Rocketry Planet

JOHNSTOWN, Pennsylvania USA — The National Association of Rocketry's Annual Meet, NARAM, is set for August 8th through 14th of 2009 near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the 51st annual meet event.  Contest director Steve Foster wishes to invite everyone to attend, and to visit the host website to pre-register.

The host section, Pittsburgh Space Command, hosted NARAM-41 in 1999, so it was only natural that they bring the event back to the northeast again.  Foster, a member and officer of Pittsburgh Space Command for 14 years, will serve as NARAM Contest Director.  In his dialogue on the NARAM-51 website, where Foster has an official welcome posted, he talked about the event.

"During the summer of 1999 the Pittsburgh Space Command crew hosted NARAM-41; we had such a great time hosting this event that we knew we would eventually have to bring the event back here again," Foster said. "Since the early days of model rocketry, Pittsburgh-based rocketry clubs have built a rich tradition hosting national events for the NAR, and we are eager to continue this tradition by bringing NARAM to you next summer."

The launch site, designated "Area 51 East," is in a remote and sparsely populated section of the area, one where there isn't a single residential home within one mile of where the ranges will be set up. Sport fliers can expect a waiver of 10,000 feet AGL for the entire event, and the host section will be able to allow flights up to the M impulse class.

The event will also feature great competition with the selection of the FAI Spacemodeling U.S. teams during the first part of the event, as well as recognizing the NAR national competition champions in 10 events Monday through Friday.  Saturday will also feature a night launch.

Fun events include an Area 51 Certification, labeled as an "Imagination Celebration" with a twist: the goal is to please the crowd and judge with a visually interesting model rocket flight featuring illumination, an event where you can increase your chances of winning if your entry falls under the category of an "Unidentified Flying Object."

The host hotel for the event will be the Downtown Holiday Inn in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Holiday Inn features great amenities for the family, including wireless Internet access, an indoor swimming pool and inside parking next door.  Other attractions include the world's steepest vehicular inclue plane near to the hotel which will give you a great view of the surrounding area; the Idlewild Amusement Park and Soak Zone is 25 miles away; and the Flight 93 Memorial near Shankville is just three miles from the launch site.

Website: http://www.naram.org/