Summary
L3 is the highest level of certification offered by the NAR and TRA. With an L3 cert, a flyer may use M, N, and O motors at NAR and TRA launches. Higher classes of motors may be used by L3 members at TRA launches when the rocketeer has applied for their own class 3 waiver for the flight.
Requirements
The core requirement for getting your L3 certification is very similar to the requirements for L1 and L3. You must safely fly a rocket on a certified M, N, or O motor and recover it in a condition to fly again. As motors of this size almost never have built-in ejection charges, the rocket must use electronic deployment. Unlike L2, the flyer does not need to do a written test before they fly, but they must document the process of building their certification rocket and give the resulting report to their certifying board in advance of their flight for approval. They should be in contact with their L3CC (NAR) or TAP (TRA) before they begin construction of their rocket. A list of NAR members who can act as your L3CC is attached below the "documents" heading. An example of a cert document is shown below in the "examples" section.
Documents
Examples
Arrow - Andrew R's L3 certification flight. Cert doc here.
Suggestions
- This totally could be your first DD flight, but it totally shouldn't be. The stakes involved are much higher than flying an L1 rocket. It is a good idea to have at least 3 - 5 successful dual deploy flights on at least two DD rockets before you start on your L3 so you know "what works". This is not a hard requirement, but may save you from lots of misery.
- The cost of a typical L3 project, from start to finish, is usually between $750 and $2000, depending on how much equipment the flyer already owns or borrows. The motor alone will probably be at least $250 at 2018 prices. Be sure you are this committed before you start to acquire parts! Rocketeers who rush through their certifications will likely spend the higher end of this range all at once, as they will have to acquire gear like altimeters, trackers, and parachutes that other fliers may already own from their past projects.
- Motor hardware is expensive! At 2018 retail prices, a 75mm 4G case (the minimum size with M motors from most brands) goes for anywhere from $350 - $500. Look to borrow this hardware from your motor vendor or another team member if you do not intend to fly enough to justify purchasing it yourself. Alternatively, hardware can be purchased used from other flyers for often close to half the price of a new hardware set.