Adrian, have you checked with an industrial fastener supply in your local,(if there is one)? I have purchased #2 and #1 nylon screws from CD Fasteners in Fort Collins off of Link Lane. I also got taps and dies and brass screws of the same sizes there. Probably has to be today because those kinds of places are generally closed on Saturdays. Of course if you have a really good hardware store, you could probably find them in the screw section. I have found such things at the downtown ACE in Fort Collins.

I have #2, #4 and #6 nylon screws, probably a couple hundred of them if you need some for the flight.

Edward

Thanks guys. I'll check my local hobby store and good suggestion on the industrial fastener store. Worse comes to worst I'll just ground test in the rain on Saturday with screws from the better-prepared.

Adrian, McGuckins in Boulder has #2, #4 and #6 nylon screws

Actually, I don't think the choice of week is the biggest problem. It is the limitations of the days. With commercial motors excluded on Sunday and most people unable to make Fri, then a Saturday rain ruins things for a lot of people. The timing of the good weather needs to be perfect.

For example, if it were possible to open Sunday to everybody, then this OF would be looking pretty good. (Not possible this year, right?)

Friday could be traded for Sunday. I know this would make the other side less happy, but what are the relative numbers of the groups and their willingness/ability to play on Fri and Mon?

Actually, I don't think the choice of week is the biggest problem. It is the limitations of the days. With commercial motors excluded on Sunday and most people unable to make Fri, then a Saturday rain ruins things for a lot of people. The timing of the good weather needs to be perfect.

Commercial motors are allowed on Sunday and other research days; you just need to be a Tripoli member. It used to be that commercial motors were allowed and you needed to be a Tripoli Level 2, but I think that got relaxed. (Someone double-check me on this, 'cause I get confused about these things)

Thanks for the correction. I think my more general point about the broad accessibility of Sat vs. the fairly limited access to Sun is still relevant, however.

I guess I'm just frustrated that Saturday is looking doomed. If you're right about no L2, maybe I'll see about joining Tripoli in the next 24 hours, if that's possible. However, the NCR website is explicit about requiring L2. Is that part of the website out-of-date?

G

Not to be divisive, but NAR did everything they could to kill HPR (G & above) before they realized they had to get on board. NOTHING they have ever done since has done anything to advance HPR other than to sign on to the BATFE lawsuit. All the experts were provided by TRA.

Join TRA! (Tripoli)

PS: I should note I was tossed out of an NJ NAR section due to clustering five F motors when I was 12 - this after being warned about my two-F cluster being illegal. I AM biased.

Can any head honcho clear this up?

At the Tripoli site, they say that L2 is required to launch *research* motors, and it seems to imply that non-research motors can be flown by any Tripoli member (except, obviously, the ordinary certification rules).

http://www.tripoli.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YnzHZzIyiPE%3d&tabid=86

However, the NCR website, OF link says "Please Note - Sunday is a Tripoli Research launch. You MUST be over 18, a Tripoli member and L2 certified in order to fly. " That definitely seems to be a contradiction.

Can anybody clarify who can launch commercial motors on Sunday?

Thanks!

Geof

PS. Even if Sunday's rules allow <L2 and everything works out with TRA, the best I could do would be probably a receipt for my new Tripoli membership and my NAR L1 card which would hopefully(?) be accepted as proof of pending TRA L1 cert.

All of the head honchos are out at the launch 🙂

Normally, when we conduct Tripoli Research launches at Hartsel, we make the same stipulations: Must be a Tripoli member, must be level 2 or 3, and must be 18 or older. However, after reading through the Tripoli Research Safety Code again, it would appear that you are right -- you only have to be L2 or 3 to fly research motors.

You might want to confirm this with Joe or another NCR officer. They will have the final say on what is allowed. It's possible that the Tripoli Research Safety Code has been modified since the rules were last examined.

Dave is correct, you must be a L2 or L3 TRA to fly research only. If you are flying commercial motors at a research sanctioned launch you must be a TRA member to fly.

Dave is most certainly correct. The rules were changed 2 years ago. You don't need to be certified, you just need to be a Tripoli member. Of course you can only fly to your certification level. non-cert- up to G, Level 1 H though I, Level 2 J through L, Level 3 - M through ZZZ

That's great!

But, one last question: can I join Tripoli at the launch site? Joining online is not going to provide much "evidence" of membership within the next 24 hours.

Geof

I have 1/2 inch of snow here in Highlands Ranch. Looking at the forecast for Carr, it looks like winds are expected 15-30 throughout the day, in addition to the rain. My plan had been to drive out mid-day today, get the tower set up and glue in some grains in the motor in preparation for a flight tomorrow, but under the circumstances I think it would make more sense for me to do everything I can at home, and drive out early tomorrow, skipping the tent adventure.

If anyone is planning to use my tower, I am still planning to bring it tomorrow.

Yes you can join onsite - see Joe Hinton. You can also cert up to L2 via Joe or if you are cert'd via NAR, then those certs are reciprocal.

Snow falling in Lyons, outside temp is 34 degrees. I'm going to stay home in front of a fire with my wife.