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Date: 9/4/2025
Subject: September 2025 - (Day and Night) Launch Announcement
From: Tripoli Minnesota


TRIPOLI MINNESOTA - PREFECTURE #45 
September 13th, 2025
Launch Announcement - Day and Night!
North Branch, MN - Central Turf Farms
  • Setup starts at 9:00 am
  • Flying starts at 10:00 am
  • Dinner Break from 5:00 pm - Dusk
  • Night Launch starts at Dusk
  • Tear down when we are done!
Please stay for tear-down or partial tear-down from the day launch.
Waiver to 20,000ft weather dependent (Day)
and 5,000ft (Night)
Welcome once again to the 9-days away weather dice roll for the September launch!
The current forecasted temperature for the launch is mid 70's during the day and upper 60's at night!  Perfect by my standards...  The rest is a wait and see kind of game... 
 
If you have forgotten, the September launch includes our annual night launch event! 
Things to remember:
  • It's easier on all of us if you get your flight cards signed off prior to it getting dark.  Looking at rockets in the daylight is so much easier!
  • It can get cold.  The drop in temperature along with all the surrounding corn and crops (yes, corn exhales at night...  ask Brian about it) has in the past created quite a bit of low level fog and due forms on EVERYTHING!   
The rules remain the same as previous years for the night launching:

  • Sparkie type motors will be banned at night ...  JUST KIDDING...  They are the best!

  • 5,000ft max altitude.

  • No certifications at night.

  • Your lights must be visible to 5,000 feet, so no glow sticks or “finger lights”.

  • You must use a tracker above 1,000 feet (you’d be surprised how many lights fail).

  • No glass or anything that could shatter.

  • No camping or fires.

  • We will stop around 5 then restart at 8.

  • Canopies at night aren’t a great idea, because you can’t see above you where the lights are.

  • Everyone must leave after the launch.  Did I mention NO camping?


***THE FINAL LAUNCH ANOUNCHEMENT WILL BE MADE ON FRIDAY, September 12th***
 
August's Launch - By the Numbers (and this is a BIG stack!):
Low Power (A-G) Launches:  49 Flights | (5x"A", 8x"B", 11x"C", 4x"D", 4x"E", 11x"F", 6x"G")
High Power "L1" Flights:  23 Flights | (22x"H", 1x"I")    *** 1x of flight did not list a motor ***  
High Power "L2" Flights:  5 Flights | (1x"J", 3x"K", 1x"L")  
High Power "L3" Flight:  1 Flights | M-1230 Jeff Karsten
Research Flights:  1 Flight | J-190  Aaron Wasleske
 
New Member Certifications!
Level 1 Certifications:
Amanuel Adone
Ron Bentz
Rodney Lund (NAR)
Answer:  They do their best!  
Honestly, we all know trying to guess if we will have good weather a week out is next to impossible, so let's just wait till we get closer and see.
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 - Brian's Brats
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.
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:  
  • 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!  
William Schmiedlin
Prefect - Tripoli Minnesota Inc.
prefect@tripolimn.org
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