I get ahead of problems David. I thought you already knew that.
From: David Smith<mailto:davew6dps@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 2:30 PM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Prohibiting Metal for Nose Weight
Why would being hit with sand be different than be hit with BBs?
Why are we trying to solve a non-problem?
David Smith
NAR 78668, TRA 15803
Amateur Extra: W6DPS
On Jan 30, 2017 14:16, "R Dierking"
<applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
People should use sand, cat litter (here come the jokes unwanted at this time),
or how about water? How about sugar? Not metal. Pretty simple really.
Things that once the nose is broken will quickly dissipate momentum and become
small enough to reduce impact damage.
How about a land shark rocket that comes apart? Again, someone gets hit with a
rocket and unfortunately hurt. Would it be OK to say the nose was filed with
bb's?
Also, if a rocket is destroyed and there's no damage, something like sand is
not trash on the site. I have an experience that helped me consider this
subject. However, I'm not providing specific cases. No specific cases where
someone was injured by a rocket that CATO'd either btw. So, glad I'm not
talking about safe launch distances. Or, does someone have to be injured first?
From: David Smith<mailto:davew6dps@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 2:04 PM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Prohibiting Metal for Nose Weight
Richard,
One of the main reasons for avoiding metal structural partd is so the rocket is
not conductive in the event of contact with electrical lines.
As for the hazzards of using BBs or hardware for ballast, I don't see where an
alternative is better. Mass is mass, metallic, ceramic, or otherwise.
Do you have any examples where metal ballast caused damage or injuries that
woukd not have bee. the case with non-metal ballast of the same weight?
David Smith
Nar 78668, TRA 15803
Amateur Extra: W6DPS
On Jan 30, 2017 1:50 PM, "R Dierking"
<applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Next time the NAR and TRA safety rules are revised, there should be something
about what kind of nose weight should be used or how about shouldn't be used.
Don't the codes already say something about minimizing the use of metal? Why
add it? There's no good reason why metal has to be used; there are other
things that would work fine.
And, just to get ahead of the one response that's going to ask if a rocket with
other types of weight could hurt someone just as bad. Yes, I realize that.
But, again, if you think through the various failure scenarios, metal (bolts,
lead shot, bb's, what ever...) is a poor choice for nose weight.
What other things could be used? Things that would be even better for both
safety and performance.
Richard Dierking
