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Information about UK Rocketry Starting out in UK Rocketry Founded in 2004, the Purley Amateur Rocketry Society (PARS) is not
really a society at all. PARS is a focal point for bringing friends
together to get out on the hills, fly rockets and have a lot of fun.
We also build rockets as part of learning for design technology and
we attend official UK rocket launch events such as those organized by
groups such as EARS, UKRA and CROCK. We started out in rocketry by building and launching small model rockets
using motors in class A to D (Estes). We achieved heights of between
500 feet and 1500 feet. We moved onto E-class motors, winning a UK height
record and building clusters and multi-stage rockets in which more than
one motor is employed. In 2006 we entered the field of High Power Rocketry
(HPR) with the objective of achieving a UKRA Level 1 certification.
Four of our members now have this level of competence. If you wish to contact us or be kept informed about future PARS events
please write to pars@fairdene.demon.co.uk
Who is PARS? PARS was the brainchild of Oliver Neil Smith, Alexander Field and Sebastian Field. The web site and mailing list is operated by Howard Smith, the father of Oliver Neil Smith. How to get involved Rocketry is exciting. Visit the PARS web site at www.fairdene.com/pars/ You will find a lot of information about upcoming events, information about rockets and photographs from previous rocket launches. Browsing the web site will give you a pretty good idea of what is involved in the hobby. Please tell your parents Please tell your parents about your interest in rockets. They will need to come with you to your first rocket event. Ask your parents to write to pars@fairdene.demon.co.uk. We will explain how it all works and what is involved. When do meetings take place? The home page displays dates of forthcoming events. These are also announced on the PARS mailing list. To subscribe to the list write to pars@fairdene.demon.co.uk. You'll receive a reply. Once on the mailing list we are able to let you know the dates and location of upcoming events. Nearer to the time of an event we issue a weather forecast. Events can be cancelled if the weather is poor. Where do meetings take place? It is not safe to launch rockets in local parks or fields where members of the public may be present. Rockets need a lot of space. The largest rockets need official air traffic clearance. These are the reasons why PARS only launches rockets at official rocket events and sites. We therefore use the following official launch sites: * East Anglian Rocketry Society www.ears.org.uk/launches/site/index.shtml Building model rockets You don't have to own a rocket to come to an event. Come along and find out about the hobby first. Under supervision we will given you the opportunity to launch and recover one of the club's rockets. If you decide you would like to build or buy a rocket, our members will give you advice about where to buy kits and parts. Other Rocket Societies There are official rocket clubs around the UK. The hobby is not as well known as flying model aircraft but it is growing in popularity. Here are the web sites of official rocket societies we would recommend: * UK Rocketry Association www.ukra.org.uk
- maintain a list of UK rocket clubs We recommend that you become a paid-up member of the UKRA if you plan to take up the hobby. Membership details can be found here www.ukra.org.uk/membership.html. This provides insurance. There you will also find experts to help you. Achievement in Model Rocketry The UKRA maintains Height Records in various categories. Recently, PARS member Oliver Neil Smith achieved a record for an E-class motor. You can read about this here: www.fairdene.com/pars/WOWROC-1763.html The UKRA operates a model rocket achievement program for younger members. Information can be obtained here: http://www.ukra.org.uk/node/73 For more experienced rocketeers, the UKRA operates a formal High Power Rocketry (HPR) certification scheme. Information can be obtained here: http://www.ukra.org.uk/node/20 Another scheme designed for younger rocketeers is Blast Off For Britain www.palimpsest.co.uk/blastoff/ Rocket Suppliers Before you buy your first model rocket or kit, we recommend you visit a rocket event to get advice. When you do wish to buy a kit, we recommend the following suppliers: * The Model Rocket Shop www.modelrockets.co.uk/shop/index.php The field of rocketry offers an almost unlimited range of potential. A small rocket kit can be as little as £20. Even so, such a rocket can reach over 2000 feet. Small rocket motors are still powerful. A D-class motor can be used to launch a rocket over five feet high. Beyond this, the use of more restricted E motors, or clusters of motors, can be used to launch powerful rockets and achieve great heights. Double or triple-stage ejection using multiple motors can take a rocket to 4000 feet or more. The next step is a big one. High Power Rocketry High Power Rocketry (HPR) is a serious and demanding hobby. The most sophisticated rockets are complex vehicles. Many will have onboard electronics and recovery systems. Costs will rise considerably -- as will the time and effort needed to build a High Power Rocket. A good deal of experience with smaller rockets is essential before embarking on a project to build a HRP rocket. Not everyone will take that step. Many younger people have just as much fun, or more, building and flying model rockets. And they are able to watch larger rockets at a national event such as those organized by the UKRA, EARS or Black Knights. To get a glimpse of the potential of UK Rocketry, visit the following Web sites: PARS ONE launch and recovery www.fairdene.com/pars/PARS-ONE.html Some UK rocketeers travel overseas to rocket events in the United States, such as the BALLS or LDRS events organized by Tripoli: BALLS www.tripoli.org/launches/balls.shtml Safety All rocket societies operate a safety code of conduct. These rules are strictly enforced by Range Safety Officers (RSO) at properly run events, such as those of the UKRA or EARS. PARS members have their own code for all launches and will abide by the code of conduct of any club it visits. See our web site.
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