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 The National
Association of Rocketry (NAR) has been around since 1957. At one time, the Academy
of Model Aeronautics (AMA) was pretty tightly joined with them in covering model
rocketry events and promoting model rocketry. In fact, for while there was space
allotted in American Aircraft Modeler, AMA's monthly magazine, for model
rocketry. From February 1968 through August 1969 there was a newsletter feature
entitled "Model Rocketeer" in addition to a separate article, often written by
G. Harry Stine. A complete list
of all editions is provided below.
 The NAR and AMA still work together. For
example, the National Aeronautic Association (NAA)
delegates authority for aeromodeling and spacemodeling to the
Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA),
who has in turn delegated Spacemodeling (model rocketry) to the NAR.
Click the NAR logo to the left and go to the membership page of today's National
Association of Rocketry. You can read a sample edition of the NAR's magazine,
Sport Rocketry, by clicking
the thumbnail image to the right (here is
part 2).
(click for larger version)
Page 49 (continued from page 41):
Protection Assoc. The main purpose of Kukowski's appearance was to make the organization
aware of the progress being made by the NAR and model rocket manufacturers in reducing
the untold number of amateur rocketry accidents in the U. S. and to offer a solution
to the dilemma faced by the fire marshals and public safety authorities. The NAR
also sought their assistance in developing an acceptable standard for model manufacturers
and model rocketeers.
Unknown to the host group was the planned attempt by a western state delegation
to introduce a resolution condemning model rocketry and calling for the NFP A to
take action against it by an official declaration.
The NAR appearance, without a doubt, prevented a negative report on model rocketry.
Rather than condemning model rocketry, a decision was withheld and a resolution
was approved that would establish discussions between the NAR and the NFP A Pyrotechnics
Committee.
The NFPA invited G. Harry Stine to join the Pyrotechnics Committee and to assist
in establishing a guideline for a code concerning model rockets. Two years later
a tentative Code for Model Rocketry was passed without dissent by the NFPA national
convention. During that time the model rocket manufacturers were kept abreast of
the situation and later invited to assist the committee in any changes which would
improve the code. More refinement of the code has been in progress and a finalized
version of the Code for Model Rocketry will be voted on in May, 1968.
WHAT NOW?
Upon final approval of the Code for Model Rocketry by the NFP A, implementation
of the code can follow a number of courses. A number of states automatically adopt
all NFP A codes, relying on the NFP A as the final determining factor. Other states
must take the code and, through the efforts of the state fire marshal and other
interested citizens, have the code legislated. In still other states, citizen groups,
with the NFP A code as a guide, must "see the bill through" the state legislature.
Where local option is the rule, it must be done on a county or city basis.
SUMMARY
One thing is clear. The efforts of the NAR in this all important problem must
be made known to all model rocketeers. The course taken has been criticized, but
in a final analysis it has proven to be the only one with foresight. The cooperation
of the manufacturers has been outstanding and appreciated. But we must remember
one thing. There will be more attempts to restrain model rocketry in the future.
The NAR must remain strong and unified so that the progress to date is not eroded.
Posted October 16, 2020
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