SOD BLASTER 2019 IS COMING!

​This will be our second annual Labor Day launch and is being hosted by both the Tri-Cities Rocketeers and the Oregon Rocketry Club.  It will be held at the Heinen Sod farm approximately 10 miles north of Pasco, WA.  Please see our web site for launch site directions.  This site provides the safest place to fly in the Northwest during what is usually a time of high fire danger.  We offer dry camping on-site and have many lodging and restaurant locations within a 20 minute drive from the site.

What:  Commercial motors, and EX motors for TRA members.  We are not impulse limited, only altitude limited.

When:  We will be flying from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Monday, with our standard waiver of 9000’ AGL.  After 6:00 pm, we will fly under FAR-101 rules. Night launches are weather dependent each night and are FAR-101 only.

Fees:  Tri-Cities Rocketeer members fly for free (you are always welcome to join).  Non-members cost is $20 for the weekend.

Registration:  You must check in and pick up a nametag at our registration table before you will be able to fly.  Please present your NAR or TRA membership card to prove you are up to date.  The registration area will be clearly marked and will also have the contest signup book.

Camping:  Our launch site parking coordinator will be on site by 1:00 pm on Thursday to help organize parking. If you arrive before then, please do not set up camp, or be prepared to move. We have to leave access for the landowner until Friday afternoon, and row things in to leave room for everyone.  Overnight campers: please pull or back your rig into your spot.  We won't have enough room to have people park parallel to the road.  Fire pits are welcome but must be above ground.  We will have a main camp fire each night by the registration area for roasting marshmallows.

Pets:  If you have a rocket dog that has been to a launch before and is well-behaved, it is more than welcome.  If you have a dog that barks when people or cars go by, or is afraid of the noise, please leave it at home.  It's not fair to the dog or the people attending the launch.  If your dog is a nuisance we will ask you to move the dog to a location where it cannot be heard.

Liability Waiver:  All fliers and spectators must have a signed waiver on file with us.  If you haven’t flown with us before, you can download the form from our website or fill out a waiver at the launch.  If you already filled one out, we have you on record so you are good to go.

Volunteering:  We need your help to run this launch.  We will keep a signup board at the LCO table and some slots will be open each day that are not covered.  We run 1 hour shifts for LCO duty, and if no one signs up for the open slots, we don’t launch for that hour.  Makes it really simple.

Raffle:  Again for September we will be having a raffle.  We have rocket kits and many other really nice prizes donated by vendors from all over the country.  The raffle will be held Saturday after the BBQ and you must be present to win.  If you have goods you would like to donate, by all means please do so.  Every dollar goes towards upgrading our GSE and improving your flying experience.

BBQ:  Like last year, we will be hosting a most excellent barbeque Saturday at 6:30 pm.  This year we will be serving chili cheese dogs/Fritos with chili.  If you can, please bring your favorite side dish, chips, or dessert to share.

Vendors:  Scott Binder of SBR and Bob Grossfeld of Sun River Nature Center are planning on attending for all of your rocketry needs.  We will have other vendors there as well selling kits and other items and will update our website when we know more specifics.  No food vendors will be on site, but the Country Mercantile store is only a few miles away that sells all kind of food and drinks. 

Contests:  We will be holding Big Daddy and Redline motor contests.  See our Contest page for details.