🚀 go-pugleaf

The next meeting of the United Federation of Phoenix will be this Saturday, 
8/14/99.  For this meeting we will attend a model rocket launch of some 
serious rocketeers.  The launch starts at 8:00am out beyond Apache Junction.  
I will reprint an excerpt of their post with the pertinent info.  You should 
plan on leaving Phoenix around 7:00am to get there. The event will be done 
around noon to be back in the valley around 1:00pm.   Please remember to take 
a hat/water/sunscreen.  

We will meet at one of our member's apartment complex in the Rec Room in Mesa 
around 1:00pm for CopperCon preparation.  We have to plan the Jeopardy style 
SF trivia game and also the silent auction for our club table.  Please bring 
anything you would like to donate for the CopperCon silent auction to this 
meeting.  We need to plan how and what to auction.  

We will have the business portion of the meeting at 6:00pm at apartment Rec 
Room.  

Please E-mail at Info@U-F-P.org or call 242-9203 for more info on this meeting 
or about the UFP in general.

-----------------------------------------------

Here is some more info about the Rocket Launch:

>As you might know, the UFP has an 
>upcoming launch in Apache Junction on  Saturday, August 14, 1999.  First, I�m 
>going to tell you how much fun this event will be if you want to attend, then 
>Geography Man will give you directions.  
>
>Foremost, please bring water to drink, a hat, and sunscreen.  The heat is 
>great in the open desert.  Yes, we launch the big guys out there because the 
>city people would have coronaries if we launched them in the parks, where our 
>previous events have been.  I will bring extra in case anyone else forgets.  
>Next, please bring your launch systems if you have them and get fresh 
>batteries for them.  You are welcome to use ours, but please be politely 
>forewarned that I plan to put some stuff up myself, the things that I 
>couldn�t set off in the parks.  Yes, clusters and big motors.  And my friends 
>in the Superstition Spacemodeling Society, who coordinate this launch space, 
>will be doing great launches too.  We�ve checked with the club officers and 
>they say that as newcomers you may launch your stuff for free this day. You 
>are encouraged to join us for a nominal fee if you like it as much as I think 
>you will.  Resistance is futile.  You will catch the high power bug and be 
>assimilated...as I was so shall you be...
>
>These launches are well organized, with an announcer who safety inspects each 
>rocket before flight.  Please fill out a �launch card� and let the range 
>safety personnel inspect the rocket for stability.  This is done with all 
>rockets, no matter who is launching or how many times the rocket has flown 
>before. Please don�t have the igniter already in.  It�s good to have the 
>motor in though, so static stability can be guesstimated.  
>
>Then go out and set your rocket up on the pad.  When ready, stand and wave to 
>the announcer and follow the countdown announced.  Above all, have fun and 
>feel the ultimate power of pressing the launch button and causing the fiery 
>liftoff.  Then take the water I mentioned with you to swig while you chase 
>down your rocket.  I actually like that part.
>
>There are often vendors at the launches who sell bright and strong 
>parachutes, motors, and parts.
>
>Okay, when should you be ready?  Launches start at 8 AM.  That way we beat the heat. 
>This time of year, the launch runs until 
>about 12.
>
>And now it�s Geography Man�s turn.
>____________________________
>
>The Superstition Spacemodeling society maintains two launch sites. The one we 
>will be using in August is called the �Ironwood Location.� It is situated on 
>state trust land near Apache Junction, just west of Ironwood Road, south of 
>the Superstition Freeway. It is more than two square miles of big nothing for 
>the rocket to come down on.
>
>>From most of your homes, you will want to jump onto the freeway system and 
>head east on the Superstition Freeway (US 60) to Exit 195. Go south (a right 
>turn) on Ironwood Road for about two miles. Just before a lonely high-tension 
>power line you will see a gate on the west (right) side of Ironwood Road. 
>
>The club officer who brings the equipment trailer usually hangs a �Rocket 
>Launch� banner on the gate, or the fence next to it. (The banner was designed 
>and made by yours truly.) The rancher who kindly allows us to use the land he 
>leases from the state has a tremendous problem with vandals, hence we often 
>find the gate in terrible condition. Last month it was missing entirely! Much 
>of the club launch fees go toward keeping the gate in repair.
>
>Once through the gate, follow the ranch road to the launch site.  Immediately 
>after the gate, the trail zigzags to the right where you will have to cross 
>an arroyo. It looks worse than it really is and most passenger cars can 
>handle it. Moira�s Ford Taurus has no problem at all. Once across the arroyo, 
>you will travel about three-quarters of a mile to the west-southwest. The 
>trail branches several times, but you will be okay if you follow the freshest 
>tire tracks. Clue: look for the smoke trails of rising rockets.
>
>A sketch map to the launch site is posted at 
>http://members.home.net/tabarr/sssmaps.html
>
>The launch area is a clearing, stomped bare of vegetation from years of use. 
>By the time you arrive, the club officers will probably already have the 
>inspection table and PA system set up behind a row of used car lot-style flag 
>tape. Park to the left, allowing a clear driving lane between the flag row 
>and  the other parked cars.
>
>We are talking about open desert in August, so many of the participants will 
>have set up small shade canopies. I suggest we do the same. Does anyone have 
>beach umbrellas, gazebos, or other shade structures that are quick to set up? 
> I have a lawn gazebo I use at renfairs, but it has seen better days. A lawn 
>chair or picnic blanket would also be a good idea.
>


Thank you.


--  Jim Strait, E-mail contact
    The United Federation of Phoenix
    E-mail:  Info@U-F-P.org
    Web site:  http://www.U-F-P.org/