Purley Amateur Rocketry Society (PARS) "Blast into open skies"
 

Oli 4 flames out on first flight - but is unharmed
Level 1 for Dan at EARS
Kes plans for Level 1 in 2008
Project Trilogy
New facility opens

Height Records and Certs:

Dan Goldsmith Level 1 Cert
Alex and Sebastian Field Level 1 Cert

Dan Goldsmith UK Height Record
Oliver Neil Smith Level 1 Cert
Oliver Neil Smith UK Height Record

Member Projects and Notebooks:

Dan Goldsmith - Trilogy
Kes Daood - Bio Hazard
Dan Goldsmith - Apollo III
Howard Smith - Ground 2 Air
Level 2 Notebook
PARS Video Notebook


Photos and stories
from past events

PARS @ CROCK Sep 2008
PARS @ CROCK June 2008
Eventful BIG EARS 2008
PARS breaks 4000 feet barrier Oct 2007 Mini PARS 2007 - Jamie and OIivia
Junk Roc and Portaloo 2007
PARS goes to HOT ROCKETS 2007
PARS TWO 4-Grain Flight Successful
Rory joins PARS Under 10 Rocket Club
Success and Failure at CROCK April 2007
New members @ Easter CROCK 2007
PARS @ UKRA @ MES 2007 @ Alley Palley
Wind over EARS at Duxford 2006
K-LOB 2006
PARS CARS 2006 - Rocket Powered Cars
Jamie Young joins PARS with Code Red
Georgia Fair joins PARS with Air Rocket 2
BIG PARS 2006 - CROCK
Slug PARS @ Wet EARS 2006
LMAP Project 2006
PARS @ EARS - Oct 2005
PARS @ OAKS - Oct 2005
PARS @ CROCK- Sep 2005

Orisis lost in Grass - Sep 2005
Rocket Build Day 2005
PARS @ BIGEARS 2005
Daniel Goldsmith joins PARS with Code Red
Kes Daood joins PARS with Ionizer
Oli 3 Test Success, Blue Ninja Lost
Stratosphere Breaks PARS Record
BIGPARS 1 Meeting Report
May Bank Holiday 2004 Meeting Report


Code of Conduct

Flying rockets can be dangerous if safety rules are not followed, codes of conduct not heeded and sensible precautions ignored.

PARS members obey all of the rules set by UKRA and EARS. In addition PARS has developed its own code of practice and simple rules for it own events.

When launching mid and higher powered rockets we also use a launch control check list. We fly higher powered rockets only at official events and sites.

Flying rockets is safer than other forms of model flying. Model rockets are light, fly high into the sky in just a few seconds, and then float gently to the ground on their parachute.

Unlike model aircraft, which can create noise-nuisanse, model rockets make virtually no noise. The hiss of the motor at take-off lasts only for a couple of seconds. In a two hour period there may be perhaps four or five such launches.

All in all, model rockets are beautiful, elegent, impressive and environmentally friendly. Everyone loves seeing them fly. The vast majority of rockets are recovered to fly again.


 

 

 

 

 

 


Founded in 2004, the Purley Amateur Rocketry Society (PARS) is not really a society at all. We are an informal focal point for bringing our friends together to get out on the hills, fly models rockets and have a lot of fun. Despite this we take rocketry very seriously - and some of our members are now members of the UKRA. We build low, mid and high power rockets as part of learning for design technology. We attend official UK rocket events such as those organised by EARS, UKRA and CROCK.

If you wish to contact us or be kept informed about future PARS events, please write to pars@fairdene.demon.co.uk

Forthcoming events
Click here for the PARS Calender for 2008


Convenience links: Rocketry suppliers UK and worldwide


School
Presentation

by Oliver Neil Smith

We began our rocketry adventure by building and launching small model rockets using motors in class A to D (Estes). We achieved heights of between 500 feet and 1500 feet. We then moved to E-class motors, winning two UK height records. We also built clusters and simple multi-stage rockets. In 2006 we entered the field of high power rocketry (HPR). PARS members Oliver Neil Smith, Dan Goldsmith, Alexander Field and Sebastian Field achieved the UKRA Level 1 Certification.

PARS meetings are called BIG PARS (if a lot of friends and family turn up). We leave early in the morning and stay on for long lazy summer afternoons. Our meetings are as much a picnic as they are a rocketry event. Bring food and drink to cover all your needs, there are usually no facilities nearby.

Walking shoes are recommended. Rockets travel great distances so cross country hikes are sometimes required. Children can explore the fields as well as enjoy the launches. Do you have a pair of binoculars? If so, please bring them with you as you can help to track the rockets. Do you own 2-mile walkie-talkies? If so, bring them as they can help us to keep in touch.

Click here for more information UK rocketry info


A tribute to rockets, The Space Race, and the absolutely amazing, Flaming Lips


"I'm going to talk to you about a hobby that scales." ... Tech Investor, Steve Jurvetson, based in California, talks about OUR awesome hobby -- shooting off model rockets. With gorgeous photos, infectious glee and just a whiff of danger. His talk is inspirational. Steve is a member and photographer for The Rocket Mavericks.


We also LOVE movies and music about rockets, space, aliens and the meaning of life!

PARS goes to the Movies
Flaming Lips 2006
 

PARS members attending EARS -
the East Anglian Rocketry Society

Cool high blue skies! Just perfect for rockets


Featured Rockets:

Mercury ONE - PARS 1-Mile Attempt scheduled for 2007

PARS ONE is our first club rocket

PARS TWO is our second club rocket designed exclusively for Level 2


Featured Rocket Builds
PARS member Oliver Neil Smith has
built a new model rocket, the Blue Samurai
which has it own rocket build page

Project-S (aka WOWROC 2)
This rocket is our first High Power Rocket.
It's first flight is scheduled for UKRA 2006, June

See what it takes to build a High Power Rocket




Want to Join PARS?
You'll need a rocket

If you or your children would like to build a model rocket to bring to a PARS day out, or simply to have fun on your own, we recommend buying your first rocket kit at Model Rockets or RocketStore or Rockets&Things. Costs can be as low as £30, including your first pack of small motors. Get advice. Speak to the vendor. Don't fly the first time by yourself. Come to an event. Get advice from experienced flyers. Visit the UKRA website and read the code of practice, safety rules, etc.


Build your own rocket?
You'll need parts

Some of our members don't like "kit" rockets. They would rather design and build their own unique rocket to their requirements. If you would like to do this you'll need to order some parts. We recommend Apo11o Model Rocketry or Model Rockets or RocketStore or Rockets & Things.

Need more advanced stuff? Try our comprehensive Rocketry Supplier Listing page. Take a look around inside the PARS HQ Workshop. See what it takes to build a High Power Rocket. It's not as simple as it looks. And it takes a lot of time and effort.



Design your own rocket?
You'll need software

Your rocket must be stable to be safe. A rule of thumb is that the centre of gravity must be at least one body-diameter forward of the centre of pressure. To make the calculations, and determine the height your rocket will achieve, we recommend SpaceCAD software. Need more advanced features? Try RockSim.


 

New Year 2004 and "Code Red" Takes to the Skies

We experienced our first model rocket launch over the 2004 New Year celebrations in the Cotswolds (thanks Mark and Caroline). The rocket was an Estes Code Red. We estimated it reached 600 feet on a B class motor. We were more than impressed. Come visit us at a PARS event to see Code Red and other (much larger) rockets take to the skies.

Early videos

PARS 1st Launch
Oliver's Blue Ninja
Dan's Code Red
Executioner Flight 1
Executioner Flight 2
Field's FireFlash
The Amazing Richter Recker
Stratosphere

   
   

A short history of PARS

PARS was "created" when founder member Sebastian Field bought his Dad an Estes "Code Red" for Christmas 2003. Its maiden launch took place during New Year celebrations at their house in the Cotswolds where they were joined by their friends The Smiths. Spured on by this success, Seb's brother, Alex, together with Oliver Neil Smith, founded PARS. The Dads, Howard Smith and Mark Field, promptly appointed themselves in charge of safety. They quickly ordered a cluch of five more rockets and set about building and painting ready for the first "BIG PARS"

Current member list

Howard Smith - President
Mark Field - Co-President
Caroline Field
Sebastian Field - Founder member, UKRA Level 1
Alexander Field - Founder member, UKRA Level 1
Oliver Neil-Smith - Founder member, UKRA Level 1, UK E-Class Record
Madeleine Neil Smith
Chrysogon Smith (C-Class contender)
Daniel Goldsmith - UK E-Class Record, UKRA Level 1
Kes Daood - aiming for Level 1 in 2008
Alfie Shaw (missing in action)
Will Tomsett
Edward Hintze

Under 10 rocket club

Jamie Young, Georgia Fair, Becca Goldsmith, Sef Daood, Olivia Fuller

Associate members "No Rocket Yet"

Andrew Guest, Sophie Shaw, Darryl Young, Catherine Young, Alexander Anthon, Alicia Luba, Aneeka Shah

The three founder members of PARS with rockets
(much younger than they are now!)


 

     
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