. A lawsuit update was given at LDRS. The judge allowed four of the five counts to continue in the lawsuit. One was dismissed because of untimeliness, not because of a lack of merit. As a result of this decision, the case may now proceed to trial. The main point of contention is whether ammonium perchlorate composite propellant is "any chemical compound[,] mixture or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion." The BATF contends that it is while the hobby contends that it is not. One unfortunate response by the BATF to the judge's decision has been a program of monitoring of all public rocket discussion groups on the internet. The BATF is monitoring RMR and all other rocketry chatrooms and lists. The purpose of this is to gather inaccurate or exaggerated comments by rocket hobbyists that can be complied and used as evidence to try to convince the judge that this is a dangerous or irresponsible hobby. Apparently the BATF hopes to use this dossier to draw attention away from the main point in the lawsuit.

Aerotech is ready to start production. Cesaroni is close to having 54mm motors ready. With Kosdon on line and another vendor soon to be announced, there will soon be four major motor manufacturers creating a competitive environment for the benefit of consumers in the hobby.

Rick will keep the equipment in his garage for a while, but we need a trailer so that he can open space in his garage.

Rick announced that he will not seek reelection as vice-president. This is the most active position in the club, and it is now open for candidates at the next election.

Hawk report: 531 mph; 7,100'; 100# at liftoff. The fins were well built, and there was no roll in the flight. Thank you to all helpers. The rocket, complete with north Texas dirt on it, is on display at Cedar Park Hobbies. Videos of the Hawk flight were handed out by Debbie Randolph.

We will begin soliciting donations to the lawsuit fund at all launches.

The rocketry club in Orangeburg, North Carolina will have a mini- LDRS in September. LDRS 19 was there. The field is a good one.

A motion was passed to change the AARG official monthly sport launches to the first Saturday of the month. This will begin with the Labor Day weekend September 2002.

Jim Parker
Secretary