After a series of workshops to build rockets, the countdown was on to launch day for the Regina Rockets club. For generations, building and launching model rockets has been a popular hobby for children and adults. Noel McAvena recently set a national height record with the Canadian Association of Rocketry. To celebrate his record, he founded the ‘Regina Rockets’ club, and donated hundreds of model rocket kits. “The response has been great,” he said. “We were able to give out over 250 model rocket kits through our build series, and we had over 130 fliers registered, it’s been extremely well received.” The club has hosted a dozen rocket building workshops at various libraries around the city. Those who signed up were provided with a free rocket kit, and some experts helped to put it all together. A few weeks later, their official launch day was held at Kings Park Speedway. Safety on the ground is paramount with spectators a safe distance away from the launch pad, but there’s more to rocket safety than what happens on the ground “Anytime you’re holding a launch, you have to be aware of the airspace that’s above you,” McAvena at the speedway. “Here, we’re under the Regina airport’s airspace, so it’s under 1,000 feet. That’ll be the same type of restriction that we would fit within any part of the city that we consider launching.” The clubs’ first official meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21 at the Sunrise Library.
