Model Forum / General / Rockets / October 2005

Yesterday, September 27th, was the 75th anniversary of the VfR - Verein fur
Raumschiffahrt (Society for Space Travel) receiving the keys to gates of the
vacant town owned facility in Reicnickendorf Germany, making it essentially
the first launch field for any organized rocketry club.

This is where the VfR did their first tests on liquid fueled rockets. Of
particular interest to folks who launch under tight local restrictions, is
what happened to the club after they launched a rocket that landed on and
set fire to an abandoned shack shortly after they started launching their
first 'Rrepulsor' models.

The police came and instituted the following restictions before allowing
them to continue experiments:
1. No rockets (with fuel) greater than 11lbs
2. Rocket motor must have made 3 flawless test runs
3. Heavier rockets require special permits and authorization before launch.
4. Flights only on workdays between 7am and 3pm
5. No rocket flights allowed on windy days.

So in case one has wondered how long after the advent of EX it was before
the "man" came down on his head with restrictions on usage, about a month or
two.

In case your curious source is an old copy of Rockets Missles and Space
Travel by Willy Ley (Von Braun's mentor), published in 1951. Found it on
ebay, great read on the history of rockets from their earliest beginnings.
Ley was quite the historian.

Mark