General Info

Dates

We hold launches on the third Saturdays of every month; check the launch schedule for exact dates.

Start Time

All launches start at 9:00am. When we have fog in the winter months they will start at 11:00am or when the fog clears.

End Time

For the one-day launches, we keep flying until we have no more fliers and like to start tear-down by 3-4pm; we call for fliers around 1pm to determine how long to keep the range open. For three day launches, we fly all day unless there is a night launch.

Range support

We have a complete setup of rods/rails in every size and have high-power pads from H to Complex M. Note that in all cases, fliers should plan to stay at the launch site from 9am-5pm as keeping the above schedule and the launches going depends on how many people we have to volunteer for set-up and teardown.

Email List

For the latest information sign up for our members email list. This is the best place to get up to the minute details about our launches. To get an account on this website, you also have to be signed up on the members list. You will need to send the admin your contact details and then you’re all set!

Vendors

Motor and rocket vendors are on site at all launches. Bay Area Rocketry has signed up to support all of our launches. You can pre-order your motor through BAR’s website and have it delivered to the launch. See also: Bay Area Rocketry Website

Fees

Monthly launch: $20.00 all flyers
Dairy Aire (May) & October Skies: $50 (3 days)- $40 for people who sign up for range duty.
Flyers 14 and under are free. No charge for spectators!

Waiver

We have a FAA Waiver to launch rockets to 16,800 feet above ground at our site. Any rocket that could reach a higher altitude will not be allowed to launch.

Motor Limits

Maximum Impulse in California

Maximum Impulse per rocket motor – 10,240 Ns “M”
Maximum combined total impulse (Complex rocket) – shall not exceed 20,2480 Ns “N”

The minimum safe distance for an M total installed impulse is 500′ which is our standard away cell setup.

The minimum safe distance for a Complex N total installed impulse is is 1500 feet. At TCC, we have full launch capability of Complex N impulse with a daisychained 1000′ lead on our standard away setup for 1500′ extended away cell. In fact, this is how we use our 1000′ cable.

Rockets with a total impulse of M-class or higher must have documentation for the RSO showing that the rocket will be stable.

Large Launch (“Away”) Pads

The Big away pad we have is capable of launching a rocket in excess of 250 lbs. The standard rail is a Proline 1500 or “Bigbutton” rail as is used on all larger impulse rockets.

Certifications Available

Our club holds a Tripoli record for the most number of certifications in one day. We credit this success to our prefect, the TRA/NFPA safety codes, equipment, our experienced staff, and pre-flight/safety briefings. To continue with our excellent safety track record and continue to support our club and hobby, TCC (Prefecture #52) has elected some new rules for certifications in 2016, please read the below:

Visitors Fee – for those fliers who are coming to the launch only to certify, have not attended 3 successive launches as registered fliers, or have no prior experience, we charge a $40 visitors fee.
This includes training and supervision with our Prefect/TAP’s along with supervision by experienced club member(s) and is intended to jump start those in HPR. Most important for the successful operation of TCC, the visitors fee covers equipment maintenance and operating costs which would normally be accrued through regular attendance (e.g. flight dues which would normally be paid by to TCC at each
launch). TCC is the only club which does not charge yearly membership dues; the visitors fee helps keep this possible.
Level certifications – our club requires certification of L1 and attendance of one full launch event BEFORE L2 certification. For multi-day launch events, we require a minimum of seven (7) days before
attempting to certify Level-2. Exceptions are at the discetion of the Prefect.

Level 1 through Level 3 certifications are available at Tripoli Central California (TCC) – please use the following contact info:

Levels 1 and 2: Contact Kenneth Powell (Prefect). Large certifications (e.g. University programs) contact at least 5 days prior to the launch
Level 3: Contact Richard King or James Dougherty in advance.

T-Shirts

Our T-Shirts are high quality custom designed with new themes for every launch.We generally make T-Shirts for our larger launches (October Skies and Dairy Aire). The link for the T-Shirt sign-up list is at the top right corner of this page. Edit the Google document by clicking the tab for the launch you plan to attend and put the number of shirts and sizes for each. Use a new line for a separate size to ensure your shirts are reserved. Prices are $20 up to XL, and $25 for 2XL and larger (we get charged more for sizes over XL). Please note that you must pickup your shirts within the next few launches, those who signed up for shirts and did not pick them up by the cleaning party can no longer pre-order and will have to pickup at the registration table.

Launch Details – Please Read!

Our launch site is on private property, it is not BLM land or public property; you need to follow these rules or else you will be escorted off the property.

Trash – we have a strict pack-in/pack-out policy; everything you bring to the launch site we want you to bring OUT of the launch site. This also does not mean to go down to a dumpster on one of the adjoining farms and throw it there!
Camping – you are allowed to camp on the launch site, the only restrictions are that you don’t have any fires. BBQ’s are an exception and they must be enclosed (no open fires), but even still, if you start a fire, you will be responsible for the damage.
Recovery – when you go to recover your rocket, make sure that you give a heads up to some folks that you’re out looking for your bird. Try to stay on the dirt roads as much as possible and be VERY careful for the ditches, burms, and sloughs out here. We’ve had people get stuck before and it’s causes major problems. So, if you get stuck, you’re pretty much on your own – but we will help you call for Towing service.
Always yield to ANY farm equipment on or near the launch site. This is a working farm and its farmers and employees always have the right of way. There is a 10MPH speed limit on any of the access roads and this will be strictly enforced. The operative protocol shall be to avoid making dust at all costs. Those who violate the rules will be asked to leave.
All TCC launches follow the Tripoli Safe Launch practices and all fliers need to be members of Tripoli or NAR to fly at the launch site. When you sign in, you need to show proof of your Tripoli or NAR membership.
NAR members will be allowed to fly Commercial motors (only) at Tripoli launches, with NAR insurance (as long as their projects are launched according to NAR rules).
All flyers who enter the High Power Pad area must be 18 or older.
No rockets are allowed to fly without inspection and approval of the RSO. Any person who flies or tries to fly a rocket without RSO approval will be asked to leave.
Our waiver is 17,000 MSL or 16,811 MSL; rockets which will exceed this altitude will not be allowed to fly.
If the wind picks up and exceeds 20mph, we will shut down the range. When you’re launching your rockets, you’re not allowed to exceed a 20 degree angle from vertical in ANY direction. If the LCO sees your launched outside of these parameters, your launch will be skipped and when the range opens up again you can re-aim your rocket (this is what we call a recycle).
Igniters – use an e-match or a pyrogen igniter; our launch system can deliver 40 amps to each pad but that does not mean to use 24 gauge bell-wire. If you have a crummy igniter the breaker will pop, and everyone on that relay box will be offline – effectively slowing down the launch.
When you’re out on the range, make sure you walk straight out and don’t walk OVER the launch leads; if you trip over the launch leads and yank the wires, the launch will shutdown.
When you’re out on the range, make sure you watch your step and be careful for any gopher holes or trenches, you can fall and break your ankle or much worse.
Setup/tear-down – if you’re able to, please come to the range-head towards the beginning and end of the launch – more people means it is less work to setup and tear-down. With 5-10 good volunteers, tear-down can take 30 minutes or less. If you have not done any tear-down before, we will pair you up as a buddy system since tear-down has a process you must learn.
Tripoli Cert flights – contact the prefect and schedule a time to certify at a launch. It is best to come with your Tripoli number and all of your paperwork completed.