David Urbanek

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How long have you been into Sport Rocketry?
"From 1970 through about 1976. Then again from in 1998 until the day I die." - 1/2000

What organizations are you a member of?
"I am a member of the National Association of Rocketry and of UROC. I'm the newsletter editor for UROC, the Utah Rocket Club. I also am a member of the NARScale discussion group."

What level are you certified to?
"I achieved my Level 1 certification in March of 1999. Will be going for my Level 2 in March of 2000."

What is your all time favorite rocket?
"The Centuri SST Shuttle. Really neat look to it and the parasite glider glided very well."

Tell me an interesting rocket related experience?
"After LDRS, my next big regional launch was Springfest in Las Vegas. My friend Greg and I went there, each of us hoping to get our Level 1 certifications. We arrived late Friday night and headed to the launch site Saturday Morning. We found the other Utah rocketeers and set up my shade awning, tables, chairs. The air was still, the sky was clear, we felt good about our upcoming flights. We sat down to prep and a bit of wind started blowing. By the time each of us had our rockets prepped and ready, the wind was a pretty steady 15+ mph. We waited and waited and waited. Finally I bought $30.00 worth of High Power Rocketry back issues and we went back to the hotel. The wind was howling.

When I awoke, early, Sunday morning, the air was still. Greg and I rushed to the launch site, expecting a repeat of the day before. No food, no nothing. We check out to of the hotel and drove like mad to the launch site. We just wanted to beat the wind. None of the Utah rocketeers were there, but we tracked down 2 NAR guys from ROC and they agreed to witness the flights. I nearly ran to the pad with my rocket, hoping to get the flight in before the wind hit. The H97 got my Graduator way, way up there, but with binoculars I could tell it was all together. It took forever to return, but return it did. It landed not 20 feet from the ROC guy's truck. Greg's flight was also successful. The wind never returned. We watched great flight after great flight and got in a bunch of our own. Finally, around 5:00 PM the launch was winding down. Greg and I were absolutely starved. We gorged at a buffet in Vegas and then just tried to stay awake all the way back to Salt Lake City.

It's still one of the best days for flying I've ever seen."

Anything else you would like people to know?
"Fly with a club. Even though I like to fly on my own, I've made some great friends by flying with a club and the help and camaraderie is fantastic. Also, volunteer to help your club. They need you. Don't be the type or rocketeer that shows up to club launches after set up, flies a few rockets, and then takes off before the clean up starts. That's parasite behavior. Get your hands dirty and help out. It's the least you can do.

Take your time. Don't be in a rush to certify. Rocketry is a scenic road to enjoy, not a freeway that just gets you somewhere.

There's more to rocketry than what you've done, no matter what you've done.

There are two kinds of rockets: those which have crashed, and those which haven't crashed yet.

Keep the flamey side down.

Don't use elastic shock cords."