NARHAMS Model Rocket Club

The NARHAMS model rocket club serves Maryland and the Washington Metropolitan Area. The club is an official chapter section of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). First established in 1965, NARHAMS is the oldest continuously operating model rocket club in the United States and was named Section of the Year for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007. We are also the National Championship section for 2001 and 2004.

Snow!

The NARHAMS business meeting scheduled for Saturday, February 6 has been rescheduled to February 13. The usual location was already booked for another event, so we will be meeting in the Hap Arnold building at College Park Airport instead. Turn left at the entrance to the airport, and follow the drive around to the little blue house next to the hangars.

A Call to Arms

Comrade Rocketeers,

The Central Committee has decided that for the collective benefit of NARHAMS a launch of model rockets reminiscent of Cold War era Soviet missiles shall be launched during the February 2010 sport launch in Mt. Airy.

Many of us old NARHAMS Russkies fondly remember the by-gone day when respect was measured by the mega-tonnage of your nuclear warhead resting securely inside the payload fairing of a proven intercontinental missile. Comrades, let us relive our days of glory with the construction and launch of model rockets designed to recapture the might of Cold War era Soviet missiles.

It is your duty to our beloved Motherland to search the internet for images of Cold War era Soviet missiles. Set aside your caviar and vodka for just a few hours and construct a likeness. An Estes Big Bertha, Estes Firehawk and a Quest Starhawk can be painted olive green or forest green. Add a red star and/or the letters CCCP to make it look intimidating to the Americanski. Good Russian boys will prepare the gold colored, two-stage Custom Sam-X model.

Comrades, let the capitalist Yankee be fearful of his American sky becoming filled with our model rockets. On the third Saturday in February the red star of Russia shall rise above the fields of Mt. Airy.

Respectfully submitted,

Comrade Mankevich

March Fun Contest

NARHAMS will be holding a "fun" contest during the monthly sport launch at the Old National Pike Park field on March 20, 2010. I am giving you seven weeks notice to build or repair one model in order to participate.

We are going to do some things to try to increase participation from the sport flyers to join in flying the contest events.

NO ENTRY FEE!
We will be awarding kits for first place finish for under 18 (A vs. B div) and adults (C vs. T div). The overall points winners for each group will also win gift cards to HobbyWorks.

We have decided to fly the events according to the Pink Book as a normal NAR sanctioned contest, however we have also added some "Gentlemen's Agreements" that are not enforceable per the Pink Book, however if you decide to not follow the agreement rules, you will face the wrath of the crowd booing you!

Each event is to be flown with a "Big Bertha" style model. A and B divisions may use a "Baby Bertha" style model. There is no requirement that the same model be used for all events.

If you have a question please ask, otherwise I expect to see you there and participating!

So here are the events:

( 8 WF ) Random Duration. This event is a single best flight with the target duration picked at the start of the meet. The model can not separate.

( 12 WF ) "B" Parachute Duration MR. This event would be flown as the best single flight using a plastic or nylon parachute suggested limit of 18 inches diameter. The model can not separate.

( 14 WF ) "C" Streamer Duration MR. This event would be flown as the best single flight using a streamer made of 2-inch wide crepe paper. The model can not separate. (Yes the CD will have rolls of crepe paper to share.)

( 4 WF ) Open Spot Landing. This event would be flown as the best single flight. Contestants may use a "Big Daddy" style model. The model can not separate.

Web Site Upgrades

Welcome to the new and improved NARHAMS web site! The interface is very similar to the NARAM-50 site, which got many complements on its speed and usability. Some of the other changes:

All email addresses are encoded to reduce spam-bot harvesting
Calendar of events is now stored in a database, and is generated on the fly to show only future events.
Directions to various locations are now included in the event details page instead of being on a separate page.
Minutes and ZOG-43 pages are also generated on the fly based on files in those directories. This will make it less time consuming to show new files and hopefully let me keep mostly up to date. Old ZOGs that Jennifer scanned are also online now.

All of the old site content is still available here. Eventually that will go away as part of continuing cleanup.

NARHAMS in the News!

Dylan Slagle of the Carrol County Times spent the day with us at the Mt. Airy launch on March 15, taking tons of photos, and interviews of Jim Filler and Mike Kelley. His story and photos were published as a full-page spread in the March 30 print edition. There is also a nice video available on YouTube.

Meetings

Meetings are usually held on the first Saturday of each month, starting at 5:30 pm, at the College Park Airport. The first part of the meeting will be a building session or discussion. The business meeting will start around 8 pm, and will end by 10 pm (most nights will be more like 9 pm). Any leftover items still get discussed over a late dinner at Ledo's.

The next scheduled meeting is February 13 at College Park Airport, 5:30 - 9:30 pm

Directions

Launches

Club launches are held on the third Saturday of every month, weather permitting, at Old National Pike Park in Mt. Airy, Maryland. The field can support up to G-powered motors with the appropriate FAA waivers. Launches usually start around 10 am and are always open to non-club members who wish to fly.

Directions to Mt. Airy Field

NARHAMS also supports the oldest public demonstration launches in the United States. These launches are held on the first Sunday of each month at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, starting at 1 pm. Anyone who wishes to fly at these events may do so. Due to the limited recovery area, the flying of high power models and untested designs is discouraged. The impulse limit at Goddard is D engine or less.

Directions to Goddard

Becoming a Member

If this sounds like fun, why not become a member? Dues are only 10 cents a week, with 50 cents minimum required to join. Download the membership form and send it in today!

Please note that to be eligible to vote at club meetings or to compete as a member of NARHAMS, you must also:
a) be a current member of the NAR
b) attend at least one of the previous 3 monthly business meetings

Mailing List

The NARHAMS-members Yahoo group is primarily for NARHAMS members to discuss upcoming events related to the club. Non-club members are free to join in the discussion, but please keep the postings at least somewhat related to model rocketry.

Additional Information

NARHAMS President: Jim Filler
6715B Overton Circle #13
Frederick, MD 21703
301-524-4447
NARHAMS Section Advisor: Mark Wise
P.O. Box 8507
Washington, DC 20032
651-398-4987
National Association of Rocketry: P.O. Box 407
Marion, IA 52302
800-262-4872
Sign up for the NAR's electronic newsletter here
Public Launches at Goddard: NASA Goddard Visitor Center
301-286-8981

Ed Pearson
6808 97th Pl.
Seabrook, MD 20706
301-577-7775

Jennifer Ash-Poole
1404 Sweet Cherry Court
Severn, MD 21144
410-674-6262

Mt. Airy, MD Weather Forecast