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Post by hans on May 25, 2016 18:36:26 GMT -6
Ok, two aborted launches this year, so going to try to get it arranged a bit earlier.
June 11th. Field yet undecided, depends on volunteers. I feel bad that so far Verne and David have stepped up offered their places, but were either cancelled or nobody showed. We're always looking for bigger fields that are more friendly to a high waiver, so please please please keep your ears open. Ideal would be a full section, not too far off I-29, between Brookings and Sioux Falls.
-Hans
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on May 29, 2016 22:04:00 GMT -6
You are welcome to come to my place for the 11th. However I will also do some checking in my area for another site off a gravel road with CRP land if possible this week.
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Post by hans on Jun 1, 2016 16:22:23 GMT -6
Definitely keep us posted, would be great to find a nice big and easy to fly field. Particularly CRP. No matter how tall it gets, it's still shorter than corn.
Otherwise should we plan on your place? Haven't heard anything from Verne in a bit.
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on Jun 2, 2016 20:35:49 GMT -6
I have found two potential sites. Both are at least a mile from an occupied home and paved road. The first is a small road that goes east of 475th Ave, close to my place, about 100 yards coming to an end with a rock pile. It is in the middle of a soybean field. It was mowed and fairy wide, about 40'. The field on the west side of the road is also soybeans. The closest trees are about 3/4 mile away. The coordinates are 44 N. 13.078. 096 W 42.248.
The second location is farther south on 475th Ave. It makes a small turn to the east then continues on to the south into Moody County. At that intersection of 475th Ave and 220th street is a dead end, minimum maintenance road. There was a sign that said travel at your own risk. I walked up the road which wasn't in too bad shape. It wasn't mowed but wide enough to drive on easily. It got wider farther east, near the top of a hill where there is a large tree. Otherwise there aren't any trees in the area. It is soybean fields on both sides of this road, a fence on the north side but no power lines. It's location is 44 N 11.737 096 W 42.942
I will try to contact the land owners tomorrow. I already know one of them, he owns the land surrounding my home.
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on Jun 2, 2016 20:45:10 GMT -6
i tried looking at some CRP land north and west of my place but couldn't get far enough away from a home. Then there were several fields that had cattle and some were pretty wet.
I don't know how long it takes to get a waiver, but if we get permission to use the other sites and cannot get the waiver in time we can still fly here. I assume that Verne is still busy with field work.
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Post by hans on Jun 3, 2016 7:33:28 GMT -6
Between the two you described on 475th, the more southern one does look better for the sake of rockets. At the tree it looks to be around 2400ft distance to that house to the SE. Head to the west side of that field, to the corner with the pasture, and it gets around 3500+ ft to the nearest structure. The general rule is waivers go to twice the height, so 7,000ft is possible there. Would be very nice. Only trick would be we might need to talk to 3 or 4 landowners.
Heck, launching from just tot he west side of that pasture could get us 10,000ft, and there's decent access from the north.
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on Jun 3, 2016 18:05:26 GMT -6
I will see if I can go check out the site closer to the pasture also one about a half mile south and 1/3 mile west. My initial attempt to clear the south site was unfruitful. I apparently got the wrong name from a neighbor. I spoke to someone that thought perhaps her son farmed that land but she figured he would say no anyway. She called later to say that no, that was not their land.
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on Jun 3, 2016 21:43:50 GMT -6
I took another look at that area. There is another pasture southwest of the site by the tree, located at N44 14.636 W096 41.299. It is a nice gravel road with no trees around or power poles. The fields around are in corn but once the pasture is cut for hay we can launch there according to the land owner, Ronald Teal, who is a very nice, older gentleman. He knew who I was, where I live and some of my work at SDSU. He was quit interested in the whole rocket hobby. There is also an old gravel pit a mile east of this site, which they also mow. He suggested that would make a good launch site too. I was not able to take a look at it this evening, it was getting too late.
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kevinmark
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Post by kevinmark on Jun 4, 2016 7:54:41 GMT -6
If you haven't had experience with a waiver before, I do have the contact info and a template for the request. I'm pretty sure my contact for Fargo would be the same as yours. I would suggest allowing 5-6 weeks for a new location request, I still allow 5 weeks for a renewal, although typically what happens is that I send it in, check back, send it again, check back, and then they contact me and say sorry that they overlooked it or that person is no longer here. And then they get it done in a few days. I'm hoping the weather is good on Saturday and a few of you can turn out, I'd love to drive down and meet you all. And I do have a handful of commercial motors I can burn.
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Post by hans on Jun 4, 2016 18:13:21 GMT -6
David;
Can you double check those coordinates at all? They go to a farm site straight south of Aurora by just a couple miles on 476th. I think I went to a corn roast there last year.
Kevin;
That would be great info to have. I've been hesitant to put in for any waivers until we get at least one proper launch at a field to see how flyable it really is, and was figuring 45 days or so turnaround time. If the weather is good at the very least David and I will be there. At the moment it's showing sunny and clear but also close to 90 degrees. So I'll dig out my water jug, sunscreen, and goofy hat.
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on Jun 4, 2016 18:22:30 GMT -6
Sorry, those are incorrect, that was or the farmer I spoke to. Try these... 44 11 18.92 N 96 43 47.01
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on Jun 4, 2016 18:38:16 GMT -6
Hans, check your email. I just sent you an Image from Google Earth. About a mile from any building. I need to try to contact the main farmer that has the corn. I think I will invite the guy I spoke to last night to the launch... it might be a good sales pitch for him to see what we do. ![]() Attachments:
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Post by hans on Jun 4, 2016 18:47:21 GMT -6
David;
If this pans out, it would make a fantastic field I think. Good and easy access from I-29, clear of major hills and obstructions, and 5,000ft to the nearest buildings. Very waiver friendly. 9 miles from the nearest airport, and it's not like Brookings is a busy piece of tarmac.
So for this weekend, your place?
-Hans
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dfgraper
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Post by dfgraper on Jun 4, 2016 19:42:19 GMT -6
Yes, that would be great. How about 1:30 to 5:30? I will get a couple tables set up and I have a shade canopy too, and chairs. I will also supply some drinks.
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Post by hans on Jun 4, 2016 20:10:23 GMT -6
Sounds like a time and place, I'll get the notification out tonight.
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