Greetings Scientists!
OregonRocketry welcomes OMSI Science Festival participants to journey 45 minutes south west of Portland to join us for our annual fall launch event Fillible’s Folly. Named for Gary Fillible, one of Tripoli Rocketry Associations early leaders, this launch takes place on farm fields near hist hometown of Sheridan.
No ticket is needed to come watch the rockets fly, admissions are free for spectators. However we do need everyone on site to sign a waiver. You can download and print this out ahead of time to make the arrival process smoother, or we will have copies on site. When you arrive, please come to the registration tent and sign in.
When are you flying?
Weather Permitting…. we will be flying Friday the 13th from about noon to about 5pm. (Exact start time depends on how many club members are there to help setup the site on Friday morning.)
Saturday the 14th from about 8am to about 5pm, with the possibilities of night flights around sunset. (We will not know if there will be night flights until that day.)
Sunday the 15th we will be flying from about 8am to noon. (Exact shutdown time will vary based on how much of the site is still setup and will need to be torn down still, weather, and club member flight interests.)
Where are you flying?
The exact field location is not yet known at the time of writing. Check back on this page before you leave in the morning for more detailed location. Generally speaking, we fly on a field near the intersection of Perrydale Road and Kurtz Road south east of Sheridan. This year we are to the north of Perrydale Road, and to the west of the silos. Exit the road and enter the fields at the silos, then proceed west as close to the road as you can without going into the ditch. See our page on the Sheridan location for a map and guidance.
What to expect onsite?
We’re launching out on a farm field on in the countryside. There are not really any facilities near by. We do bring in portable toilets, but there is no running water on site. Out on that large field we set up a small rocketry range with a dozen or so pads flying rockets from small rockets a couple inches tall to huge rockets several feet tall. Exactly what flies on any given day depends on what club members and other regional fliers choose to launch. You’ll see a bunch of cars parked in a few rows, separated from the flying area by a string of flags (we call that the flight line). Around the middle of the row of flags you should find the registration table under a shade canopy. Behind that is the Flight Safety area where rockets are inspected prior to flight, and just along the edge of the flight line is the Launch Control Officer who is actually in control of all of the pads and conducts the launch.
What should I bring?
Everyone coming to the launch is encouraged to bring or wear:
- Sun screen, hats, sleeves, etc. (There is very little shade onsite… you will likely be out in the sun the entire time you are at the launch.) There is room to setup ez-ups and shade canopies where you park if you plan to stay for awhile… many of us who will be there all day do bring these. But even a simple umbrella can provide a nice bit of cooling shade.
- Flat soled shoes suitable for walking in a field. Hiking boots are great, but even just trainers will likely be fine. Heels and loose sandals are not advised.
- Water or other hydration. (No alcohol please.)
- Food or snacks. The nearest stores or restaurants are at least 10 miles away on country roads.
- Chairs. Camp chairs, beech chairs, field chairs… One year a gentleman had a recliner in the bed of his pickup truck.
- Hand sanitizer.
- If you have a little one that is sound sensitive, consider bringing their ear muffs. Consider planning for how you might bring them to a fireworks show on the 4th of July.
What should I NOT bring?
There are a few things we discourage everyone from bringing to our events.
- Pets. Rocket launches can sometimes be LOUD, and occasionally chaotic.
- Fireworks. We only fly Rockets that meet the safety codes, one of which calls for safe recovery and the ability to re-fly the air frame, they also specifically forbid explosive payloads.
- Alcohol or cannabis. Rocketry can occasionally be a hazardous activity. There maybe times when we need everyone on site to be in full control of their faculties, this event is not conducive to anything that can impede your motor control or reflexes.
- Firearms.
What if I have other questions?
Shoot an email over to the board of directors: BOD@OregonRocketry.org and one of us will get back to you as soon as we can. (We’re all volunteers, doing club business in addition to our normal work and family lives, so it may occasionally take us a bit to respond.)