Welcome

Welcome to the SPARC website.

We are a small group that focuses on rockets flying to altitudes of 7000' or more depending on conditions.

Launch dates will be posted here as soon as they become known. If you sign up as a member (form can be downloaded below), you will receive e-mail notification of impending launches and club activities.

Please check back to the site for updates as they become available.

Directions to our launch site can be found here.

Joe Cooney Launch report

May 14, 2012

What a great day for flying and talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire. Congrats to Mark on pulling off an awesome launch. This despite the fact that our usual launch area was freshly plowed and planted. A little searching helped up find a patch of real estate to set up the launch area and a good thing too as this well could be the most attended SPARC Launch ever. I can remember launches with lots of vehicles, but I have never seen a launch where we had to form a line to organize the model pads, how great is that! Two separate but equally enthusiastic groups of kids converging upon a wheat field for a Mother's Day Launch. There was a group of Scouts from up on the South Hill, who invited me out to help them assemble both Baby Bertha's and Big Bertha's late last month and added to that was an Awana group flying Alpha III's. The unofficial, total vehicle count was just over 40, and you couldn't ask for any better weather for family fun and flying.

Continue reading "Joe Cooney Launch report"

Posted by bobble at 05:46 AM | Comments (0)

Mark Vanderlip launch report

May 13, 2012

What a GREAT day!!! At first arrival, it was not looking so great—not because of the weather, which was perfect, but the big green tractor! Fortunately we found a suitable area and with permission, we were a go for one of the best turnouts ever!

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Posted by bobble at 05:34 AM | Comments (0)

May launch concluded

May 12, 2012

Wow, what a start to the day. Perfect weather and an early concern that we had nowhere to launch. For reasons that remain unknown, our expected launch site had been planted ...... yesterday. We located an unplanted spot, got ahold of the planter and confirmed foot traffic OK, and finally got around to setting up the range. A steady stream of cars heralded the beginning of our most well attended launch in years. Stay tuned for more launch reports and a flight card count. President Bob

Posted by bobble at 06:05 PM | Comments (0)

Launch is a GO again!

A portion of the field has not been planted. A small launch site will be set up for the day's launch.

Posted by bobble at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)

No launch today?

The field was discovered planted this morning - there may not be a launch today. Call Bob before heading to the site: 509-220-7280

Posted by bobble at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)

Launch today is GO

We are GO for launch today. I do not think you could ask for better weather. Set up begins at 0900. Launching will continue through late afternoon or until interest dictates. The field is in excellent condition. All fresh crops have sprouted but nothing is so tall to seriously impede recovery. Mark Vanderlip will be your Launch Director. President Bob.

Posted by bobble at 05:45 AM | Comments (0)

May Launch concluded

May 11, 2012

Wow, what a start to the day. Perfect weather and an early concern that we had nowhere to launch. For reasons that remain unknown, our expected launch site had been planted ...... yesterday. We located an unplanted spot, got ahold of the planter and confirmed foot traffic OK, and finally got around to setting up the range. A steady stream of cars heralded the beginning of our most well attended launch in years. Stay tuned for more launch reports and a flight card count. President Bob

Posted by bobble at 05:56 PM | Comments (0)

May Launch announcement

May 04, 2012

May is one of the best rocketry months in the Inland Northwest. Start it off right with the SPARC May 12th launch. April's SPARC launches were a great success with the new launch controller, the record setting Boy Scout Camporee launch, and the Whitworth University physics launch. Now I challenge all of you to get out with Mom on the Saturday before Mothers Day and have Mom put up some rockets to set some Moms launch records! Setup starts at 9:00 a.m., as always your help is appreciated. Hope to see you and Mom on Saturday May 12th! Mark Vanderlip, SPARC Launch Director thevanderlips@centurylink.net

Posted by bobble at 05:41 AM | Comments (0)

Jeff Halstead launch report

April 17, 2012

The good weather was a first in the four-plus years I have been April launch director. Where in past years we have huddled in either Ray’s or Jim’s RVs sipping coffee and eating doughnuts while waiting for poor weather to break, Saturday’s launch day dawned bright, beautiful and relatively warm.

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Posted by bobble at 06:12 AM | Comments (0)

Mark Howe launch report

April 16, 2012

In my efforts to assist in kicking off the SPARC 2012 flying season I managed to put 8 rockets in the air. I arrived on site at 9AM to an expanding number of cars along the flight line. The GSE was almost completely ready to roll by the time I showed up.

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Posted by bobble at 06:50 AM | Comments (0)