The Zog-43 The Newsletter of NARHAMS, NAR Section #139. NAR National Champions 2001, 2004

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1 The Newsletter of NARHAMS, NAR Section #139. NAR National Champions 2001, 2004 NARHAMS is the only seven time winner of the NAR Section of the Year award. Years won: 1997,1998,1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007 The ZOG-43 is an eight-time winner of the NAR/LAC Rockwell Trophy, recognized as the best NAR section newsletter. Years won: 1969, 1973, 1975, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2003, & 2004 September 2009 Vol 31. Number 9 The Fillers prepare to do battle at NARAM 51 Photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor Naramlive.com NARAM 51 Coverage by Bradley Grant The Pittsburgh Space Command hosted NARAM 51 from August 7 th through the 14th of August. Competitors from around the Country to try claiming Event, Meet and National Titles. NARHAMS was represented at NARAM 51 by Jim and Matt Filler, Jennifer Ash-Poole, Kevin Johnson, Scott Branche, Chris Kidwell, John McCoy and Ed Pearson. Tom Ha was also at the event handing NARTS duties. Tom was also handling fly it take it. con t on Page 9 Don t Forget the Date. September 19th will be NARHAMS Sport and Night Launch. Please Contact Jim Filler or John McCoy for Details on Nightime Flying. In this Issue: Page 2- Micro Maxx Corner Page 3- September Astro News Page 9- NARAM 51 Results BUT WAIT THERE S MORE! September2009 Page 1

2 September2009 Page 2 Micro Model Magnifying Corner: By Micromeister : John McCoy - Nar More Micro Auto-Gyro & Helicopters: Over the last couple months the Corner has concentrated on Competition Micro Helicopters & Pistons. This month I d like to talk about FUN flying Auto-Gyro and Maple-leaf recovery micros. To date Micro Auto-Gyro & Maple-Leaf recovery models include: the Micro Gyroc, 2 or 3 finned, Micro Tasmanian Devils, MM Flutter-Bye, MM Mapleseed, & MM Tornado. Auto-Gyro and Maple-leaf recovery models are really fun to fly. They generally look nice on the Pad, Jump into the air at ignition. Separating at ejection into two pieces or deploying flaps for recovery. Their only drawback is they can be a little frustrating to find or recover in high grass. A minimum of two pair of eyes is almost essential for consistent recovery success. Never the less very COOL spinning, whirling piece decent that is pleasing to watch. Currently there are No manufactured Kits for any of these models, all must be scratch built using standard Micro materials. I m working to update my downscale version drawings of George Gassaway s traditional qualifier HD the Tasmanian Devil in T3 body size. I have two different rotor length sizes that get exactly the same duration. It seems this model turns in the same time regardless of size while remaining interesting to watch. The one page Plan for this month is a downscale of an Estes classic MM Tornado. Our micro version is in T3 (.375") diameter body, which helps considerably during recovery efforts. Currently Plans for all but the Tas.- Devil can be downloaded from the files section of the MicroMaxRockets Yahoo group. General construction is as usual with one exception. Reinforcing the fin/body joints with either tracing or computer paper laminate seems to make a big difference in keeping the fins on these models at ejection. Yellow or white glue seems to do just fine for making these applications after the fins double glue joints have dried. Epoxy is normally not needed but if that s your preference use it sparingly to keep the weight down. Balance in most important on these model parts, resting on the edge of a ruler to find and adjust the balance as needed on some of the models to get them to spin correctly. I add a bit of clay to the fin tip to adjust as needed. Best way to test this action is to take the part outside and toss it in the air, if it doesn t spin as designed adjust the balance until it transitions cleanly. This is important on the forward half of the micro Mapleseed. Bright or Fluorescent color paint schemes are another must on these models. They tend to stand on their nose in the grass. I lost the first two proto type Flutter-Bye micros I flew unpainted. Next month we ll touch on Night flying Micro options. Led, components and parts. Kevin Johnson s Valkyrie Photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor Naramlive.com Pratt Hobbies is proud to announce that we are now a QUEST dealer! Contact us for all your Quest and MicroMaxx products. New T-Shirt! Check it out at Mention your NARHAMS membership on the online order form for a Special Ludicrous Discount!

3 September Astro News Important Dates and Moon Phases Sep 01-30th Anniversary (1979), Pioneer 11, Saturn Flyby Sept 4 - Full Moon Sept 12 - Last Quarter Sept 12-50th Anniversary (1959), Luna 2 Launch (USSR Moon Impact Mission) Sept 18 - New Moon Sept 18-50th Anniversary (1959), Vanguard 3 Launch Sept 19 - Night launch! Sep 22 - Autumnal Equinox Sept 26 - First Quarter Sep 29-5th Anniversary (2004), SpaceShipOne Launch F-2 (2nd Private Manned Space Flight) Ahh, September. Really, for most kids, this is the new year for them, not January 1. New classes, new teachers, new clothes, new school supplies. This year, Labor Day is almost a week into September, giving kids an extra week of summer (or so it seems.) In the evenings, you can still see Jupiter in the southeast sky, in the constellation Capricorn. Jupiter stays up all night. The Moon will pass by Jupiter in the early days of the month, with the full Moon washing it out. Mercury can be seen low in the western horizon, but will disappear soon. The good thing about the new Moon is that is it the day before our night launch! So make sure you have your red flashlights, and take a look up in the sky while you are launching some models. This will be a good time to see if you can spot the Milky Way. It can be done, if you are out of the city lights (hard to do near Baltimore and Washington DC.) For those early risers, Mars can be seen around 2am in the constellation Gemini in the Eastern Sky starting the first of the month. 3 hours later, Venus is rising on the same horizon, in the constellation Cancer. By month s end, Venus will be setting in that same horizon at the same time. Mars will have marched on through the sky. On Sept 13, the Moon will occult Mars. This means, it looks like the Moon is completely covering Mars in the sky. Look closely, you should see Mars as a red planet. Do you? What else did you see at the night launch besides rockets in the air? Let me know. Meatball Rocketry s Science Fiction Future Scale Entry Photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor Naramlive.com ZOG ROYAL AL COURT ( NARHAMS OFFICERS ) ZOG (President) Jim Filler Vice Zog (Vice-President) Chris Ha COLLECTOR OF THE ROYAL TAXES (Treasurer) Ed Pearson KEEPER OF THE HOLY WORDS ( Secretary ) Chris Kidwell COURT JESTER (Section Advisor) Mark Wise September2009 Page 3

4 From the Prez: About NARHAMS NARHAMS serves Baltimore, the state of Md., Washington DC and the surrounding Metropolitan areas. The club is a section of the National Association of Model Rocketry (NAR) and we are the oldest continuously active model rocket club in the United States, first established as a high school club in 1963, changing our name to NARHAMS when chartered as a NAR section in NARHAMS is the only seven time winner of the NAR Section of the Year award. Years won: 1997,1998,1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007 NARHAMS members regularly fly their model rockets at NASA s Goddard Space Flight Center on Soil Conservation Rd. in Greenbelt Md. The launches are open to the public and are held the first Sunday of every month (weather permitting), starting at 1 PM. Sport Launches are usually held the third Saturday of every month at Old National Regional park near Mt. Airy, Md. Check the web page for updates. NARHAMS welcomes all prospective new members to our monthly meetings. They are held on the first Saturday of the month from 5:30 to 9:30 PM at the College Park Airport Annex Building. Dues are 10 cents a week, with an initial 50 cents up front (good for 5 weeks) as a sign of good faith. Monthly meetings available on-line via chat-room, simply go to the NARHAMS homepage and click on the link. Directions to College Park Airport: Follow I-495 to Kenilworth Ave. South. Make a right onto Paint Branch Parkway, then make a right on Cpl. Frank S. Scott Dr. At the airport entrance go straight to the Operations Building, the annex building is adjacent to the Ops building. September is upon us and the beginning of a new school year and a few more months of mild weather are here. My favorite sport launch of the year is coming up on Sept 19 th. This is the annual day / night launch. If you are planning on coming to the night launch, be sure to review the rules we have in place about night launches and the requirements necessary to be able to launch at night. We are also having a ping pong ball spot landing contest during the day launch. This will open at 2pm and anyone that wants to participate is welcome. Rules are very simple. Fly your rocket and carry the ping pong ball with it and deploy your ping pong ball from your model. The closest to the spot with their ping pong ball is the winner. We will have a kids bracket and adult bracket. Prizes are to be determined. We are also having a build contest again starting a the September business meeting. Scott Branche is going to provide prizes courtesy of Hobby Works. You have to come to the September meeting to participate. For $11 you will get an Estes Renegade D kit with a sheet of extra balsa. Build what ever you like from the supplied parts and bring it to the December Holiday party where we will have everyone vote for there favorite model. The winner will be determined by popular vote. The club has finished up another contest year and we actually finished pretty strong. We ended up being in 4 th place for the year ending standings. Thanks to everyone that flew in a contest last year and to everyone that volunteered their time to do range duty at a contest or outreach program we supported. Jim September is election time, Run for Office!!!!!!!!!! September2009 Page 4

5 Photo by Paul Miller The final entries from the May Kit Build Contest ZOG-43 Volume 31 Number9 September2009 ZOG-43 is the official newsletter of NARHAMS the National Association of Rocketry Headquarters Astro Modeling Section # 139 NARHAMS is the oldest model rocket club in the United States! ZOG- 43 is dedicated to model rocketeers of all ages, abilities, and interest. We are committed to providing the most current, up-to-date information on model and real world rocketry, and to provide educational material as well as entertaining information. ZOG -43 is published monthly and is available to anyone on a subscription basis. Current rates are $10 for meeting pickup or or $15 for postal mail U.S. Funds for 12 issues a year, payable to NARHAMS Material in ZOG -43 is not copyrighted. Free and unlimited reproduction is granted with the proper credit to the author and/or ZOG-43. For more information... If you have any questions about ZOG-43 or NARHAMS, or if you have any comment(s), correspondence, free merchandise or if you d like to submit an article, send them to : ZOG-43, 3102 Eden Drive Abingdon, Md ZOG-43 at: Zog-43 Editor Bradley Grant zog43editor@yahoo.com 2010 US Space Modeling Team Flyoff Results On August 8 and 9 th Jennifer Ash-Poole and Chris Kidwell participated in the 2010 US Space Modeling Team Flyoffs as part of NARAM 51. The top three in each event get a chance to represent the United States at The World Space Modeling Championships. Chris Kidwell came in second place in the Streamer Duration Event. Congrats to Jennifer and Chris and good luck to Chris as he moves forward to compete in the World Space Modeling Championships in Serbia. September2009 Page 5

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7 2009 Calendar of Events Mar pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD Mar 7 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, CP/CG Theory and Practice (Jim Barrowman and Jim Miers) College Park, MD Mar am 4 pm Sport Launch, Pot-o-Gold Spot Landing Fun Event (Mar 28 rain date) Mt. Airy, MD Apr 4 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, RockSim/wRASP Demo (Chris Kidwell) College Park, MD Apr pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD Apr am 4 pm Sport Launch, OddRoc Theme (Apr 25 rain date) Mt. Airy, MD Apr am 5 pm Blue-Grey Regional Meet (tentative) Richmond, VA Apr 26 Noon 4 pm Rockville Consortium of Sciences Rockville, MD May 2 10 am 4 pm Space Day, Maryland Science Center Baltimore, MD May 2 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, Kit Building Session College Park, MD May pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD May 16 7 am 5 pm Team America Rocketry Challenge Finals The Plains, VA May am 4 pm Sport Launch (May 23 rain date) Mt. Airy, MD Jun 6 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, On-Board Electronics (Alex Mankevich) College Park, MD Jun pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD Jun Harford County Scout Jamboree Harford County, MD Jun am 4 pm ECRM-36 Regional Meet (Jun rain dates)events: RDA, B RG, A SD, 1/2A PD MR, A ALT (18 mm only), F/F Scale (Jim Filler CD) Mt. Airy, MD Jul 11 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, Contest Building Session (Jim Filler) College Park, MD Jul am 4 pm Sport Launch, Space Rockets Theme (Jul 25 rain date) Mt. Airy, MD Jul 19 Noon 4 pm Goddard Contest Greenbelt, MD Aug 1 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, Last-Minute NARAM Building Session College Park, MD Aug 8-14 NARAM-51 Johnstown, PA Aug am 4 pm Sport Launch (Aug 22 rain date) Mt. Airy, MD Sep am 5 pm RAMTEC-13 Regional Meet (tentative) Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA Sep pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD Sep 12 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, Kit Bash Building Session College Park, MD Sep am 4 pm Sport Launch, Ping Pong Ball Spot Landing, Night Launch (Sep 26 rain date) Mt. Airy, MD Oct 3 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, R/C Building Session (Robert Edmonds) College Park, MD Oct pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD Oct am 4 pm HQSM-43 Section Meet (Oct 24 rain date)events: B ELD, E BG (Brad Grant CD) Mt. Airy, MD Oct am 5 pm Capitol Cup 2009 FAI Meet (Tony Reynolds CD) The Plains, VA Nov pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD Nov 7 5:30 9:30 pm Monthly meeting, Ed s Movie Night (Ed Pearson) College Park, MD Nov am 4 pm Sport Launch, R/C Fun Fly (Nov 28 rain date) Mt. Airy, MD Dec 5 5:30 9:30 pm Holiday Party TBD Dec pm Goddard Public Launch Greenbelt, MD Dec am 4 pm Sport Launch, Land Your Lander Fun Event (Tom Ha) Mt. Airy, MD Why yes, these are all mine. Go get your own!!!photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor Naramlive.com September2009 Page 7

8 NASA, AFOSR TEST ENVIRONMENTALLY- FRIENDLY ROCKET PROPELLANT WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, or AFOSR, have successfully launched a small rocket using an environmentally-friendly, safe propellant comprised of aluminum powder and water ice, called ALICE. "This collaboration has been an opportunity for graduate students to work on an environmentally-friendly propellant that can be used for flight on Earth and used in long distance space missions," said NASA Chief Engineer Mike Ryschkewitsch at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "These sorts of university-led experimental projects encourage a new generation of aerospace engineers to think outside of the box and look at new ways for NASA to meet our exploration goals." Using ALICE as fuel, a nine-foot rocket soared to a height of 1,300 feet over Purdue University's Scholer farms in Indiana earlier this month. ALICE is generating excitement among researchers because this energetic propellant has the potential to replace some liquid or solid propellants. When it is optimized, it could have a higher performance than conventional propellants. "By funding this collaborative research with NASA, Purdue University and the Pennsylvania State University, AFOSR continues to promote basic research breakthroughs for the future of the Air Force," said Dr. Brendan Godfrey, director of AFOSR. ALICE has the consistency of toothpaste when made. It can be fit into molds and then cooled to -30 C 24 hours before flight. The propellant has a high burn rate and achieved a maximum thrust of 650 pounds during this test. research team member from Purdue. "ALICE can be improved with the addition of oxidizers and become a potential solid rocket propellant on Earth. Theoretically, ALICE can be manufactured in distant places like the moon or Mars, instead of being transported to distant locations at high cost." For more information about the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, visit: For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: "A sustained collaborative research effort on the fundamentals of the combustion of nanoscale aluminum and water over the last few years led to the success of this flight," said Dr. Steven F. Son, a Kevin and Chris watching a rocket. Photo Courtesy of Chris September2009 Page 8

9 NARAM 51 Coverage In going through the weeks events NARHAMS did very well. The club came in 6 th place at NARAM 51 meet and 4 th place overall. On of the highlights was Matt Filler taking first place overall for the meet. Matt also came in third overall for the contest year. Individual highlights from the meet include; 1/8 Helicopter Duration Matt Filler 1 st place B Division John McCoy third place C Division Meatball Rocketry third place Team Division A Streamer Duration Matt Filler 2 nd place B Division Jennifer Ash-Poole 7 th Place C Division Chris Kidwell 9 th Place C Division ½ A Parachute Duration Multi-Round Chris Kidwell 5 th Place C Division Random Altitude Jennifer Ash-Poole 6 th Place C Division B Rocket Glider Duration Matt Filler 4 th place B Division Meatball Rocketry 2 nd place Team Division Science Fiction and Future Scale Matt Filler 2 nd Place B Division Chris Kidwell 8 th Place C Division Meatball Rocketry 2 nd place T Division Peanut Sport Scale Matt Filler 1 st place B Division Jim Filler 3 rd place C Division Chris Kidwell 8 th place C Division Jennifer Ash-Poole 10 th Place C Division Meatball Rocketry 1 st place T Division Jim Fillers X-wing Figher. Photo Courtesy Chris Taylor Naramlive.com The new contest year has already started with NARAM 52 being sponsored by The Peak City Section. The meet will be held in Pueblo Colorado from July 30 th to August 6 th On the local level NARHAMS will be hosting HQSM in October. Our regional meet, ECRM-37 will be held sometime next spring. If you want to add something different to your Rocketry Hobby, try contest flying. The skills you gain from contest flying will help you in your sport flying. You will also get a chance to meet other people from around the country who enjoy Model Rocketry. September2009 Page 9

10 September2009 Page 10 The Third Annual Capitol Cup FAI World Cup Spacemodeling Contest October 24-25, 2009 Great Meadow at the Plains, VA, USA Flown under the FAI Space Models Sporting Code, Fliers with FAI Sporting Licenses, remember to bring them. International competitors please coordinate participation with the Contest Director. Flown only with rocket motors having current NAR approval for contest use in the US, as listed on the NAR website at Events and schedule: Model check in and contestant briefing S4A (A-engine boost-glider) S6A (A engine streamer duration) S6A (A engine streamer duration) Lunch S4A (A-engine boost-glider) S4A (A-engine boost-glider) S6A (A engine streamer duration) Flyoff Round S6 Flyoff Round S4 Model check in S9A (A engine gyrocopter) S9A (A engine gyrocopter) S8E/P (E-engine radio-controlled rocket glider) Lunch S8E/P (E-engine radio-controlled rocket glider) S8E/P (E-engine radio-controlled rocket glider) S9A (A engine gyrocopter) S8E/P (E-engine radio-controlled rocket glider) Flyoff Round S9 9 AM Saturday First round 9:30 AM Saturday First round 10:30 AM Saturday Second round 11:30 PM Saturday 12:30-1:15 PM Saturday Second round 1:15 PM Saturday Third round 2:15 PM Saturday Third round 3:15 PM Saturday 4:15 PM Saturday 4:45 PM Saturday 9 AM Sunday First round 9:30 AM Sunday Second round 10:30 AM Sunday First Round 11:30 AM Sunday 12:30-1:15 PM Sunday Second Round 1:15 PM Sunday Third Round 2:15 PM Sunday Third round 3:15 PM Saturday Flyoff Round 4:15 PM Sunday 4:45 PM Sunday Entry fee: $15, advance registration not required Directions to the field: Take Interstate 66 to Exit 31, 16 miles west of Manassas, VA. At the exit turn left and follow the signs 1.5 miles to the Great Meadow Outdoor Center at Old Tavern. Recommended Motels: All motels are at I-66W exit 47B in Manassas, VA (I-66E exit 47). Best Western Battlefield Inn Balls Ford Rd., Manassas, VA (703) Quality Inn Manassas Balls Ford Road, Manassas, VA (703) Red Roof Inn Manassas Automotive Drive, Manassas, VA (703) Contest Director: Tony Reynolds, tonyr@night.net, Richardson, TX (214) On-site coordinator: Trip Barber, ahbarber@alum.mit.edu, Springfield, VA (703) Hosted by the Northern Virginia Association of Rocketry,

11 From the Editor As you can see I am trying a different format for the Zog. I will probably trying several different things over the next few months to make a newsletter that is interesting and is up to date with club doings. The most important part of this newsletter is your contributions. I have been given great material every month and I am very comfortable that we can publish monthly and have a quality newsletter. I would like to see if we can add a regular section dealing with new products related to Rocketry. If you do something new in Model Rocketry, submit it. I am working on an article on Micro Maxx that I hope to submit in the October Zog. Elections are this Saturday, it is very important to be involved in the process. That is the only way you will get the club you want. We have our September Sport and Night Launch on September 19 th. We are also having a Ping-Pong Ball Spot Landing Contest on the 19th. It should be a fun day for the club. If you have a friend who might want to attend, bring em!!!! If you have questions about Night Flying please contact John McCoy or Jim Filler and they can help you out. In October we will have our annual Sectional Meet. HQSM-43 will be on October 17, The Events are B Egg Loft Duration and E Boot Glider. On the boost glider event don t worry if you don t have a Radio Controlled Glider. You just never know when there could be a rogue solar flare to interfere with the radio transmission. HEH HEH HEH!!!!!!! Feedback on the new Zog format will be appreciated and send those articles. That is all for now!!!!! Brad Kevin and Scott and NARAM 51. Photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor Naramlive.com September2009 Page 11

12 What do you mean we aren t flying altitiude????photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor Naramlive.com Coming in the October 2009 Issue ZOG - FORTY THREE 3102 Eden Drive Abingdon, MD Launch Schedule SPORT LAUNCH Old National Pike Park September 19th Night Launch and Ping Ping Spot LandingEvent!! PUBLIC LAUNCH Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor s Center October 4th September2009 Page 12