6 August 2011

Tripoli WA Certifies Two New L3's

The August Williams launch saw the successfull completion of two new L3 Certification attempts.

Visiting METRA member Mike Passaretti became Australia's first Non Australian citizen to achieve an internationally recognised rocketry certification level in this country. Mike's first attempt, made at Tripoli WA's WWW event two months before with his rocket Aerobi 1, was unfotunately unsuccessful due to the main parachute not deploying as planned and the subsequent airframe damage from the heavy landing. Undetered, and in true rocket enthusiast fashion, Mike analysed the issues, set the solutions in motion, and triumphed. Well done Mike!

Also triumphant was WA's own Samantha Termini. Sam became Australia's first legitimate female L3 certification holder and can now travel to many countries around the world, L3 in hand, and fly with the greats. Similar to Mike, Sam's first L3 attempt was made at the WWW event in June. All it took was a minor oversight that prevented her parachute from blooming fully for her to not certify. Damage to her scratch built, candy apple painted Lucky 7 airframe came from a solitary rock that dented the wall upon landing. With airframe fixed and 'Remove tape from shroud lines' added to her checklist, Sam made her way into Australia's rocket history! Well done Sam!

5 June 2011

The Get It Up 2011 WWW saw another Australian rocket first with a wonderfully awe inspiring N2000 Drag Race! Sister rockets, one built in WA, the other in not so sunny Queensland competed in what looks like becoming Tripoli WA's inaugral State of Origin Bragging Rights Match.

The two 6" diameter birds roared to life after an educationally descriptive countdown from resident RSO PK. Under the clear blue skies of the Williams launch site and the wide eyed gaze of onlookers, WA's White Trash left the Banana Bender's Taking Out the Trash on the pad like a wheelie bin waiting for the inevitable council pickup. Wait Awhile my butt!

Clearly bragging rights fall squarely in the laps of the WA crew.

There was some bleeting, however, from Team QLD as they "say" they got to apogee first and that is what counts. Phhhttt. Whatever...

From where this little birdie was standing, and only 14000 feet away I might add, it was a clear cut case of parallax error that has gotten their little Queensland hopes up.

Reinforcement of WA's victory came as White Trash touched back down gently to earth under the fully bloomed main chute a minute or two after Taking Out The Trash got taken out by a slow moving ent after plummeting towards terra firma in what looked like a kamikaze death plunge.

Here's looking forward to next year...

4 & 5 June 2011

Another year down and another fantastic Williams 'Wildfire' Westernationals launch was had.

'Get It Up 2011' was Tripoli WA's 3rd annual Foundation Day long weekend event with participants from all over the country and from as far away as the USA.

Guy's and Gal's, young and old, launched everything from C's to N's over the two day period in rockets from the size of a toilet roll to the length of Batman's Tumbler, shaped both sleek and not so sleek and flying at speeds up to and exceeding twice the speed of sound!

Actually, as it turns out, Mach 2.6!!! ...AWESOME!

As always, it wouldn't be the event it was without the people who participated and Tripoli WA would like to extend our thanks to everyone who attended, helped out, put things up, pulled things down and hope you all came away with fond memories and outrageous stories.

17 November 2010

Woo Hoo!

Another fantastic spread in everyone's favourite rocket magazine: ROCKETS MAGAZINE! Bob and Neil put a tremendous effort into this publication and Tripoli WA wish to send them a very grateful Thanks!

If not for the generousity of many individuals - Bob and Neil included - the Williams 'Wildfire' Winternationals would not have been the successful event that it was.

Thank you to all.

5 June 2010

What a fantastic weekend!

Both local and interstate participants came together to make this years 2nd Annual Williams 'Wildfire' Westernationals a roaring success.

Treated to an abundance of diverse rocket designs, engine configurations and general banter, flyers and spectators alike came away from the event grinning from ear to ear!

The launching of WA's largest commercial motor in the form of an N2000 in the club built White Trash seemed to pale in comparison to a weekend of comraderie between like minded rocket enthusiasts.

Rocketry in Australia continues to grow.

13 April 2010

Tripoli WA now has it's own TAP member!

Dave Couzens, Prefect of Tripoli Western Australia, has been appointed to Tripoli Rocketry Association's Technical Advisor Panel.

Australia has previously held the services of another TAP member in the form of David Wilkins. Wilkins, however, is based geographically on the south east side of the continent and as Australia's rocket community grows, our three current prefectures are each still separated by literally thousands of kilometres.

This new TAP appointment exposes our growing list of Western Australian membership to an official avenue of expertise that is both local - or at least within an hour's drive or so - and accessible in person for face to face contact and mentoring.

All in all, great news for rocketry in Western Australia.

30 May 2009

Attendees of Tripoli WA's inaugural Williams 'Wildfire' Westernationals 2-day event were treated to the spectacular launch of a scatch built upscaled Thor on a M1450W motor. The M impulse motor was not just a first for the Tripoli WA club but also a first for the state of Western Australia as it was the largest commercial motor to be flown here since October '08 which saw WA's first launch of a commercial K impulse motor.

Not only the M launch but another first for WA Rocketry was Mark's launch of his PML Quantum Leap on a J401FJ booster and J135W sustainer. It was awesome! The first two stage commercial high power launch in WA!

25 October 2008

Tripoli WA's last event of its 2008 launching season culminated in a first for the club. Flying on a K1100, the largest commercial motor ever officially flown in the state, a BSD Thor-X took to the skies above Williams in a sensational finale that stimulated all the senses.