Quote from Admin on December 5, 2025, 10:14 am

Hello CENJARS,

We're now into the least favorite season of the year with cold temperatures and shorter daylight. Regardless of that, Sunday December 7,  2025 will still have our monthly launch. The day will be cold! Current temperatures are forecast to be mid-30ºF to a high near 40ºF so bundle up for the time you'll be spending outside. Happily, the winds have been forecast to be relatively low but even a low breeze at these temps can make you feel colder. Layers will keep you warmer. Hats and gloves are recommended; especially, the gloves. Keeping your hands warm will help when you need to address your rocket on the field. It's not fun trying to clip the wires onto your ignitor wires when your fingers are frozen. Hot coffee, tea, or chocolate in a good thermos also helps to ward off the chills.

December is the "holiday season" month. Whatever you celebrate — Christmas 🎄, Hanukkah 🕎, Saturnalia 🪐, Kwanzaa 🕯️, or nothing at all 😱 — holiday themed rockets will be flying! I have yet to see a flying menorah but I'm certain there will be some Christmas trees flying. I had started a Santa's Sleigh rocket probably two years ago but, as my time has been occupied with many other endeavors, I haven't completed it for this season either. 🎅🏼🛷

CENJARS has been contacted by several ARC teams wishing/wanting to do their certification flights with CENJARS. I have informed them that they should come out and fly with us as often as they can. The experience they will gain will benefit them immensely. They have also been warned to not wait to qualify in April as there are no guarantees on the weather. In addition to the ARC teams, the Civil Air Patrol has contacted CENJARS and they will be joining us in the new year. The last time they were at a launch, it was bitter cold; not the best way to enjoy their first rocket launch.

Diptanshu and his Mach Lightspeed team had their NASA PDR (preliminary design review) yesterday. They did an excellent  job with their presentation and the NASA panel of pundits gave both praise and criticism, and asked many questions. I believe some of their design will see some modification after yesterday's feedback from their PDR.

December, being the final launch of the year, means it's time to renew your CENJARS memberships. You can do this at any launch but please try to use exact cash or a check/cheque for paying your fees. You can also simplify things for Eric by placing your payment and application form in an envelope when you hand it to Eric; he, as do others, has much to do at our launches, so try to simplify and expedite the renewal process. You can also give your payment to me. I'll see to it that Eric receives it if he's unavailable or busy.

Next Wednesday there is a video conference meeting for all NAR sections. Myself and some of our board will sit in for this video conference because we've been told it is mandatory. I believe that the purpose of this meeting is to prune some of the inactive sections from the NAR rolls. CENJARS should have nothing to be concerned with other than attending this meeting.

For those who have joined our post-launch debriefing ritual at Kane Brewing, Joe Z. has identified a new brewery in the area — Bakes Brewery. Bakes is located at the east end of 18th Avenue, which all CENJARS fliers should know well, making it more local to our launch site. All CENJARS members are welcome to debrief and enjoy some great conversation.

Due to the limited hours of daylight, I'd like to request that all members arrive at the field as early as possible. Help to setup and teardown the equipment will mean more hours of daylight to enjoy flying!