Rocketeering, A Hazard?

[capt waffoo]

The kids TV show Blue Peter today showed film of an enthusiast who had built a rocket some 8 feet long and 8-10 in in diameter.
He estimated it had reached 1200 feet before the nose and body separated (I've no idea why) and the whole caboodle came down tied together under a parachute in an assembly perhaps 6-8m long.

No mention was made of fuel, but I guess solid. The launch was spactacular, to say the least.

As an aviator it made my hair stand on end, one of these could probably take out any light/commuter a/c , a helicopter would stand no chance.

Are these things common?
Are they regulated?
Is their use NOTAM'd? I have never seen this.
How big and how high are these things allowed to go? Something the size of 8 feet of utility pole screaming into the sky is not a toy.
Is there an appreciable hazard?

I have not turned much up on the net, but this link gives a flavour; www.fortunepaint.com/rockets/htm (http://www.fortunepaint.com/rockets/htm)

I hope never to meet up with that 4500lb thrust B47 RATO pack they sell. Straight out of the Darwin Awards, that one!

[This message has been edited by capt waffoo (edited 23 March 2001).]

[Genghis the Engineer]

(1) Yes they are fairly common
(2) Most of it goes on in clubs that have very strict safety rules, there's also a national association (UKRA) which provides insurance, range control qualifications, training, etc.
(3) Yes, launches of anything that big are Notamed. I live on the South coast and have seen quite a few Notams for the IOW rocketry club.
(4) You can reasonably assume that the big ones can go higher than you can.
(5) Only if you don't follow the Notams, or some maverick rocketeer doesn't obey the safety rules.

Some good links are http://www.mars.org.uk/ , http://www.gbnet.net/orgs/staar/staar.html , http://users.charity.vfree.com/A/AspireSpace/index.html


I should admit to knowing a lot of Rocketeers, although I ducked out of the serious stuff a few years ago and only make a few squibs to impress the children. However, the majority of rocketeers are professional engineers and scientists using their skills (and professionalism) for their own interests - apart from one individual who I shan't name out of respect for Chief Pilots rules (but can be seen in the press more than the rest put together) they are very safe and very professional.

G

[SunSeaSandfly]

Interesting subject. I know of a colleague who swears he saw a missile zip past his aircraft on climbout at about 6000' near MIA a couple of years back.
Maybe one of these "toys"?
The malicious VHF radio transmissions that occur from time to time suggest that there are sickos out there who might be tempted to launch these missiles just for kicks.
Scary.

[Genghis the Engineer]

My experience is that it takes a lot of time and patience to get the hang of rocketry, and anybody capable of getting something to 6k.ft probably hasn't got the attitude that will do so for kicks.

Having said that, this is my British experience, strange things happen over the pond.

G