Valley Aerospace Team promote STEM Education and Local Tourism

Nick: There’s no denying Highland County’s uniqueness. From it’s nickname as “Virginia’s Switzerland” due to it’s elevation within the Allegheny Mountains, to the sweet smells of maple syrup flowing from sugar shacks, Highland’s simple rural lifestyle attracts many folks to the peace and quiet of it’s natural beauty. But once a month, people come from far and wide to enjoy a hobby that has young and old alike reaching for the stars.

Chuck Neff: Launch in 5…4…3…2…1

Nick: Since 2010 the Valley Aero Space Team or V.A.S.T. has been bringing model rocket enthusiasts to Highland County for the chance to test out their latest creations, enjoy the thrill of model rocketry, and perform a bit of research. Chuck Neff, and president of VAST explains what their mission is about.

Chuck Neff: “We are about expanding the knowledge and interest in rocketry cause it’s such a great STEM activity, Science Technology Engineering and Math. Kids love watching rockets going off, I mean fire, smoke, noise, what’s not to love.We have a supply of rockets on hand that when any kids come we can allow them to fly a rocket and take it home free of charge.”

Nick: And it’s not just kids who love the hobby.

Chuck Neff: “I mentor several university teams and we have other members who mentor university teams. James Madison university. I fly a lot of rockets out here with them. But yes, we try to do as much outreach as we can.”

Nick: And the launches can go from small to well, pretty impressive.

Chuck Neff:“We launch all sizes from just inches tall to the largest one we’ve had out here is 14 and half feet tall, weighs 67 pounds. Our typical launches are between 2500 – 3000 feet that’s uh for high power, I mean a lot of the smaller ones obviously go a lot lower. Be we like flying em all. We flew close to 50 rockets yesterday, 10 of them were high power and the highest went was close to 5,000 feet.”

Nick: But, to quote Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Chuck Neff: “We follow strict safety code through the National Association of Rocketry and the Tripoli Rocketry Association. People think about this hobby, rockets, fire smoke ya know all that stuff that’s it’s very dangerous, and actually hobby rocketry is one of the safest, if not the safest, outdoor hobby’s there is.

Nick: Despite the strong safety record, there are still some folks out there who remain apprehensive.

Chuck Neff: “I founded the club in 2005. In 2010 we needed to look for a new launch site. We had one in Staunton but the “Not in my back yard” attitude ran us out. And so Lou Bird, who I believe was some kind of administrator with the county said reached out to us an d said hey, we got some places over here if you’d like to come take a look and I’d like to just thank the land owners, Carl and Terry May for allowing us to do this. They are very big on outreach and they no what we do.”

Nick: Having VAST in the county has proven beneficial however, bringing in enthusiasts like Naveen, a junior from Green Hope High School near Raleigh, North Carolina. He and his father traveled six hours to Highland county and overnight in Monterey to test out his rocket named “Braking Bad.”

Naveen: My name is Naveen. So I’m doing an experimental air brake system which kinda of lets me control at what altitude my rocket is going to go up to, so I’m working on that project. This rocket is going to around 1,200 feet, I’ve gone to 2,700 feet before, something there So, that’s my record.”

Nick: After assembling the rocket and loading it’s fuel, Naveen and Neff carefully placed it on the launch platform, connected the launch leads to the control box and readied for the launch. As a self professed geek going back to my own teenage years launching model rockets , I was anxiously anticipating the count down.

Chuck Neff: Range is clear. Sky is clear. Launching in 5…4…3…2…1

[Elton John – Rocket Man plays]

Braking bad soared high into the Allegheny Mountain sky and after a few moments the parachute deployed and we watched it drift slowly down back down to Terra Firma, landing less than a hundred yards from the launch pad. Naveen and his father made a quick retrieval.

Nick: Would you say this was a successful flight?”

Naveen: “Yea! Definitely was! I’ll see the data now.”

Chuck Neff: “Any rocket you get back is a successful flight!”

Nick: Think you might be interest in launching rockets right here in Highland County? Visit the Valley Aerospace Team website at www.valleyaerospace.com for more information and upcoming launch dates. From Allegheny Mountain Radio News, this is Nick Mullins.