DART Blog

Good day!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:54:00 +0000

Nice launch to close the first half of the year! We had good, then bad, then great weather today! Threw a tarp over the gear for a cell that rolled through and once it cleared we had a great day! The south wind was a little odd but all in all I'm very pleased that I didn't outright cancel based on the weather forecasts.

Looks like there will be a June desert launch - June 6,7,8 but it will likely be in the 90s - 100 so bring the survival gear! I think I may schlep out for this one and cook some of my killer stew again!

I'll look into finding a summer site in north county - there was one for a time run by Jim Myers of Discount Rocketry, but I understand that is no longer in operation.

2 months till the next launch - Build rockets!

Sparky7.0

Your L Present Dent

OK! Saturday 5/24/08 Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Sat, 24 May 2008 06:13:00 +0000

I will be at the field rain or shine at 8 am and hang out till 9:30/10 am
(likely napping if it is raining)

If it clears - we fly
If not - we don't!

There is a launch available on Thursday June 5 from 8am - 4pm. I cannot host it so it will require an NAR member to be in attendance. The equipment and permits can be picked up at my house - just call if you are going to try to utilize the date.

Sparky7.0

Somebody up there likes me.........

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:14:00 +0000

I came home from a 2 hour stint at my work (on Saturday) and my neighbor knocks on my door and hands me my briefcase! It was delivered to her doorstep very early this morning. Everything is still in it, missing the $20 but I'll call that a lesson learned! LOCK YOUR DOORS! The 3 checks that needed to be deposited are still there - I'll contact each of the members and let them know. (one was still in the original envelope unopened)

The DART account was restarted under a new number yesterday and new checks are in the mail.

So I figure, some kid saw me drive up, fumble the clicker and go in - saw a target of opportunity and grabbed what they could see and split. A parent finds the case in the kid's posession and just drops it off to get it over with. No worries from me - I'll take devine intervention anytime.

Interceptor build tomorrow at Rick's house in Ramona

See you all at Fiesta on the 24th! Long summer dry spell ahead!

Sparky

TARC Launch Dates in Very SO CAL!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:28:00 +0000

So CAL TARC Teams!

The following dates are available for qualification flights at the
San Diego DART Club's Fiesta Island site:

Friday March 14 8am
Saturday March 22 8am
Saturday March 29 8am
Thursday April 3 8am

Please contact DART via the website for further information.

http://www.dartrocketry.com

Ad Astra!

TIME CHANGE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:47:00 +0000

Just a reminder! Clocks move forward on Saturday night. Late start at 9am. if you show up at 10 we will all point and laugh! (note to self - DO NOT forget time change)

Sparky7.0

DART Competition Flying!

noreply@blogger.com (PunkRocketScience) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:11:00 +0000

Hey DART members!

We are holding the first DART competition flying in years at the next launch! No NAR points are up for grabs this time, but if there is interest in keeping the competitions going, we can start holding sanctioned, points scoring events! The points year is well past half over, so just think of this as practice for the coming season starting in July!

We are going to fly: A parachute duration, A streamer duration, A boost glider.

Hope to see you all out there with your rockets and stop watches!

December 9 CANX

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:20:00 +0000

Team,

Tomorrow's launch is cancelled. Hate to do it but it's going to be
T-storms around here for the next 24 hours.

The last launch this year is on the 30th.

Have a wonderful Holiday (build many, many rockets!)

Sparky

Oh no! Not Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:00:00 +0000

Team,

The forecast is for possible rain on Sunday Morning. Check here for a up to the minute call on the weather. You can always ring me on my cell (619) two oh six - six nine oh nine.

I should be getting the 2008 dates this coming week.

See ya there!

Sparky

Oct 27th Launch UN CANCEL!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:49:00 +0000

Team!

I just got a call from the City Parks & Rec and Fiesta is now open! The Launch is ON!!!!!
8 am start. If you have a Hi Power (1/4" - 1/2" rod) pad - please bring it out!

See you there!

Sparky

Oct 27th Cancel

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:23:00 +0000

Team,

With the county-wide fire situatation - Fiesta Island is being used
as an evacuation area for horses and other large animals - I am
cancelling the launch this Saturday.

Accounting Group and Scouts - So Sorry again! We will get you
launched yet!

Please pass the word to all the friends - anyone needs anything
- tell us! I know this club and we can do anything, anytime, anywhere!

Ad Asta!

Sparky

PLASTER BLASTER GO!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:36:00 +0000

"Go Ye To the Desert And Fly Many MANY rockets"
(quote from the Book of Amaments, Ch13, vs 6)

On on that day, the peoples gathered their belongings and made the long
pilgrimage to the land where Drywall is formed. They were lured to the
shores of the (dry) lake greeted by gentle breezes. And it was the first day
of PB6...............

Murphy lives. Your intrepid El Presidente was driving home from work
yesterday - ready to load the van with all things needed for PB6 when
the MPV turned on it's Check Engine light and started stumbling like
a drunken Sailor (with apologies to all former and current drunken Sailors)

While not a huge issue in my (eventual) attendance at PB6, it is a VERY HUGE
issue in regards to the 30+ sets of Launch Leads out to the site today (Thrusday)
Scott O'Connell will stop by on his way out around noon - and if he's running
late - Chuck Pretto will be by around 4. Thanks for stepping in guys!!

Sparky7.0

Shoulda stayed in bed.............

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:59:00 +0000

Sorry folks - rained out! We tried to get a few rockets off
this morning and the sky opened up and soaked us!

Apologies to Nicole and the Accounting Group -
she will make arrangements for the group to fly
at the Oct 14 or 27 launch.

Team Punk Rocket Science had a successful ejection
test of the Y-Wing and will be putting the finishing
touches on that monster. Give Todd Mullin a call
if you want to help out!

Andy and the gang are outr in Santee working on the
X-Wing - if you need something to do on a rainy day
GET OUT THERE AND BUILD!

I'm got the equipment van at my house and inventoring
the status of all the pads and electronics. Come on over and
bring your solder irons!

See ya at Plaster Blaster 6!

Sparky7.0

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:23:00 +0000

PLAN OF ACTION FOR SEPT 22

Weather:

I will make a determination at 7:30 am about rain conditions - if they seem
minimal or passing through I will go to the field and start setting up at 8 am
- if it is not raining.

If it is pouring buckets - That's all folks!

After Launch Projects:

X-Wing

If you have not been out to Andy Worner's to see/help slave over the X-wing
you are missing one of the coolest rockets ever built.
http://www.polecataerospace.com/X-Wing.htm
There is a LOT of work to still do to get this beauty to flying status so get on
out to Santee and lend a hand!

Plaster Blaster Equipment Check

I have the equipment trailer at my house and will start the PB6 equipment
check tomorrow after the launch. I can use 3 or 4 bodies (and at least 2 that
can solder leads) to clear the trailer and check all the gear for function and
safety

I live right up the hill from Fiesta Island off of Milton. Call me if you need
directions:

six one nine - two oh six - six nine oh nine

Lock and load team! We're getting down to the wire and there's lots to be
done!

Sparky7.0

Oh NO! not again!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:56:00 +0000

Members,

I have managed to screw up and really goofed on the schedule!

NO LAUNCH ON JUNE 23 OR AUGUST 25

When I had gotten the schedule this year I was sure that I had verified all
the dates requested against what was issued on the permit.

Youth OTL(the group we had problems with 3 years ago) has those dates
and it is my fault that I didn't catch it sooner. Many thanks to John
Bowman for looking over the permit and finding the mistake before
it was a disaster! Any groups that were scheduled please contact me
immediately to reschedule.

What this means unfortunately, is that the launch last Sunday was the last for
2 whole months! The exception to this is a school launch I have on Tuesday,
June 26th with Perkins Elementary. Club members are welcome to attend and
fly - please give me an email or a call to let me know you're coming. After that -
Sunday August 12th will be the only launch that month.

Please pass this info on to any and all members! I will be in Boston the weekend of
the 23rd visiting family.

Many apologies again - I will check FAR more carefully next year!

all the best,

Sparky7.0
(Mike Jerauld)

April 15 Scrub!

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:32:00 +0000

Folks - Winds are beyond max safety - have to scrub the Tax day launch!

There is a giant build going on today so if you need a project to get you
out of the house - Call Andy Woerner

Call me if you don't have his numbers

six one nine - two oh six - six nine oh nine

Sparky out!

"and I wonder, still I wonder, who'll stop the rain....."

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 04:33:00 +0000

Sorry about the late cancellation of Sunday's launch!

Things to ramble about:

1. DUES DUES DUES! All members need to renew dues for 2007! This year's
Parks & Rec Permit was $700 and took a big chunck out of the checking account.
Please see me at the next launch and pay up!

2. Visiting groups. I'm making a policy this year of limiting the large groups
of Scouts, YMCA, Royals, etc. to the mid-month (usually Sunday) launches.
The only exception to this will be rain-out makeups like there will be this month.
I don't think it's fair to the membership to have large groups at nearly every launch like in the latter half of last year. That means there's 10 launches available to groups after February.

3. ELECTIONS! Feb 24th elections will be be held at 10 am! It looks as though I will be railroaded (once again) into the Presidency/Tresurer/Secretary slots though some relief will come from the ranks of the Punk Rocket Science team in the form of Todd Mullin. Todd has step forward to run for the VP slot. (I think he's a shoe-in)

As always, If I'm off the deep end - let me know what you think!

Sparky7.0 (and YES, there HAS been a recent advancement from 6.0)

Image Upload Test

noreply@blogger.com (Ron) — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 03:12:00 +0000

Image Upload Test

LDRS 25 - SM-2 Booster Separation at 8000 ft.

Frame from 320x240 20 fps video camera.

Ron Rickwald

Posting and Uploading Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Ron) — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 03:01:00 +0000

To upload photos into the DART Web Site, use the "Add Image" feature of the "Compose Post" tab. File sizes are limited to 8MB. However, I recommend that you resize your images down to something reasonable like 640x480 max. If someone wants to print your photo, they can ask you separately for it via email.

Be sure to indicate the Date and place of the launch and the photographer. If this becomes too cluttered. I'll extract the images and put them on a separate web page.

All images uploaded come with the understanding that you are sharing them with anyone who may view our Club Web Site - no copyrights please. The images become fair game for use on other DART Web Site pages to continually add content variety to our pages.

To avoid having undesired adult content trouble or other such wardrobe malfunctions, write access to the Blog page is restricted to Club members only. Currently only Sparky7.0 and Ron have admin rights. Currently, any registered user may add comments. Comments are currently not moderated. However, to post, you must be a member of this Blog. To do this, you will need to send an email to either Sparky7.0 or Ron with your email address. We will then invite you to the Blog.

Webmaster

Tap, Tap, Tap...... Is this thing on?

noreply@blogger.com (Sparky7.0) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:54:00 +0000

Hi team!

Many thanks to Ron our webmaster for starting this venue for periodic launch reports, club business, blog blog blog, etc!

I'll post some comments about Saturday's launch in the next day or two.

G'night!

Sparky