Patrick, during the annual LDRS rocket launch hosted in various states, those able to get FAA sanction for the height required--I believe 50,000 FT AGL (the Utah Rocket Club hosted it out on the salt flats prior to 9/11), one of the featured contests is to see how high a bowling ball can be lifted by a conventional rocket motor. To get the required altitude clearance, we had to get permission to go out on a portion of the HAFB bombing range. I believe it was a Bird Colonel who secured permission from the USAF. We are now, since 9/11, unable to secure permission to get back on the bombing range section, so we launch out maybe 12 miles towards Floating Island, with permitted windows to 25,000ft AGL. As a footnote, Dan H was in charge of our annual Hellfire launch over the weekend of 9/11 and ran into a firestorm when he shut the launch down comletely as directed by HAFB. Strangely enough, SLC air traffic control, as well as NORAD, were OK with continuing the launch. Dan had called them both. But, HAFB shut us down completely on the 11th. We were allowed to launch the next day, but using only motors available in hobby stores--no high power. One of his big problems was with the people who had traveled from neighboring states, and further, who came to the flats to launch their big stuff (take, for instance, the Renton, WA club who meets and launches at Boeing Field. They have an altitude restriction of 300ft AGL), and did not take kindly to being told they would be unable to launch. If interested, talk to Dan about it. I am really proud of him and how he handled this tough situation. 73 On 11/26/2012 12:44 AM, Wiggins Patrick wrote:

And some people thought Ann dropping a bowling ball from a plane was weird. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebdxb8roC-Y

patrick