letter to secure a high power field

I would forget the letter and just go there and ask politely. If they say No, they say no... If they ask about info give them the info. Give them time to review it and stop by a week later to get yer answer or to answer any questions they may have. Thats what my bro did for the small launch field we have.

wish i could just stop and ask, but if i did that to every possible launch field i'd never get to fly!

tater: I hear where you are coming from, but theres nothing like a face to face sit down.....especially if you call ahead and make an appointment to talk to landowner and then go prepared with models,and an info packet with visual aids.....sorta like a job interview....... shockie B)

agreed....right now I am looking at the "call and make an appointment phase". I was planning on changing the last paragraph to say "we wil be contacting you in the next week or two to set up an appointment to demonstrate (something something something)" maybe bring a fat boy, an initiator, and a loc iv plus engines.

I'd prefer to mail out the hobby overview stuff so that if they wish, they will be able to read through to see how safe the hobby if. maybe I should also add a copy of the Rocketry code.

I want the letter to supply some background information, so they can get some time to think it over and not say "NO" out of hand. I belive by calling that some people equate your club to telemarketing, and many people are in the habit of saying NO on the phone.

I would replace "medium to high power" with "large" most people equate "high-power" with military-type rockets and missiles, I know it's wrong but that's the way it is. Will the trailer stay at the site or will it come and go with the group? Maybe not even mention it until a face to face can be arranged.

I would delete the "level 1 low power" and say "a model rocket kit of the type we plan to launch, for your review

If you're not using a letterhead spell out whatever Mars stands for; or instead of saying "We" in the first sentence say "The Metroplitan Area Rocket Society (M.A.R.S.) is.......

Good luck, William Bahus

Your use of terminology could be confusing or even lead them to think they are giving permission for one thing and then you show up and fly way beyond that. Here is what I mean:

Do not use terms like "Model Rocket" if you are really talking about "High Power Rockets".

Do not use terms like " level 1 low power model rocket kit". Try saying "Skill Level 1 low power model rocket kit". The reason is that "High Power Rockets" have "Levels" and Model Rockets have "Skill Levels" that indicate difficulty building or flying them.

I have found that property owners (or park managers) want to see the worst case of what is intended to be launched. That can mean a small model rocket which will fly really high and may drift into areas of the property not permitted or it could be the largest/scariest/loudest/most-powerful rocket.

They love complete honesty and also like to learn about the cool rockets. They may even come launch with you.

Good luck.

-Fred Shecter NAR 20117

-- ""Remove "zorch" from address (2 places) to reply.

Bill,

I had a similar thought regarding the "mid to high power" phrase. I would replace it with "hobby rocket" or something like that. I can easily imagine that a landowner wouldn't have a clue and would jump to conclude that you were talking about something like military rocket engines or even larger.

Bill Bahus wrote:

The average field owner thinks rockets are rockets. Do not use those terms and specify how big a space you need based on 1/4 the expected altitude.

If you do that I would supply motors.

Called a large field owener about use of his field for high power launches. He said that he couldn't give us permission cause the feild in question is group owned. he did not have any idea about model rocketry and I suggested that we do a demo launch during their next board meeting. the field is 160 acres with unoccupied buildings with neighbors who don't mind noise.

Just little field in wisconsin, I doubt if any of you know of it. has many visitors though, Phoenix - Dokken - Jackyl - Whitesnake - After Dark - Night Ranger - WAR - Twisted Sister - Alice Cooper - Def Leppard - Public Reaction - Firehouse - Loverboy - Grand Funk Railroad - Sammy Hagar - Lynyrd Skynyrd- 2nd Hand Stone - Eddie Money - Rick Springfield - .38 Special - Heart - Boston

well what else do they do with the campground area the rest of the year? board meeting is the 8th

It seems YOU indeed rock!

got a call tonight, they asked if they can see the demo launch before the heineken guy shows up, so i dont htink dinner will be on their minds :)

about 8 members on the board, any suggestions to what type of documentation would be good to offer them?

Motivation, Presentation, Emotion Science, Math, Education Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll

Sometimes the shortest path to success is not a dry presentation of fact and data.

Quicktime

AVI Turn it up!

Safety will be the major concern, not yours but their property! Show you follow the proper distances for each engine size. Display the fact that this is a safe hobby. Err on the side of safety and things should go well. Don't forget to call it in to the FAA!! It takes 5 minutes. I never fear a motor from 50 feet away as it takes off, my fear is the machine which comes in unnannounced with no aspect ration trying to land on my head. Make sure there are no ejection failures, if they do occur make sure they occur way out there! Not near the pads. Aim them with common sense and you'll do well.

Chuck

I wouldn't give them a lot. Maybe something simple off the NAR page, and some sort of statement of insurance. The tickets weren't for that night. Remember "what's in it for me?". In this case it's them thinking that. Why should I let you present me with a possible liability?

Joel. phx

What goes with Heineken? Fish?

documentation

160 acres isn't a whole lot for HPR launches. If you assume that it's entirely square, then that's only 2656ft on a side. Enough for smaller stuff to maybe 4kft or so, but not for anything with any altitude.

IMHO, of course.

leave? no they GROW them there, along with the portapotty farm in oshkosh :)

only nice if they say yes

Not only is it small, limiting flight altitudes, but it's encrochable from any side, since a road or building 1500' away can shut you down. TO be safe you need more than 3000' on a side. That's just over 206 acres. If I were looking, I'd look for something a mile square.

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

If you revert to the offset distances in efffect till the ESTES proposal to change offsets, the only offset needed for sites is 1/4 the expected altitude. I claim with dual deployment that can be cut in half again.

Launch pad offsets should be 100 feet or less.

Jerry

I'd look for whatever I could get!