Rocketry Planet

PAISLEY, Scotland UK — The 22nd to the 29th of August will find United Kingdom rocketeers converging on the Farlie Moor Rocket Site outside of Largs, Scotland for the 26th annual International Rocket Week. Lapwing Lodge, site of the new Base Camp, also has a connection with rocketry in Scotland and with the history of the IRW.

One of the projects from last year's International Rocket Week 2010.

In May 1985 the late John D. Stewart and the Paisley Rocketeers’ Society (PRS) held the first of two Paisley Rocket Weekends. On the Saturday of the 1985 event there was pyrotechnic and Aquajet rocket flying at Lapwing Lodge in association with the 75th Anniversary of the formation of the Girl Guides.

The 1985 Paisley Rocket Weekend was the direct inspiration for the first Scottish Rocket Weekend held at Kelburn Country Centre in August 1986, organised by the Association in Scotland To Research into Astronautics (ASTRA). The Scottish Rocket Weekend, an annual event from 1986 to 1991, led to the IRW events from 1992 forward. The second and last Paisley Rocket Weekend held in May 1987 was also base camped at Lapwing Lodge, with the smaller rockets of those days flying on farmland at nearby Hartfield.

IRW 2011 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 2011 offers:

• Eight days of very eclectic open, research, and competition rocket building and 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.
• UKRA Level 1, 2 & 3 Range Safety Officers.
• Space and time for UKRA Model Achievement Programm, and Level 1, 2 & 3 work and attainments, with ample furnished workshop space at the Base Camp, and a large flying site.
• Rockets & Things shop (propietor Malcolm Jennings) at the Base Camp to supply your rocketry needs.
• Very much a rocket village, with rocket clubs, families, and individuals participating – rocket society as well as rocket science.
• Proximity of the Base Camp to the towns of Paisley and Johnstone, and also to the city of Glasgow, has advantages for travel to and from the event  that included an airport, main line railway stations, and motorway junctions, plus access to a wide range of shops, restaurants, take-away food outlets, entertainment, and attractions. All useful to both rocket flyers and non-fliers at IRW 2011.

IRW 2011 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. As such, the IRW 2011 event gratefully acknowledges the support of the United Kingdom Rocketry Association (UKRA) and the Scottish Aeronautics & Rocketry Association (SARA). 

The organizers wish to thank Site Warden James Templeman and Assistant Cailin Lackie at Lapwing Lodge Outdoor Centre for their assistance in making and accommodating the IRW 2011 Base Camp arrangements. The organizers also thank David Grove 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 2011 event as well as Mr. and Mrs. Fergie at Knockendon Farm, Dalry, for providing the IRW flying site facilities.

The IRW 2011 Organizing Committee, Colin MacLaren, Andy Norrie, Jonathan Rhodes. Mitchell Hamilton, Rick Newlands (SARA & UKRA), and John Bonsor (STAAR Research, SARA & UKRA) look forward to seeing and flying with you at this year’s event.

Website: http://www.irw.rocketry.org.uk/