Rocketry Planet

LARGS, Scotland UK — The 24th to the 31st of August will find United Kingdom rocketeers converging on the Farlie Moor Rocket Site outside of Largs, Scotland for the 24th annual International Rocket Week. The event has been held in Scotland each year since the first Scottish Rocket Weekend in 1986, an event inspired by the Paisley Rocket Weekend back in May 1985, organized by John D. Stewart and the Paisley Rocketeers’ Society.

IRW 2009 will offer more than a week of exciting sport rocketry flying, were veteran rocketeers boost beginners, according to the event website, one of the U.K.'s best and most scenic launch sites, which sports a 16,000 feet waiver.  The close proximity to the town of Lars offers many attractions for rocketry families, including a large range of shops of all sorts. Rocketeers worldwide are invited to attend.

What IRW 2009 offers:

• Eight days of very eclectic Open, Research, and Competition rocket flying, where veteran rocketeers boost beginners.
• One of the UK’s best and most scenic launch sites, which can accommodate up to Level 3 and Large Rocket flights, to 16,000 Feet (4,876 Metres) AMSL.
• UKRA Level 1, 2 & 3 Range Safety Officers.
• Space and time for UKRA Model Achievement Programme or Level 1, 2 & 3 work and attainments.
• "Rockets & Things" shop (prop. Malcolm Jennings), and other traders at SWF Base Camp, to supply all your rocketry requirements.
• Very much a rocket village, with rocket clubs, families and individuals participating – rocket society as well as rocket science.
• Proximity to the town of Largs offers many attractions for non-rocket fliers accompanying active rocketeers, plus a range of shops (including the Largs Chandlers at the Yacht Haven marina) for all sorts of supplies, needs and wants.

IRW 2009 is an event for all model and amateur rocketeers, as well as rocketry followers of all ages, be they individuals, club members/groups, or families. The IRW 2009 event gratefully acknowledges the support of the United Kingdom Rocketry Association (UKRA) and the Scottish Aeronautics & Rocketry Association (SARA). 

The organizers also thank David Grove and Geoffrey Smith at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Airspace Utilisation Section (AUS), the staff at Glasgow Air Traffic Control (GATC), and the Scottish Airways Control Centre (ScACC) for their assistance with NOTAM and launch window arrangements to help enable the IRW 2009 event as well as Mr. and Mrs. Watson at South Whittlieburn Farm, Largs, and Mr. and Mrs. Fergie at Knockendon Farm, Dalry, for providing the IRW Base Camp and flying site facilities respectively.

The IRW 2009 organizers, Colin MacLaren (SARA & UKRA), Andy Norrie (SARA & UKRA), and John Bonsor (STAAR Research, SARA & UKRA), look forward to seeing and flying with you at this year’s event.

Website: http://irw2009.rocketry.org.uk/?id=1