Rockets Set to Fly This Weekend

HOVAR Holds Monthly Launch on Saturday

By Crystal Vandegrift, Staff Writer

BURKEVILLE – If you are hobby rocket enthusiast or just want to watch as rockets fly into the sky, this Saturday, July 30, is your chance.

The Heart of Virginia Association of Rocketry (HOVAR) who meets each month to fly rockets of all shapes and sizes will hold a launch at Boswell Field in Burkeville beginning at noon.

HOVAR was founded in 2010 by Kevin Dunn and Marc Hight with the purpose of providing equipment and support for high-power rocket launches. “High-power rockets are those that are large enough (1500 grams) to require a waiver from the FAA.” said Dunn. “We have a 3-rod launch pad with 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 inch rods. We also have an 8-foot 1010 rail for large rockets and can launch up to four rockets simultaneously.

HOVAR is a section of the National Association of Rocketry. The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) scientific organization dedicated to consumer safety, youth education, and the advancement of technology in the hobby of spacemodeling (sport rocketry) in the United States.

Founded in 1957, the NAR is the oldest and largest spacemodeling organization in the world with over 5900 members and 165 affiliated clubs across the U.S.

The NAR supports all aspects of safe consumer sport rocket flying, from small model rockets with youth groups to very large high power rockets with serious adult hobbyists.

Currently, The Heart of Virginia Association of Rocketry has about 12 members. According to Dunn, anyone of any age is welcome to join in, either as a flyer or as a spectator. “Typically people fly rockets they have built, either from a kit or from their own design. The motors are commercially produced and are available for sale at the launch,” added Dunn.