Let old flares off on Bonfire night ?

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DAKA

DAKA

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Every year we see dozens of old flares being let off on Nov 5th.

I have a few out of date and it would be good for the crew to learn how to use them.

The problem- it is slightly illegal and we live a mile from the beach
so what do you think
good idea or bad ?

After all we all speed and thats slightly illegal and there are going to be loads fired over our garden anyway , there always is.
 
I think it's a good idea to have a practice. Some times I wonder how I'd go on if I ever had to use them in a panic. Having said that, mine must be donkeys years old . Still on the boat and in there box. Hope they still work!!
 
Read a piece on the MCA site where a guy got fined for letting them off.

mind he did ask permission /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
was refused /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
let them off anyway /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
claimed it couldnt be illegal cause he wasnt on board /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

he was standing on the pontoon next to the boat /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

call the CG and see if they have any demo days arranged. they sometimes do them around bonfire night.

with the wind at the moment it could be a bit dangerous
dont forget they carry on burning on land for some time.
 
V bad idea, inland maybe but even then the parachute flares land still alight and the thought of one of those ending up on top my wooden garden shed isn't a good one. BTW I live a mile from the beach, you don't live anywhere nr Lymington do you?
 
Can't see how they'd tell a held flare, from a long burning roman candle - but you're right about the parachute ones. They will come down alight, so on no account "test" one of those!

Rick
 
Dont worry no where near your Garden shed, several 100's of miles away.

Best keep location secrete, dont want to tip the mca off so they stake out my Garden /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
It was the Parachute ones I really wanted to play with.
At least I will have a fire to destroy any evidence quickly, they would have a job to prove where the flare came from.

Just what is the chance of a fire starting on a cold wet night ?
 
Whatever the rights and wrongs, its not a bad idea to practise handling them and you'll probably be surprised how many dont ignite. I let a few out of date ones off last 5th Nov and about half failed. Pretty off pissing if that happened when you really needed them
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think it's a good idea to have a practice. Some times I wonder how I'd go on if I ever had to use them in a panic. Having said that, mine must be donkeys years old . Still on the boat and in there box. Hope they still work!!

[/ QUOTE ]
Not at the time realising it was illegal last year I let off on bonfire night with some old flares that I found along with other equiptment in a boat that I purchased.
Having never fired a flare before I was shocked by the ferocity with which they burned (remmember magnesium ribbon at school, well times that by a million), and I was totally stunned by the launch power of the parachute flares. I was greatful that it was not an emergency as both factors would not have done anything to help calm what in dire circumstances could already be quite a stressful situation. However I was even more greatful when a number failed to ignite in any way whatsoever and having always assumed the best before dates where a bit of a con to make sure you bought more flares , now I would never go out with out of date flares (but would keep them alongside "in date" ones but only as extra reserves) Lastly even if you are inland remmember walkers/climbers use them as well, they are not exclusively for use on water. (but i must say the parachute flares do go up better than any rocket Ive ever bought!!)
 
It'd make a mess if it landed on a car roof (for instance). My uncles farm burnt down one year 'cos something set the straw alight /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Rick
 
Fun against what is right, now I am even more confused.

I'll check with the guests what they think but I expect by the time we 've had a few beers and bottles of bubbly and the Fireworks have all gone we will move on to the real pyrotechnics.

Or should we avoid the drink as well ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
. Tie them to a post and fire them remotely with a lanyard.

[/ QUOTE ]

Great idea, from next doors garden so they take the wrap. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I like your style. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Joking aside, I always stay stone cold sober when I'm letting off fireworks, having had a very close shave some years ago, firing off a rocket when I was half-cut. When all's said and done, they are explosives, and can be lethal. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Having fired off hundreds of Schermuly para illiuminating flares in my time and they have 'characteristics'.

1. They go off like stink, so never point at objects, people, animals or where there are branches above you. I have seen the results of every one of these incidences, including a Gurkha who had his ear removed by one fired 100 metres away and one that was let off in the turret of a Challenger tank, inside the the back of a 4 ton lorry and a brace of Landrovers - soldiers will play, you know.

2. They are perfectly safe when fired as per instructions.

3. For recreational purposes they will not be burning when they hit the ground if fired in normal wind conditions and fired directly upwards.

4. As they have a parachute, which is attached to flare pot with steel wire, they come down slower than a big garden rocket.

5. MajorCatastrophe bears no responsibility for any damages, injuries or other consequences of firing para illimumes after being influenced by this post.

My advice: Find a professional, or give them to authorities to dispose of.

Just below the picture of the radio is a description of a Schermuly fired horizontally.BANG
 
Flares are not fireworks, they are pyrotechnics not toys. Parachute rockets come to earth still alight and the burning bit is magnesium I believe and isn't put out even by landing on something wet, they are designed to land on water. We live in Poole and there will be lots of them again I expect this year and we usually get several landing near our house which is in a densely populated area.

It is not only illegal it is dangerous and believe me I will inform the local police here should I find out who let one off that landed nearby. There will be lots of kids out and about on firework night, not to mention the cars, sheds, houses and so on that are at risk. That might make me a boring old fart but so be it.

If you want to find out how to let them off properly, either attend an organised demonstration, or go out and sink your boat and let them off at sea legally.
 
Please do not use!

Quite apart from what loads of others have said I would use caution.

I once got my hand burned at an official practice session - the top of the flare sort of fell off onto the top of my hand, luckily we were all lined up on a beach so I ran into the sea and put the lot out pronto. Middle of February it was but the sea temp was the very least of my problems......

Also the para flares can sometmes reach sea level still alight so a major risk if used on land.

I once rather foolishly attempted to set off a just out of date flare on Nov5 only to have it fail. What to do now? You cannot just ditch it can you...........so at the end of the evening I chucked it onto the fire once everyone had done inside. Still not a peep until about 5 minutes later when the whole of that bit of the garden (fire and all) went into the air with a huge 'puff' proceeded to go over the fence and land right in the middle of next doors price winning lawn.

Buggar!
 
Here, here all fireworks are a pain in the friggin arse and 'buy one get one free' in Tescos does not help. Call me an old fart if you want, but when I get up at 6 every morning to go and earn my cash, I do not want to still be listening to fireworks going off at 10.30 at night.
 
Alright I am pleased to receive all your replies and I supposed I best take note or I shouldn't have asked in the first place.

The next time I see someone in Chichester , Portsmouth, Plymouth Harbour etc in trouble I'll set off a good few flares before I relay a Mayday.

Care for a poll ?
 
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