[adamw]

After our last convention which turned out to be very successful and well received, we are pleased to announce plans for our 2008 convention.

As some of you may know, the site that we shared with UKRA in Heckington, Lincolnshire is no longer available due to personal reasons of the landowner. Both UKRA and ourselves were very shocked and disappointed by this news but fortunately we have managed to secure a location in co-operation with EARS (East Anglian Rocketry Society). The site therefore has now moved to the village of Elsworth in Cambridgeshire (http://www.ears.org....ite/index.shtml).

[Search for 52.2535,-0.092053 in Google Maps - maps.google.co.uk]

The site, which is situated a few minutes outside of the village, is used for both model and high-powered rocketry. We will also be conducting seminars, demonstrations and firings of our own, concluding in a firework display.

The event is scheduled for the 3rd May 2008. On-site camping is available so you can stay for the UKPS event, watch the display, have a chat, food and drink, bunk down and then watch more rocketry the next day.

The proposed schedule for the event is as follows:

11:00 – 12:00 : Arrival, Registration, Tea / Coffee / Juice
12:00 – 13:00 : Wheels – Artistic Theory and Practical Design
13:00 – 13:45 : Lunch
13:45 – 15:00 : Choreographed Computer Firing – Pyromusicals and More
15:00 - 15:10 : Break
15:10 - 16:10 : Making Rocket Motors + Test Firing
16:10 - 16:20 : Break
16:20 - 17:20 : Guest Lecture
17:20 - 17:35 : Fireworks Display Site Tour
17:35 - 20:00 : Videos & Stories
20:45 - 21:00 : Fireworks Display
21:00 - Late : Social

As we are running this event in conjunction with EARS, those who have paid to attend Big EARS will have access to our event, and UKPS delegates will be able to partake in EARS events (mainly just watching the rockets fly). Details of the entry fee are to follow. This is a members-only event so if this sounds like your sort of thing and you aren't a member, go here to find out how to join.

Make space on your schedule... hope to see you all there!

[David]

This sounds great! Its nice to see events planned in advance, and it is clearly going to be a good chance for enthusiasts to meet up, chat and share ideas etc. However, just one thing....

adamw, on Mar 19 2008, 08:50 PM, said:

20:00 - 20:10 : Firework Display

In May- Its going to be pretty much broad daylight!

I have no objection to daylight displays, of course- they can look pretty.

This post has been edited by David: 20 March 2008 - 02:06 AM

[Arthur Brown]

Sunset should be before 2100

[David]

Arthur Brown, on Mar 20 2008, 07:39 AM, said:

Sunset should be before 2100

I think its nominally about 8.25 pm.

I know from frustrating experience how slow it can be to get dark during a spring evening, though! That said it, might be slightly different in the South.

[adamw]

Before I posted and changed the time for the display it was set as 19:30 so I shifted things around!

Basically it's going to be when "it's dark enough"

[David]

Sounds good! What the set up with the display- is one particular individual/company doing it?

[Richard H]

The society organises professional displays like these in-house, kindly supported by MLE Pyrotechnics Limited. SFX provided by Darkstar Pyrotechnics amongst others!

Should be a good 5 to 10 minutes.

[Richard H]

Who is planning on coming along so far then? Should be a fun day!

[phildunford]

I'll be there...

(Bringing tea coffee etc as requested)

[David]

Hope it goes well for you!

This post has been edited by David: 10 April 2008 - 02:08 PM

[Richard H]

Hope to see a few more of you there!

[Daedalus]

I had hoped to be going to Big Ears but my other half has organised a long weekend in Chester that weekend. Pity as the UKRA meets are good HPR meetings and the UKPS displays are always superb.

Hope you all enjoy the weekend.

Dave

This post has been edited by Daedalus: 10 April 2008 - 03:00 PM

[portfire]

I'll be there,should be coming with paul.......CAN'T WAIT

[karlfoxman]

I will oviously be there, should be a good time as always. Anyone who can come please do, its a really good day out!

[digger]

I'll be there too