SoAR has an opportunity to try out a new field that can possibly eventually be used for small high power launches.

We’ll start today, Sunday, March 24 from 10AM to 5PM with a Low/Mid power launch at the Creekside Firing Range located in Taylorsville, GA, west of Cartersville. This is within a couple of miles of where SoAR got its start in 1997!

Launches at this field will only be held on Sundays, as this is the only day the firing range is closed. There are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RESTRICTIONS on recovery that, if violated, will get you banned from SoAR AND possibly from clubs across the Southeast. We can’t stress enough how important this is.

If a rocket lands south of the field in the adjoining sod farm, it should be considered LOST FOREVER*. The sod farm has made it clear that NO ONE goes on its property for any reason.

We’ve now been told we have permission to recover from the sod farm, by foot only.

From April to October, corn will be planted on a large part of the field, which will limit its usefulness, but we may schedule other low/mid power launches during this time. If a rocket lands in the corn, it should be considered LOST FOREVER*. During months when the corn has been harvested (November to March), that area is fair recovery area. This is when the field will operate as a high power field (except this launch, as we don’t yet have a waiver).

* We are attempting to work out ways in which we can get wayward rockets back from the landowners. Let us deal with this. Do not attempt to contact the landowners yourself.

WEATHER UPDATE:  Looks to be a beautiful day, mostly sunny, mid 50’s when we start but peaking at nearly 75 degrees by the time we wrap up.  Winds will be five to eight MPH mainly from the south, so the sod farm probably won’t come into play anyway.

Here are the directions to Creekside Firing Range:

• From Atlanta, take I-75 North to exit 285, Red Top Mountain Rd. and turn left.
• Continue as it merges with Old Alabama Road SE.
• After about five miles, turn right on to GA 61 (you’ll have Cartersville Airport on your right).
• After about a mile, turn left onto GA 113.
• After about five miles, turn right on to Covered Bridge Road.
• In half a mile, turn left onto Old Alabama Rd. SW.
• In just over three miles, Creekside Firing Range will be on your left.