Launch!

I think the term "Bandit" is used to reflect the unofficial nature of these launches.

While the Acton field (and others) are public spaces, they must generally be reserved (for a fee) for organized activities.

When I join in with a so-called bandit launch, I take care to insure that I am appropriately disorganized. 🤪 But on a serious note...

Since I'm an Acton resident, I would ask that everyone treat the field and its other users respectfully. And, to state the obvious, please follow all NAR safety rules. High power launches are never permitted there as the field doesn't meet HPR requirements. I also ask that the fliers be NAR members so they have insurance coverage.

While we can often share the field with the R/C fliers, please communicate with them. Do not fly if there are sports teams playing there or if someone else has reserved the field.

Unlike some fields in the area, Acton and the field's neighbors are supportive of our launches. Don't take that for granted. A rocket landing on Route 2 or a complaint to the town could change that quickly and prevent future CMASS launches there.

Jim

A group of us have been getting together for the past number of years for informal launches outside the formal club launch schedule, typically in Acton during the "work week" (think flexible schedule or retirees), when the field hasn't been previously scheduled. The launches have been called "Bandit Launches", and while I'm not 100% clear on the etymology of the term, I think in part it owes its origin to the Covid pandemic, social distancing, and masking. No thefts that I'm aware of. We bring our own Ground Equipment.

There's a private forum in the Forums section, called "Members Launches", bottom of the page, where these launches are announced and discussed. "Private" in the sense that it's only visible to members and then read/write by those who wish to join the forum - users who have no interest in those launches shouldn't get notification of same if their forum preferences are set to receive email notifications on Forums updates.

In the past these launches were announced via an email by whoever was inspired to call to order, which could leave some folks out of the loop. The intent of the forum is to welcome more members to the party.*

Any questions, respond to this thread or via email to the webmaster. It should also be noted that this Forum isn't only for School Street "Bandit Launches" - any member who wants to throw a launch should feel empowered to do so!

-- Todd

*Yesterday we gathered for one of these launches (announced and described in the Members Launches forum), and a CMASS member who was coincidentally on the field doing RC, expressed an interest in knowing about future launches and get togethers (paraphrased, his response was, "if I had known you were doing this, I would have brought my rockets and not my planes!").