Welcome to International Rocket Week 2007 (IRW 2007)

At Kelburn Castle & Country Centre, Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Last year the International Rocket Week (IRW) celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of developing annual rocket flying events since the first Scottish Rocket Weekend in August 1986. These events have always been based at the beautiful location of Kelburn Castle & Country Centre, overlooking the islands of the Clyde Estuary in the West of Scotland. This has long been known as “The World’s Most Scenic Launch Site” (and also fondly referred to as “Mission Control Meets Monarch of the Glen”). However, the IRW cannot rest on its laurels. The organisers fully appreciate that travelling to Scotland is a long haul, even for our nearest neighbouring rocketeers south of the Border. So, what does IRW 2007 have to offer? Here are some of the main points: -

8 days of very eclectic Model Rocket & Aquajet flying where veteran rocketeers boost beginners.
4 days of High Power Rocket flying at one of the UK’s best HPR sites that combines easy access with wide open space, and which can accommodate Level 3 flights.
UKRA Level 1, 2 & 3 Range Safety Officers.
Dedicated space and time for UKRA Model Achievement Programme or Level 1, 2 & 3 attainments.
“Rockets & Things” shop on site (prop. Malcolm Jennings) to supply all your rocketry requirements.
Very much a rocket village, with families, groups and individuals all participating – rocket society as well as rocket science.
The Kelburn venue and the locality offer many attractions for non-rocket flyers accompanying active rocketeers.
And we always have fun.


There are some important changes to previous years’ IRW arrangements with Kelburn Castle & Country Centre that I need to particularly mention.

1.Flying times at Kelburn: To prevent the horse riding versus rocket flying problems that have been a perennial IRW issue, this year these two activities will be in separate blocks of time. Horse riding and livery movements will take precedence up until 3.30pm each day of the IRW, during which time there will be no rocket or aquajet flying at Kelburn. From 3.30pm our rocket flying takes precedence up until loss of light in the evening, about 8.30pm in August – i.e. a solid uninterrupted block of five hours for rocket flying, during which there will be no horse riding or livery movements to concern us. This is as much time if not sometimes more than we have got each day in the past with all the stopping and starting of rocket launching around horse rides. I hope that all IRW veterans will think this a far superior arrangement. For all concerned may I suggest that the thing to do is to use the morning and afternoon non-flying time to get fully prepped for the 3.30pm daily launch window opening. This restriction (i.e. no rocket flying before 3.30pm) of course only applies at the Kelburn site that is used for Model Rocket and Aquajet flying. It does not apply up at the Fairlie Moor High Power Rocket Site, which is on land well outside of the Kelburn Estate. Rocket flying at the Fairlie Moor site can run from 12 Noon to 7pm on each of the days NOTAM’d for it (Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th August). Although the Fairlie Moor Site is primarily for HPR flying during IRW 2007, Model Rockets could also be flown there before the daily 3.30pm launch window opening at the Kelburn site. However, I must stress that the embargo on any rocket launching before 3.30pm each day of the IRW at Kelburn, and that includes Aquajets must be adhered to for this new arrangement to work.

2.Participation Charges increase: Due to changes in the way that Kelburn Castle & Country Centre operates as a business their charges to the IRW event have been raised this year, after several years at flat rates (for Entry, Camping, and the Pavilion Hire). This could have meant a very considerable increase in the Participation Charges for this year’s IRW. However, thanks to generous sponsorship the cost of hiring the Pavilion (essential for rocket preparation, repair and build work) which is the “big ticket” item of the IRW costs has been covered. While this does not totally offset the increase in Participation Charges this year it does very significantly reduce the increase. For full details see the “IRW Participation Charges” Page. While the increase in the Participation Charges is due to greater daily Entry and overnight Camping rates being charged by Kelburn Castle & Country Centre and is not due to any increase from the event itself, the IRW Organisers will endeavour to make the event worth the increase.

These are the main changes in the usual IRW arrangements that will apply this year.

The IRW 2007 Organisers are: John Bonsor, Colin MacLaren and Andy Norrie.

Any and all assistance that others attending IRW 2007 can give, particularly in Model and HPR RSO capacities during IRW 2007 will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to you all for your continuing interest in and support of the IRW. I look forward to meeting and flying with you during the event.

In the meantime,
Fly high, fly safe and have fun!
John Bonsor, IRW 2007 Organiser.


Monday 20th to Monday 27th August


(photo copyright Mitch Hamilton)