Remember the thrill of building and launching model rockets?  You'd buy a kit from Estes or Centauri and spend hours aligning the fins, gluing, sanding, painting, packing the recovery parachute...all for the joy and promise of sending it skyward.

Tucson is hosting the the Southern Arizona Rocketry Association's 4th Annual Desert Heat event Saturday and Sunday afternoon in Avra Valley, northwest of the city.  Officials expect between 60 and 100 modelers to bring a wide variety of rockets to launch.  Ranging in size from about a foot tall to over 12 feet in length, hundreds of launches are sure to inspire, thrill and impress all ages.

SARA had to get flight clearance from the FAA for the event, because of local air traffic.  Approval has been given for flights up to 4500 feet, but the organization is still working to get special permission for some launches to go as high as 6,000 feet!  It is sure to be a great family-oriented event.

Admission is free for spectators, launchers will pay a $10 fee.  Food vendors will be there and prizes will be given to children who launch.  The event is at the facilities of the  Tucson International Modelplex Park Association on North Reservation Road, between West Mile Wide and Manville Roads from 8am to 5 and 7 to 9pm Saturday and 8am to 3pm Sunday.

President of the Southern Arizona Rocketry
Association, Eric Burch, with a selection of rockets
ready to launch.
(Renee Bracamonte/Tucson Citizen)