Could anyone tell me or point in the right direction to find out if there is any formal or recommended protocol to launch small Estes model rockets in New York state?
I haven't launched any model rockets in at least 15 years and to be honest I was never more than a young kid using empty school yards and abandoned runways in the city without explicit permission from or notififying anyone besides my own dad.
Now since obtaining a bit of land in a rural farm county in upstate New York I've had an itch to buy a starter kit (under the guise of it being for the children). Are there any rules to play by? As stupid as it sounds I'm afraid everything changed since 9/11.
John Karpich - 29 Aug 2005 04:01 GMT
> Could anyone tell me or point in the right direction to find out if there is any formal or recommended protocol to launch small Estes model rockets in New York state?
> I haven't launched any model rockets in at least 15 years and to be honest I was never more than a young kid using empty school yards and abandoned runways in the city without explicit permission from or notififying anyone besides my own dad.
> Now since obtaining a bit of land in a rural farm county in upstate New York I've had an itch to buy a starter kit (under the guise of it being for the children). Are there any rules to play by? As stupid as it sounds I'm afraid everything changed since 9/11.
AS long as you are flying Estes model rockets there are no regulations
that you should worry about. Common sense rules do apply though ..
do not launch in the presence of low flying aircraft
do not launch in a field that you do not belong (seek permission of the
land owner)
do not launch in a field where dry conditions exist where a fire
would be a problem
Be aware of non launch participants,( framers, kids, BULLS)
You way check with the local fire Marshall to see if there are any local
regulations/restrictions.
The club that I fly in launches a couple of times a year on Cobelskil NY
Check the website for launch dates .
http://www.ctra-narconn.org/html/home/index_home.htm
The Sept launch is the "invitational" for club members, so you're sol
until next year. There is another club based in New York which may be
closer to you.
Check out the national club sites. NAR is more "model rocket" oriented
so that may be the one that you go to ...
http://nar.org/NARseclist.asp
Good luck, allot has changed in the hobby since we were last kids !
John
Mark Daughtry, SR - 29 Aug 2005 05:22 GMT
> Be aware of non launch participants,( framers, kids, BULLS)
<tounge in cheek mode on>
Yeah, gotta watch out for them Framers. The're a squirley bunch of SOB's.
They think the only use of wood should be for framing pictures, mirrors,
etc. I say eternal hell to all framers.
<tongue in cheek mode off>
Best regards,
Mark Daughtry, SR
Vince - 29 Aug 2005 13:17 GMT
>> Be aware of non launch participants,( framers, kids, BULLS)
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> etc. I say eternal hell to all framers.
> <tongue in cheek mode off>
No, I think he meant framers, as in the framers of the Constitution.
We always have a designated framer spotter at our launches, just
in case one pops out of the ground unexpectedly at the last minute.
Mario Perdue - 29 Aug 2005 13:28 GMT
> We always have a designated framer spotter at our launches, just
> in case one pops out of the ground unexpectedly at the last minute.
You don't have to worry about the framers popping out of the ground.
Once they see what we have done to the Constitution they return to their
hole. On a quiet day you can hear them sobbing.
Mario
randyolb@charter.net - 29 Aug 2005 12:50 GMT
> Could anyone tell me or point in the right direction to find out if there is any formal or recommended protocol to launch small Estes model rockets
Go here: http://www.nar.org/ and read the safety code. Otherwise call your
local fire department and ask about your local regs.
Randy
http://vernarockets.com/
Bob Kaplow - 29 Aug 2005 18:48 GMT
> Otherwise call your
> local fire department and ask about your local regs.
One key in dealing with regulators of any kind. If they ever say "NO",
demand a copy of the actual regulation or ordinance that prohibits rockets.
More often than not they are guessing, and no such regulation exists. It's
easier for government burrocrats to say no than to risk something happening
on their watch.

Signature
Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L >>> To reply, there's no internet on Mars (yet)! <<<
Kaplow Klips & Baffle: http://nira-rocketry.org/Document/MayJun00.pdf
www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of
liberty. -- Thomas Jefferson
Jerry Irvine - 30 Aug 2005 17:21 GMT
> > Otherwise call your
> > local fire department and ask about your local regs.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> easier for government burrocrats to say no than to risk something happening
> on their watch.
27 CFR 555.141-a-8 antics is hard proof of it too.

Signature
Jerry Irvine, Box 1242, Claremont, California 91711 USA
Opinion, the whole thing. <mail to:01rocket@gte.net>
Please bring common sense back to rocketry administration. (too late)
Produce then publish. http://www.usrockets.com
Ebay. http://tinyurl.com/6wlp8
ms@none.com - 29 Aug 2005 13:27 GMT
> Could anyone tell me or point in the right direction to find out if there is any formal or recommended protocol to launch small Estes model rockets in New York state?
> I haven't launched any model rockets in at least 15 years and to be honest I was never more than a young kid using empty school yards and abandoned runways in the city without explicit permission from or notififying anyone besides my own dad.
> Now since obtaining a bit of land in a rural farm county in upstate New York I've had an itch to buy a starter kit (under the guise of it being for the children). Are there any rules to play by? As stupid as it sounds I'm afraid everything changed since 9/11.
AS long as you are flying Estes model rockets there are no regulations
that you should worry about. Common sense rules do apply though ..
do not launch in the presence of low flying aircraft
do not launch in a field that you do not belong (seek permission of the
land owner)
do not launch in a field where dry conditions exist where a fire
would be a problem
Be aware of non launch participants,( framers, kids, BULLS)
You way check with the local fire Marshall to see if there are any local
regulations/restrictions.
The club that I fly in launches a couple of times a year on Cobelskil NY
Check the website for launch dates .
http://www.ctra-narconn.org/html/home/index_home.htm
The Sept launch is the "invitational" for club members, so you're sol
until next year. There is another club based in New York which may be
closer to you.
Check out the national club sites. NAR is more "model rocket" oriented
so that may be the one that you go to ...
http://nar.org/NARseclist.asp
Good luck, allot has changed in the hobby since we were last kids !
John
>> Thanks for the quick reply and the links, much appreciated. The model rockets are right what I had in mind.
Bulls, fires, farmers oh my.... Now I have to ask if NAR membership would be recommended for the additional liability insurance?
KC