In regards to the outreach in Fort Collins.

You will probably have to find a private landowner who would allow you to do this. It is illegal to fly almost anything in public parks in Fort Collins. You might be able to do so in a Larimer County Park, but most of them are tied into the City of Fort Collins, so that will not work. You can not do it at public schools, because they are mistakenly concerned about the fire danger and show a strong lack of understanding. If you could get to the school board, you might get an exception.

We flew rockets with a school teacher and her class after school in Loveland in May. She told me it was easier pulling teeth than to get permission and it took her months to finally get the permission.

I flew rockets inside the Houston Astrodome in 1969. We flew 13 rockets with 70,000 people in attendance. If there was a serious danger, I do not think they would have allowed us to do it. But this was a private entity and not bureaucrats.

If you could get some people from the school board, (and they are busy in the election process) to come out for a demonstration launch and they would allow this launch at a school, preferably the one you want to fly at, and you could get the fire marshal to come also, you might be able to show them what you want to do and then you might get them to allow you.

I live in Wellington, I have been on the town council and I am on the planning commission. I cannot get the Town Administrator to budge. NO rockets in Wellington. I do it all the time and have had no issues, and nothing larger than a "G". If I ever get stopped I might say "I'm sorry". If I were to get in trouble I would get a ticket and go before a judge I pay the fine and go on. I can not do that with a bunch of children and their parents. My next trick may be to go to the variance board.

If you can find a big piece of land and get a letter from the landowner giving you permission for a one time launch, I think that would be the easiest. Otherwise, regretfully, it is too much brain damage. 10's of millions of these Estes rockets have been launched and there has not been an issue, but the people in control will not hear of it. Many of the people you will talk with probably will have flown these rockets when they were kids, but they are politically correct and do not allow anything that might be construed to be dangerous to happen in their areas of responsibility.

Currently, a new Poudre School District School Board will be elected in November. These candidates are out shaking hands trying to get elected. See if you can make friends with these people and then ask them about it before and after the election. It will not be easy. They will have many attorney's working for them that will tell them the supposed liability is too great and the district could be sued. They will want to avoid that at all cost.

I am sorry I cannot be more helpful and positive. I have wanted to do this myself for years and there are others who have also. If you can get the go ahead, there are people who will help.

Best regards,

BEAR

Possibly the Hughes Stadium property, owned by CSU. There is a dirt and gravel overflow lot near the disc golf course that I've seen people use. But I'm unaware as to the legalities or permissions needed. (forwarded to Kirk's email)

I used to launch at Hughes Stadium. I asked Facilities and they were cool with it - even came out for a few launches. Then someone up the food chain didn't like it and didn't allow me. This was a decade ago so maybe they retired. I never new an A motor could be so dangerous.

Edward

If you're willing to go to Longmont, the fire department issues permits (at least for city residents) to fly model rockets in the city without any hassles. I've had one for the past two years. They're free, and good for any time during the calendar year (expire Dec. 31). The only catch is that there's no guarantee a park will be available. So if you really want to plan an event, you'd also need to secure exclusive use of the park, which I haven't done, but didn't sound too hard, just get a permit from the parks department. I don't know if there's a cost to that. I've just used my permit to go somewhere that's devoid of people, and shoot off models with my kids. Having the permit allows me to prove I actually have permission if anyone gives me a hard time, which has never actually happened.

Dave Pinter
TRA #03157