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U.S. Internationals Team
The 18th World Space Modeling Championships (WSMC) will be held in August, 2010 in Serbia. The NAR is organizing a team to represent the United States. A competitive team selection flyoffs will be held on August 8 and 9, 2009 at NARAM-51.
Participating in a World Championships as a representative of the US is an incredible experience for contestants and supporters alike. One of the major goals of the NAR's international competition program is to make the WSMC accessible to all NAR members. The NAR and other sponsors were able to provide scholarships for between 50 and 90% of the total participation costs of our Junior contestants in both of the last two WSMC.
More data on the flyoffs can be found in the "files" area of the NAR FAI Yahoo site in Internats Bulletin #1. Or you can contact the Flyoff CD, Bill Stine or the head of the NAR's FAI Activities Subcommittee, John Langford. We hope to see you at the flyoffs!!!
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B Division NARAM Travel Grants
Travel funding grants of up to $800 each are available for up to three B Division (age 14-17) first-time fliers at NARAM-51. Young NAR members who want to attend under this program must apply by June 13. The application package is on the NAR website. |
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NAR Section Safety Grant Program
Applications from NAR sections for grants of up to $250 to buy range safety equipment under this new program are being accepted by NAR Safety Committee Chairman Andy Eng through May 31. Some of the $4000 allocation from the NAR Board is still unclaimed! See the program description on the NAR website for details. Checks for approved applications will be sent out in June. | |
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Message from the NAR President
Greetings!
JOINT NAR/TRA STATEMENT ON THE LAWSUIT VS BATFE
Since the BATFE has not appealed the decision of the Federal District Court of March 16, 2009, which ordered the agency to vacate their classification of APCP as an explosive, and the period for their ability to do so has expired as of May 16, 2009, on advice of counsel, the judgment is considered final although we have not received confirmation from BATFE. Accordingly, members may operate under the understanding that APCP rocket motors are no longer regulated as an explosive material by BATFE, and no longer require the permits formerly required by the agency to buy, sell, or possess such motors.
Members possessing a LEUP are advised that they should evaluate their individual situation based upon whether they possess (or plan to possess) and store materials that are still considered regulated by BATFE. While APCP rocket motors are now no longer regulated under the requirements of the "Orange Book" and are not subject to requiring a LEUP, other materials may be subject to these requirements.
Members are also reminded that both NAR and TRA safety codes stipulate what motors they may possess, depending on their level of flyer certification. These rules still apply to our members. We likewise strongly encourage vendors of hobby rocket motors to continue to work cooperatively with the rocketry community to only sell rocket motors to customers who possess flyer certifications commensurate with the motors they wish to purchase. Ensuring we maintain our strong level of self-regulation will be an essential element in our ability to retain this freedom from overregulation by outside agencies.
Members should immediately contact the leadership of NAR or TRA should they encounter situations where any BATFE personnel conduct themselves in a manner inconsistent with the final judgment of the Federal District Court.
Trip Barber Ken Good NAR President TRA President |
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Team America Rocketry Challenge
(TARC 2009)
The NAR and our partners at the Aerospace Industries Association held the annual National Finals for the Team America Rocketry Challenge on Saturday, May 16 at the Great Meadow site in The Plains, VA. The top 100 teams nationally, from 30 states, competed for $60,000 in cash prizes. This year's winning team was from Madison West High School in Madison, WI, taking home a prize of $10,000 for themselves, $1000 for their school, and earning a free trip for the whole team to the Paris Air Show from Raytheon Corporation.
At the conclusion of the TARC Finals, the U.S. winners flew off against the visiting Royal Liberty School team (of Romford, Essex) who had been the winners of the UKAYROC competition, an identical event now being held each year in the UK. The Transatlantic Championship for 2009 was claimed by the UK.
TARC is the NAR's premier (but not our only) program for "paying forward" to interest a new generation in aerospace as a career and rocketry as a hobby. It has been extremely effective in doing this for about 7000 students per year, and has greatly increased the visibility of our hobby and of the NAR in schools across the US and in the professional aerospace industry. The hundreds of NAR volunteers who support and teach local school teams, and the 100 who come serve as range crew each year at the TARC Finals, are making a big difference.
For more information about TARC see the NAR TARC webpage or the official TARC website. To volunteer as a NAR senior member "mentor" to coach a student team in next school year's TARC 2010, contact Trip Barber at ahbarber@alum.mit.edu. Rules for TARC 2010 will be released in about a month and registration will open in early September. |
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Model Rocketeer Newsletter
The single issue of the paper Model Rocketeer newsletter that will be published this year has been printed and mailed to all NAR members. This issue has paper ballots in it for three issues: elections for the three NAR Board of Trustees positions that are open this year; votes on a proposed change to the NAR By Laws establishing a Technology Committee; and votes on this year's proposed changes to the Model Rocket Sporting Code (Pink Book). Please read the materials and send in your ballots when you get your Model Rocketeer! | |
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