Announcing Some Changes

New Reservation Fees
FAR is announcing reservation fees for off-FAR-days (OFD). OFDs include: all weekdays Monday through Fridays; 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays of the month; and all Sundays. Any group, organization, or company that wants to schedule an OFD will be required to pay a reservation fee before their reservation is placed on the FAR calendar. The reservation fee is $500 for a normal day and $750 for an exclusive use day. This reservation fee will be credited to the final use fee once you come out to FAR Site. Our refund policy for a reservation cancellation is a 100% refund if FAR is notified by 2-weeks and 50% refund if FAR is notified by 1-week before the reservation date.
No More than One Reservation 30-days in Advance
There will be no more than one reservation request per group accepted out 30-days beyond the current date.
Increase in Company Use Fees
FAR is also announcing an increase in the daily use fee for companies to $1,000 per day. The pyrotechnic operator fee will still be $400 per day.
Two separate safety announcements:
 - All two-stage rockets will be required to use remote arming and disarming for their staging electronics. This means arming and disarming the rocket on the launch rail while the user is standing on the ground and not while standing at the top of a ladder or using the Gradall with a man-basket.
- All liquid rocket igniters for static firing or launch will need to be tethered.

Announcing the 1st Annual FAR Mach Buster Invitational Competition Aug 29 thru Sept 1

Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR)

FAR is an organization and facility (FAR Site) for experimenters who want to test and fly rockets of their own design.

FAR serves individuals and teams who seek a place to develop and test engines, test fly rockets, test and fly avionic systems, or most anything related to rocketry.  Our facility in the Mojave Desert has launchers for everything from hobby store model rockets all the way to rockets weighing more than 1,000 pounds.  Our static test stands allow you to mount an engine, or an entire rocket, and fire the motor before attempting a flight.  Whether it's a rocket powered by a commercially manufactured solid propellant motor, an experimental propellant you made, or a complex liquid propellant rocket, all are welcome!  If you want a place to do tests legally and safely, or just fly some rockets for fun, we are here to help!

We conduct operations at FAR Site on the first and third Saturday of each month.  There are exceptions, so check our CALENDAR.  On a typical day we'll often have individuals and research groups, college teams, Girl or Boy Scouts, and families who enjoy flying rockets.  Information on who is using FAR Site on our launch days can also on be found on the CALENDAR.

FAR Site facilities are also available for rent to commercial, institutions, government research groups, TV and motion picture productions, and others.  You can book us for private use dates during the week or weekends if the regular event days do not meet your needs.  We are inexpensive, and we have done the regulatory compliance to be able to serve your needs.  The following pages on our website will help you learn more:

 STATIC TEST STANDS -- FAR Site has multiple static test stands for test firing solid, hybrid, and liquid rocket motors/engines.  These stands allow for vertical, horizontal, and inverted tests of the various rocket motors/engines.

LAUNCHERS -- FAR Site has multiple rocket launchers utilizing small and large rail buttons, small and large racks for rockets without launch lugs or rail buttons, and T-rails launchers for big rockets with launch lugs.  We also have launcher with different lengths: 10-foot, 20-foot, and 60-foot. We also have wire launchers for model rockets.

REQUESTS -- To request a visit, use, launch, or static test firing.

FAR is Incorporated as a not-for-profit, public benefit organization with IRS 501(c)3 charitable status.  All of our staff are unpaid volunteers who do this because we see value in it.  We founded FAR with the goal of giving people a place to explore amateur rocketry and have fun doing it.  Students of all ages are especially welcome.  Several of us have mentored student groups for many years, and FAR is an extension of that desire to teach, inspire, and support the next generations who will outdo us all.

Want to know more about us?

MISSION STATEMENT

OFFICERS

HISTORY

LICENSES