NSW Rocketry Association takes on NASA for lift-off successes

ROCKET hobbyists from across Sydney converge every two weeks to launch their rockets up to 500 metres in the air. It’s all about noise and smoke and flame.

Members of the NSW Rocketry Association meet at Whalan Reserve to launch some of their rockets. An Axion 2 rocket is being set up. Picture: Jess Husband.

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“TWELVE, 11, 10, nine, ignition sequence start, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero.

“All engines running, lift-off, we have lift off.”

Everyone knows what it sounds like when a famous rocket, like the Apollo 11, launches.

But some people like to get a step closer to the action.

The NSW Rocketry Association hold a twice-monthly launch. Spencer Allen sets up his scale rocket BBX. Picture: Jess Husband.

Members of the NSW Rocketry Association enjoy a version of their own launch countdown twice a month at Whalan Reserve.

Rocket hobbyists from across Sydney converge on the reserve to launch their model rockets up to half a kilometre in the air every second Sunday and fourth Saturday of the month.

Association president Tim Banicevich, 43, from Panania, said people loved the spectacle.

Norman McGeoch and David Cumming set up the Little Joe 2 rocket ready to launch. Picture: Jess Husband.

“The spectacle of it is great; when a flight works really well it’s a lot of fun,’’ Mr Banicevich said.

“And who doesn’t like a bit of noise and smoke and flame as well? Let’s say, controlled combustion.”

It isn’t quite Apollo 11, but rocketry enthusiasts buy model rockets or designs and construct their own.

The 5-year-old Axion 2 rocket being set up ready to launch. Picture: Jess Husband.

The Dust Devil rocket launches. Picture: Jess Husband.

They are launched into the air with various motors that determine height and speed the model will reach.

“At Whalan the biggest that we’ve seen is 1.8 metres tall,” Mr Banicevich, who works as a fibreglass and composites scientist, said.

“The biggest restraint is that if we want to use a bigger motor we have to build a larger rocket because we don’t want it going so high it ends up in someone’s yard.”

The association follows strict height and guidelines to prevent the rocket landing somewhere unfortunate, and bring the rockets back down safely, as per aviation rules, so they can be reused.

“Without getting too technical, air traffic control lets us go to 4000 feet but because of the drifting we can’t go above 1500 feet — which is still half a kilometre up,” Mr Banicevich, who has been with the association since 2003, said.

NSW Rocketry Association members, Norman McGeoch, Tim Banicevich and David Cumming. Picture: Jess Husband.

David Cumming, 60, from Castle Hill, has been with the association since 2007.

He said his background was as an industrial chemist, but he explained people from many walks of life were rocketry enthusiasts.

“We want to attract kids to it because there’s not many of that sort of activity you can do without sitting in front of a computer these days,” Mr Cumming said.

“Like any hobby, it’s easy to get into and then you can make it as simple or complicated as you want.”

Mr Cumming focuses mostly on small to medium sized rockets, usually weighing between 500g and 1.5kg.

“I really like making my rockets,’’ he said.

“But it doesn’t matter what size rocket or size motor. But it’s always great seeing one launch; it’s just a buzz.”

Both Mr Cumming and Mr Banicevich started out buying cheap model rockets to build.

They then started designing and constructing their own models as they grew in experience.

Mr Cumming said the group was grateful for the support of Blacktown Council. The council had helped the association secure a launch site.

More information about the association and launch dates is available at: www.nswrocketry.org.au/