I took the very first Thunderflame propellant making class in the mid 90s. It does open up the enjoyment and involvement in the hobby. <br><br>When I was on the TRA BOD there was endless discussion of whether or not to ‘certify’ the research mixing process. Basically anyone can mix their own propellant but Tripoli restricts who can fly (L2 and up) and where they can be launched (TRA research launch only). NAR does not allow research motors at any level at any launch so if you are a NAR member you would have to join Tripoli. <br><br>I have most of the chemicals and 54 and 38 mm casting and liner tubes and a HD 6qt Kitchen Aide mixer that I’ve used for propellant mixing. I know Ben and Elaine and would be interested if I could just help. I would not be able to pay to take the class at this time. <br><br>Thanks for making the contacts and offering this to NRVR Eric. <br><br>Bob<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">On Sat, Sep 8, 2018 at 5:49 PM Adrien Drouault <<a href="mailto:adrien.drouault@gmail.com">adrien.drouault@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Could a Level 1 take the class, with acknowledgement that the motor won't fly until after achieving Level 2?<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">More precisely, I guess, is what's the timeframe. I'm still hoping to be able to do my L2 before the end of the year, but I'm buried under a huge project at work that is severely cutting in to my free time...</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Presuming I can (legally and schedule-wise), I'd be interested.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">On Sat, Sep 8, 2018, 17:26 Eric Paterson <<a href="mailto:egpaterson@gmail.com" target="_blank">egpaterson@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space">Tweeks, <div><br></div><div>It comes with <b style="color:rgb(20,20,20)"><u>Tru-Core 54 mm 3 grain casting set</u></b><font color="#141414">, not 54mm hardware. Before we start thinking about scheduling, I want to get an idea of number of people who would be interested. Since it is hands on, the class would most likely be for < 10 people, although Ben and Elaine wold consider doing it a couple of times.</font></div><div><font color="#141414"><span><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#141414"><span>Eric</span></font></div><div><font color="#141414"><span><br></span></font><div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div>On Sep 8, 2018, at 5:19 PM, Thomas Tweeks Weeks <<a href="mailto:tom@theweeks.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">tom@theweeks.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="m_-2784015465686137423m_-4398864067094477866Apple-interchange-newline"><div><font face="arial" size="3"><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word">Whoa! Comes with 54mm hardware?!?! SIGN ME UP ERIC!!!</div><p style="margin:0;padding:0;margin:0;padding:0;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word"> </p><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word">Can we do a doodle to figure out the best date Eric? There's a ton of stuff going on in the fall.. and the more people who can go to this the better.</div><p style="margin:0;padding:0;margin:0;padding:0;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word"> </p><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word">Thanks for taking lead on this.. we've all been talking about something like this for a while.</div><p style="margin:0;padding:0;margin:0;padding:0;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word"> </p><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word">Tweeks</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word">p.s. Guess I better get myself a 54mm bird (all I have is 38 & 75 right now).</div><p style="margin:0;padding:0;margin:0;padding:0;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word"> </p><p style="margin:0;padding:0;margin:0;padding:0;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word"> </p><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:arial;font-size:12pt;word-wrap:break-word">On Saturday, September 8, 2018 4:54pm, "Eric Paterson" <<a href="mailto:egpaterson@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">egpaterson@gmail.com</a>> said:<br><br></div>
<div id="m_-2784015465686137423m_-4398864067094477866SafeStyles1536441181">NRVR members,
<div>I talked to Ben and Elaine Russell (Gainesville, VA) about offering their <span style="background-color:#fcfcff"><span style="color:#141414"><span>"Introduction to Propellant Making” class here in Blacksburg. </span></span></span><span style="color:#141414;background-color:#fcfcff">The class covers the following topics:</span>
<div>
<ul style="margin:1em 0px 1em 3em;padding:0px;color:#141414">
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">How to safely handle and store chemicals and propellants</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">What’s needed to get started</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Clothing, gloves etc.</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Chemicals</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Mixers</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Casting sets – mandrels and caps</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Liner / casting tubes</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Motor hardware</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Vacuum systems</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Process of mixing and packing AP based propellants. The student mixes and packs their own 54mm reload.</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Overview of Burnsim –motor design and simulation program</li>
</ul>
<span style="color:#141414;background-color:#fcfcff">You'll leave the class with</span><br style="color:#141414">
<ul style="margin:1em 0px 1em 3em;padding:0px;color:#141414">
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">A 3 grain 54mm J class reload which you mixed and packed. The reload can be flown at an experimental launch by those with Level-2 certification.</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">A 3-ring binder containing all the class materials and discount coupons</li>
<li style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:disc outside">Tru-Core 54 mm 3 grain casting set which includes a 5/8” x 14” AL mandrel and casting caps. Packing stick included.</li>
</ul>
<span style="color:#ff2600"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="background-color:#fcfcff">Tuition is </span><span>$325</span></span></span><span style="color:#141414"> per student. I am thinking of holding the class jointly for a small group of NRVR members and VT students on a Saturday sometime this fall.</span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"> </span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"><span>Would you take this course given the $325 tuition? I would like to get an idea of the general level of interest among NRVR members before reaching out to our students. </span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"><span>Eric</span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"> </span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"> </span></div>
<div><span style="color:#141414"><span> </span></span></div>
</div>
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