Summit City Aerospace Modelers got it's start in around 1971 when two Fort Wayne clubs merged to form the Smoking Saturns Model Rocket club. The name changed to Summit City Aerospace Modelers a year later when it chartered with the National Association of Rocketry. We are one of the oldest continuing clubs in the country, with some of the original charter members still active. In 1997 the club also affiliated with the Tripoli Rocketry Association. Throughout the years we have held demo launches and conventions, and have helped many area school teachers and other youth organizations with their model rocketry programs. We provide a full calendar of activities for our members, with organized launches from March through November, and meetings during the winter months. We also host a regional contest every year that is one of the oldest annual events in the Association.
We are a family-oriented club with members ranging in age from pre-teen to adult. Although many of our members have NAR and/or TRIPOLI memberships, you don't have to belong to either organization to join. Our members span the full spectrum of the hobby, from contest flying to just-for-fun sport flying; from the small models to the large adult high power models. Some of our modelers are national contest winners, and one of our members has competed on the international level.
Sport rocketry is a constantly evolving hobby and, like most clubs, ours has evolved too. New power classes and technologies that were undreamed of twenty years ago are now available through certification programs offered to both Triploi and NAR members, adding new adult dimensions to an already exciting hobby. Many of our adult members have obtained their certification, and are now able, in turn, to certify others. We have also hosted several FAA waivered high power launches the last few years, giving high power flyers throughout the region an oportunity to fly the "big" ones.
Another important aspect and responsibility of any rocketry club is education. Considering the tremendous increase of knowledge and technology our children will encounter throughout their lives, the need for strong science programs in our schools and youth organizations has never been greater. Our members are committed to science and aerospace education and the safe enjoyment of all levels of sport rocketry, and have worked with several school systems and youth organizations throughout the area, including 4-H clubs and the Boy Scouts.
Towards this goal of education, it is our hope that our web site will be a home base for your exploration into this wonderful, exciting and educational hobby. Kids who become involved in rocketry usually learn much about aerodynamics, and other sciences as well, sparking a hunger to learn even more. Many youthful rocketeers grow up to be scientists, engineers, and educators, and a few have even become real astronauts. Also, model rocketry has a proven safety record that beats most other youthful and adult pastimes, a record that we are all proud of and strive to maintain.
-Contributed by Bob Hart.