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Date: 7/9/2025
Subject: July 12th 2025 - Launch Announcement
From: Tripoli Minnesota



TRIPOLI MINNESOTA - PREFECTURE #45 
July 12th, 2025
Launch Announcement
  • North Branch, MN - Central Turf Farms Flying Field
  • Setup starts at 10:00 am
  • Flying starts at 11:00 am
  • Please stay for tear-down if you can ~5:00pm
  • Waiver to 20,000ft weather dependent
Welcome to the mid-week planning portion for our July launch!
The forecast for the end of the work week is wet!  Depending on the news channel your watching, and the weather model they feel is most correct... the general consensus is that Friday will bring 1/2" to 1" of rain (wet).  The newest guestimate is that that rain might continue into the morning hours of Saturday.  AND, the cloud ceiling may be a bit low until the system pushes out.  Saturday afternoon looks great!
 
My plan at this time is to push the setup back to 10am to be safe.  If the weather model changes, we can adjust accordingly.  This gives us some extra time for the rain to push out, the field to drain, or even the sprinklers to move out of the way (just to make it more wet).
 
***THE FINAL LAUNCH ANOUNCHEMENT AND TIME WILL BE MADE ON FRIDAY***
 
May's Launch - By the Numbers:
Low Power (A-G) Launches:  41 Flights | ~1321*Ns Total Average Impulse (ZERO"A", 3x"B", 8x"C", 6x"D", 3x"E", 9x"F", 12x"G"
High Power "L1" Flights:  26 Flights | ~4777*Ns Total Average Impulse (19x"H", 6x"I")    *** 1x of flight did not list a motor ***  
High Power "L2" Flights:  10 Flights | ~6165*Ns Total Average Impulse (7x"J", 1x"K", 2x"L")  *** Julia Petrin's L-1420 was the largest motor of the day, est. 9800ft!  ***
Research Flights:  1 Flight | ~888*Ns Total Average Impulse (1x"I")  *** Julia Petrin's I-888, est. 10,000ft!  ***
 
New Member Certifications!
Level 1 Flights - All Successful:
Riley VanZeland - 29972
Kelly Lielas-Jensen - 35880
Danielle Formalejo - 35915
Duncan Fallstrom - 34197
Kile Gerold - 35914
Jacob Knott - 34702

Level 2 Tests Only:
Don Kilberg - 12434  (Renewal)

Level 2 Tests and Flights - All Successful:
Drew Miller - 32738
JJ Berg - 33049
Riley VanZeeland - 29972
 
If you are new to the club and not aware, I would like to point out a few rules of etiquette:
  • This is a working farm.  Please be respectful of the land, roads, and fields.  The turf is a cash crop.  Let's treat it as such.
  • All vehicles should drive slowly on the roads.  The road is dirt & clay, so if its wet, it DOES get sloppy.
  • When you get to the field, please back into a spot.  We want to keep engine fluid drips as close to the road as possible (farm's request).
  • If there are freshly planted fields that your rocket lands in, only send one person to retrieve it.  Less tracks = less crop damage.
  • The fields are surrounded by drainage ditches.  They are deep!  If you need to cross one, find the spot where the sprinkler crosses.
Rocketry Rules Refresher: - (In no particular order)
  • Always make sure pyro charges are disabled until at the pad.
  • With all mid power and high power rockets: DO NOT install igniters until at the pad.  Low power rockets are the ONLY exception.
  • Keep the rocket pointed in a safe direction on your way to the RSO table, and towards the pads once at the table.
  • It's good practice to arm all electronics at the pad, prior to installing the igniter.  
  • Never, ever, ever... catch a rocket.
  • Do not retrieve another person's rocket without consent or knowledge of the flyer.
    •  Ejection charges may still be intact, or electronics may need attention prior to moving the rocket.
    •  It makes it very hard to find a rocket that has already been retrieved.  Note the location and call it in.
  • Only HP certified fliers are allowed at the pads (sorry kiddos).
  • If you hear the air horn, LOOK UP!  
Final Call:  Go / No-go
As always, the decision to fly will be made (to the best of our ability) on Friday.
We will send an updated announcement / email if needed.
The forecast for Saturday at this point looks GREAT!  The wind and clouds "should" be building as the day progresses.
So, let's get those launches ready to fly earlier than later, and not wait for the last minute.
On-Field Provisions:
Off We Go Rocketry - Gary will be attending the launch with a large assortment of rocket motors and rocketry related supplies.
Food - TBD
Rest Room - We will have a handicap accessible porta potty at the field.
Trash - There are usually two trash cans located near the LCO table.  Please use them.

Radios:

People are using the FRS / GMRS radio band.  This has worked quite well for getting in touch with club members all over the field.  The FRS (Family Radio Service) is a low power (2 watts or less) band that does not require a license to operate on.  These radios are inexpensive and very handy.  The GMRS (General Mobile Radio Services) do require a license due to being over 2 watts of transmitting power.  If you have a HAM license, your licensed to operate a GMRS radio.  The frequencies are the same for both radio operating classes.
 
Check out Amazon for radios.  A quality radio can be had for $25-$30.  Look for 467Mhz 
 
See the Wiki page:  FRS/GMRS combined channel chart - The RadioReference Wiki

https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FRS/GMRS_combined_channel_chart

 
FRS / GMRS Channel 4 for all club radio transmissions has been working well.
 
William Schmiedlin
Prefect - Tripoli Minnesota Inc.
prefect@tripolimn.org