Nowthen (Elk River) Launch Site
MASA is very lucky enough to have arranged the use of an
excellent flying field for club launches a little north and west of the Twin
Cities metro area. This field is located on a sod farm north
of Elk River near the town of Nowthen. Both sod and crops
(such as CORN) are grown on these fields.
For 2008, MASA has again successfully received an FAA waiver for this
launch site. This means that, at official MASA launches, high
power rockets heavier than 3.3 lbs and carrying more than 125 gms of
propellant may be flown here! The waiver allows flights to
5,500 ft msl. The elevation of the field is about 950 ft msl,
so flights may not exceed 4,500 ft agl (above ground level).
The field size is appropriate for up through approximately "I"
impulse flights and some "J". However, all high power flights are subject
to RSO approval.
Based on field size and distances from occupied buildings, the
maximum practical flight altitude is 4,000 ft agl.
The following waiver paperwork files are provided here so that
all fliers may familiarize themselves with their terms and
requirements.
2008 Nowthen waiver
details (pdf)
All launches held at this site are of the
"notification" type under FAR Parts 101.22 and
101.25. The launch limits are 3.3 pounds maximum rocket
lift-off weight, and a maximum of 125 grams of propellant
(equivalent of one small H motor).
All participants must be familar with both the Rules
and Procedures for all MASA Launches and with the...
Rules particular to this launch site:
Maximum lift-off weight of 3.3 pounds. Selected
"H" engines may be flown at this site.- This site may only be used for official MASA
launches. It may not be used for private or personal
rocket launches or for any other purpose at any time other than
during an official MASA launch.
- Please only enter and exit the field from Tiger St
NW. The driveway to the west, with the buildings, is a
neighbor's private driveway. Please don't use this
driveway to get to Jarvis St NW! This has been
specifically requested by the landowner!
- The fields to the north & east of the red
"barn" are off limits.
- Please always assist the LCO in spotting aircraft above and
near the launch site. All launches are put on hold while
planes are in the area.
- Please pick up ALL trash and debris from the field EVEN if
it's not yours! Trash buckets will be provided at the
field; please use them!
- If you smoke, please refrain from dropping your butts on the
ground. We do not want to litter or cause a fire! We
use this location through the good graces of the landowner; we
want to keep him happy.
- Avoid driving on the sod. However, it is all right to
park your vehicle on the sod so that the road is kept clear.
- There are no "sanitary facilities" on site.
Directions:
From the north metro:
Take US Hwy 10 West, or US Hwy 169 North to where they
intersect. After crossing under US Hwy 10, the road that use
to be US 169 becomes Ferry Street N ( I believe also Co. Rd. 47).
Take this road to the north. This road also gets renamed to St.
Francis Blvd/ Co. Rd. 47 after going around two corners. Stay on Co
Rd 47 until you reach Nowthen Blvd NW/ Co. Rd. 5. Turn left onto
Nowthen Blvd NW/ Co. Rd. 5. Stay on Co. Rd. 5 to the town of Nowthen,
MN.
Choice #1
On the north edge of town turn left onto 201st Ave NW/ Co. Rd.
65. ( see map ) Turn right onto Tiger St. NW/ Co. Rd. 82. This
road switches to a gravel road after going by 205th Ave NW/ Co. Rd.
82. The farm is located on the driveway leading west with the sign
"Private Drive" located at the intersection of Tiger St NW
and 211th Ave NW.
Choice #2
Continue on Co. Rd. 5 through Nowthen, MN. Take a left turn on
211th Ave NW. This is a gravel road. ( see map) The farm is
located on the driveway leading west with the sign " Private
Drive" located at the intersection of Tiger St NW and 211th Ave
NW.
From I-94:
Take the Elk River / Rogers exit. Take Hwy. 101 north past
the Elk River/ Rogers VFW launch site. Hwy. 101 becomes US Hwy. 169.
Cross US Hwy. 10 and the Mississippi River. Continue on US
Hwy. 169 until Co. Rd. 33. Turn right onto Co. Rd. 33. Continue
driving on Co. Rd. 33, until you reach Twin Lakes Road. Turn right
unto Twin Lakes Road. Continue on Twin Lakes Road to Co. Rd. 34/
205th Ave NW. Turn left onto 205th Ave NW for 1.3 miles. Turn left
onto a gravel road (the Tiger St. NW sign fell off the post).
The farm is located on the driveway leading west with the sign
" Private Drive" located at the intersection of Tiger St
NW and 211th Ave NW.
(Slightly less annoying route - from 169, take a right onto Main
Street. Go two blocks, then take a left at the 4-way stop onto
Hwy 13. Follow Hwy 13 until you get to Co. Rd. 34 and take a
right. Rest of directions are as above.)
NOTES:
The farm is located on the driveway with the sign
"Private Drive" located at the intersection of Tiger St NW
and 211th Ave NW. You'll be going down the gravel road that
leads WEST. (Do NOT take the road that leads north!)
The directions as described above will lead you to the north
end of the field. That is where we normally set up the launch
range. On rare occasions, the range has been set up at the
south end of the field. If you arrive at the north end, no one
is there, but you see us down on the south end (by the tall
cottonwood trees), DO NOT DRIVE ON THE SOD TO GET TO US! You
need to drive back around on the gravel roads to Co. Rd. 34.
From 34, there is a narrow gravel road that leads north to the
cottonwood trees. This road is next to a green mailbox and
opposite a tan colored house.
For the GPS enabled, the field is at N45* 21.201', W93*29.961'
click on maps to see larger versions
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