2018 Spring Quarter The Potter Rocketeer Volume 1, Issue 1 Upstate Research Rocketry Group Newsletter Special Interest Articles: Saturn 1B Launch The 2017 launch season all of which were eager are built of paper tubing, • Saturn 1B closed for URRG with a to see this bird fly, to with fiberglass and 3D special treat for those assist him. printer parts, surround- • URRF5! that stuck around on ing a Blue Tube core David built this rocket Black Friday weekend. structure. The upper • Black Brant III from scratch over a peri- body is fiberglass. David Carter drove down od of a year and a half. • New Way from Newfoundland with Squareros The his 1/23 scale Saturn design 1B. is his This is not the first time own, the Saturn has made an and appearance in Potter; the David brought it down build for the September was launch, but was unable chroni- to get it ready to fly at cled in that time. This time, a build thread Contents: however, he had the near undivided attention on The Rocketry Forum. (Continued page 6) of several club members, The lower body & fin can About URRF 8 BOD Info 3 (Photos on page 7) Event Calendar 8 Black Friday Launch Report Launch Report 1 URRG closed out its 2017 al, Jackson Pembroke rockets landing unrecov- launch season with the peppered the field with erable. Membership 8 traditional Black Friday booster stages through- meeting The pinnacle moment of launch, held on 11/24 & out the day, flying multi- the weekend was, how- Marketplace 7 25. Compared to last ple 2-stage low power ever, when David Carter year - where we were rockets (and getting eve- Member Spot 5 of Canada flew his giant, forced to cancel due to rything back as well). In 1/23rd scale Saturn 1B. Outreach 3 weather, the conditions fact, Jackson flew the It took a bit of time to this time were about as very last flight of the Rockets 4 get flight ready, but ideal as one could ask season. once it was, the flight Saturn 1B 1 for, given the time of Rick Barnes stepped in to was extremely impres- year. Treasure Chest 2 handle Launch Director sive. Five motors sent With cloudless skies and duties, while still manag- the Saturn aloft, with a URRF5 2 relatively low winds, 18 ing to fly several of his single deployment at ap- Welcome! 3 fliers registered to toss own rockets. With the ogee, and set down in the rockets into the blue. corn down and the field the field off to the right Even Larry Weibert got in soft but walkable, recov- of the flight line. The on the flying, launching ery was pretty easy all only drawback was that twice on Friday and once around. At this writing, I there only a few people more Saturday. As usu- am not aware of any on hand to see it. The Potter Rocketeer 2018 1st Quarter URRF to Return for 2018 The Torrey farms of Rocketry Festival bers typically ap- ed, so we encourage Potter is one of the (URRF) in late June of proaching 150. It is all active fliers to take best launch sites in the this year. Announced fair to say that the Up- a shift and help out. northeast for high originally at URRF4, state Research Rocket- URRF5 is a 3-day power rock- this year will mark the ry Festival is one of th event and will take etry. It is 5 edition of the festi- largest high-power place from June 22nd only fitting, val. launches in the North- through the 24th. Reg- then, that the east. site host one Drawn by a waiver in istration will be open of the prem- excess of 3 miles and A lot goes into prepar- by the time you read ier high- wide-open fields, flyers ing for a launch like this. power from all over mid- this; URRG launches in Atlantic, mid-west, works hard this part of New England regions, to create the country. as well as eastern an experi- Canada (occasionally a ence like Accordingly, URRG will lot farther away still) no other. once again put on the converge for URRF. Dozens of Upstate Research Registered flier num- volunteers are need- Larry’s Treasure Chest By Larry Weibert I guess this is an appropriate and a few others from the treasurer. So, here 2017—200 members & time to give a little history the original group. He we go, let’s cover a URRF–4 and bring everyone up to wanted a new name to few things that have 2018—203 (and grow- speed. In 2009, I stumbled identify the group. come out of that. ing) Members, 50 pre- into LDRS 28 on the Potter Mike liked the Upstate Fall 2011 URRG formed paid prior to Jan 1. Field. I was born again and Research Rocketry This Year we enjoy from there started attending Group, which at the 2011—14 members URRF–5 club functions. time was a small fo- 2012—16 members & rum started by John So, here we are. The In the Fall of 2011, the club co-hosted LDRS-31 Derimiggio (a well- known as PYRO (Potter Youth club is growing every known name within the Rocketry Organization) was 2013-57 members & year. This last year we experiencing some issues rocket community). My held URRF-1, which made a major pur- within its leadership, inhibit- understanding is it was replaced what was chase of a wireless ing its ability to serve its used for sharing rock- once Muckfest, but Wilson FX launch con- membership to Mike Dutch’s etry topics. Mike that’s another story trol system, which will expectations. He started reached out to John to best told by the found- handle any size heading up a new leadership see if it was ok to uti- er Mike Dutch. launch. The club is lize his forum name for financially very team to get the club back on 2014—107 members & track. It was determined that the new club. John healthy, and I am real- URRF-2 a new Club would have to be gave his blessing and ly looking forward to started to productively move the rest is history. 2015—144 members & the upcoming year. forward by those looking to co-hosted LDRS-34 In the fall of 2011 I A couple important save the Potter Field. was the secretary and, 2016—174 members & notes: make sure you Mike Dutch recruited myself at some point, became URRF–3 join early so I don’t get (cont’d on pg 3) Page 2 2018 1st Quarter The Potter Rocketeer BOD Corner Club Outreach Efforts The URRG Board of One area of particular Scouts, and typically, willing to lend a hand Directors held a winter importance to URRG families of all types. or advice when need- meeting on January and its membership ed. 20th in the town of Vic- are activities that bring Many times, children tor, NY. Five of the new members to the involved have never If you are involved in a seven board members club and bring the pos- been exposed to rock- youth group that is in- were in attendance, as sibilities of rocketry to etry before. They may terested in exploring well as some of the those that have not be curious, shy, or ex- what rocketry has to board advisors. had the opportunity to cited, but the club is offer, or perhaps are get involved. always eager to help willing to volunteer Topics of discussion them get a rocket on time to help with included defining indi- Rocketry is a hobby the pad. Simple rock- demonstration events vidual roles of board that not only offers fun ets and motors are al- or to help a child prep members. Mike Dutch & comradery, but also ways available for chil- a rocket, please con- was voted on to the serves as a platform dren that are new to tact Greg Elling, the board, then into the for teaching math and the hobby; typically, club secretary. unfilled role of Vice sciences to its partici- everyone around is President. Rick Barnes pants. Young people was voted into the role getting involved may of newsletter editor. It see the former and was also agreed that begin to learn the lat- duties of Secretary er, or better still, real- could be delegated as ize that areas like sci- required. ences can be fun and URRF5 planning was practical. discussed at length; For this reason, URRG including job functions has an active outreach of members in prepa- program, involving ration for the event. scouting organizations, The next BOD meeting local and regional uni- is slated for 3/17/18. versities, and is a cen- ter for Tripoli’s youth mentoring program. (Larry, cont’d) Many launches are at- overworked, as URRF tended by college Reg ties up a lot of my teams, Cub & Boy Greg Elling explains rocket science time and I bruise easy. Image source: David McCann Also, make sure your TRA or NAR member- ship is paid up prior to Welcome to the Potter Rocketeer! the April launch, as URRG is proud to pre- Each quarter, we will Kit reviews will give you you need it to have sent you with our new bring you launch re- the scoop on recent flyers insurance. This newsletter—The Potter ports, event news and rockets on the market. year we will be check- Rocketeer! As the edi- updates from the BOD. Also, reader contribu- ing at the reg.