Rocketry Online

Giant Leap Garage Sale

Giant Leap Rocketry, Inc. now has a GARAGE SALE page for discontinued or clearance items. The list will change over time, so keep checking. Discounted items may include reloads, hardware, kits, chutes, cut-offs in dyna-wind tubing and so forth.

For more information, please log on to www.giantleaprocketry.com

Ed Rogala Joins Quest Aerospace

Quest Aerospace, Inc. Pagosa Springs, Colorado – Hobby industry veteran Ed Rogala has joined Quest as its new Sales & Marketing Director. Rogala, widely known as “The Hobby Guy” has 37 years of industry experience. “We are so excited to have a person that is so highly regarded in the industry join our team. We have a very aggressive expansion plan in motion for 2010 and Ed is a major part of that plan” said company President Bill Stine.

For more information contact: (970) 264-4050

AeroTech Lowers Prices on Five Single-Grain 54mm RMS Reload Kits

AeroTech Consumer Aerospace has redesigned its five single-grain 54mm “soda can” motor reload kits to use less expensive components and has significantly reduced prices on the entire range of reloads for the Reloadable Motor System™ (RMS™) 54/426 hardware.

The modifications, which include the substitution of a lower-cost liner and a smaller nozzle insert (the same as those used on the 29 & 38mm RMS reload kits), have been reviewed and approved by the Tripoli Motor Testing (TMT) Committee of the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA). The nozzle throat areas are identical to the previous versions and the ballistic performances of the new loads remain unchanged within statistical variation.

Suggested retail prices for the I115W (P/N 09115M), I229T (P/N 09229M), I117FJ (P/N 09117M) and I215R (P/N 09215M) reload kits have been reduced from $49.99 to $39.99 each, in line with the prices for AeroTech’s 38mm reloads of comparable power. The retail price for the I599N Warp-9™ reload kit (P/N 09599P) has been reduced from $59.99 to $49.99 each.

The redesigned reload kits require use of the new 54mm small nozzle aft closure, P/N 54ACCSN, which was previously released in October 2009 following announcement of the J99N-P endburning reload for the 54/852 RMS motor hardware. The 54mm small nozzle aft closure retails for $39.99.

AeroTech is currently looking at the feasibility of using the smaller nozzle design with additional reload kits for the RMS-54/852 motor as a means to reduce prices on the J275W, J460T and possibly other reloads.

In related news, AeroTech is working on a sixth reload kit for the 54/426 motor using its popular Mojave Green™ propellant, for release in the Spring.

Motor instructions and assembly drawings for the redesigned reloads are now available for download in PDF format from the Resource Library on the AeroTech website at http://www.aerotech-rocketry.com.

AeroTech Consumer Aerospace has a page on Facebook! Follow the very latest AeroTech news, information, product developments and testing at http://www.facebook.com/pages/AeroTech-Consumer-Aerospace/159005948954

AeroTech Consumer Aerospace is a division of RCS Rocket Motor Components, Inc., Cedar City, UT.

Oregon Rocketry announces its 2010 schedule

Spring Thunder, Brothers, Oregon. Research on Friday.

May - 21, 22, 23 – 20,500 AGL

Summer Skies, Brothers, Oregon. Research on Friday.

June – 25, 26, 27 – 20,500 AGL

Desert Heat, Brothers, Oregon. Research on Friday.

July – 16, 17, 18 – 20,500 AGL

Desert EXtreme, Brothers, Oregon. Research all days.

August – 13, 14, 15 – 20,500 AGL

Fillible’s Folly, Sheridan, Oregon. Commercial motors.

September – 10, 11, 12 – 5,400 AGL

Pending permission from land owner

Rocktober, Brothers, Oregon. Research on Friday.

October – 8, 9, 10 – 20,500 AGL

Wilsonville “Memorial Park”

Model Class 1 rockets

2nd week of the month, Saturday

12pm to 3pm, Jan thru Mar

2nd week of the month, Sunday

2pm to 5pm, Apr thru Oct

Last one, Nov 13, 12pm to 3pm

Book Release: Seize the Sky: A Builder's Guide to Model Rocketry

Mario Perdue, former contributor to LAUNCH Magazine, has released a new book on model rocketry. Seize the Sky: A Builder’s Guide to Model Rocketry picks up where is Space Modeling column left off. The book is written primarily for the people who are interested in low to mid power range (A to G motors) rocketry, but there are also some high-power projects included. In addition to the build projects, Mario answers to some frequently asked questions and shares some of the building techniques he uses when constructing his models.

General Projects:

Mark
Long John II
Invader
Nighthawk
Booster stage for Mark
Cluster

Up-scaled Projects:

Interceptor 1, 2, 3
USS America
SST Shuttle One
Mars Snooper 1
Laser-X 1

NASA 1:70 Scale Projects:

Mercury-Redstone
Mercury-Atlas
Gemini-Titan
Apollo-Saturn IB 1, 2
Apollo-Saturn V
Saturn V Launch Utility Tower 1, 2
Ares I 1
Ares V 1

Other Projects:

Jayhawk
Nike-Hercules
1:12 scale Mercury-Redstone 1, 2, 3
Vostok/Luna/Soyuz 1, 3
1:12 scale Lunar Module
1:12 scale 2001 Pod

The book is available for $24.95. To order visit the Order page.

Notes:

1 – Previously printed in LAUNCH Magazine.

2 – Original content updated.

3 – High-power project.

Madcow Rocketry Announces Prion

Laguna Woods, California, USA – Madcow Rocketry is proud to announce a new addition to it’s 4” kits – the PRION.

The PRION features an Aluminum Tailcone / Motor Retainer and an optional Altimeter Bay. The new Altimeter Bay, which is also available separately, features an altimeter sled that allows easy removal of the electronics. The recovery system, which includes a rip-stop nylon chute and flameproof chute protector, is optional for flyers who already own these items and want to save some money.

All Madcow Rocketry kits are high quality, easy to build and fun to fly.

Contact Info:

Michael Stoop
Madcow Rocketry
24338 El Toro Rd E-134
Laguna Woods, California 92637
Phone: (949) 547-8847
support@madcowrocketry.com
http://www.madcowrocketry.com

NAR Membership Drive: 52 by 52

Between January 1, 2010 and the first day of NARAM-52 (July 31) the NAR is conducting its first-ever membership drive, and is taking some extraordinary new steps to encourage new members to join the NAR. The NAR's goal is to reach 5200 NAR members by NARAM-52, which is represented by the drive's name: "52 by 52". The membership drive was organized and is being led by Carol Marple, the Chair of the NAR Membership Committee. A wide range of special benefits and incentives beyond the normal membership benefits of the bi-monthly color magazine, 60-page Member Guidebook, insurance, etc. are part of this membership drive:

New members will get $30 of free rocketry products: a free kit from Semroc; a free kit from Quest; and a free hat from Aerotech, all shipped directly to them.
Manufacturers and vendors who put ads for the NAR on their websites will get discounts on future Sport Rocketry ads for each new member recruited from these
Current NAR members will get a $5 cash bonus at the end of the drive for each new member they recruited
Sections will get a $5 cash bonus for each unit of growth in total NAR member count on their section's roster compared to this count in 2009

As part of the drive NAR sections will be sent a supply of color tri-fold NAR recruiting brochures with their 2010 charter renewal packets in February. Any member who wants a supply of these brochures for recruiting can get them simply by asking NAR headquarters at nar-hq@nar.org . The NAR will also send a delegation to run recruiting booths at several major conventions and events, and will recruit among participants in its partnership programs with the national student TARC competition and with 4-H.

For more information on the drive, contact Carol Marple at cjmarple@peoplepc.com.

TRA Announces Interim Director to Replace Erik Gates

January 6, 2010

As most TRA members and those in the rocketry community are now aware, TRA Director Erik Gates passed away on December 20, 2009, from injuries sustained in a tragic accident. Since, like so many, the TRA Directors were shocked and deeply saddened by Erik’s loss - and we will truly miss his presence among us – we have found it unpleasant to have to consider the matter of filling Erik’s vacant seat. However, it is the responsibility of the Board to assure continuity of leadership, in accordance with the TRA Bylaws.

The TRA Board has never had to fill a vacancy created by the death of a director before, thus the provision in the bylaws addressing a vacancy is not familiar to most. Here is the appropriate citation:

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SECTION 4. VACANCIES. A vacancy occurring on the board of directors or a directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors at the next regular or special meeting of the board of directors. The temporary director shall serve until the next regular meeting of the membership, at which time a new director shall be elected to fill the unexpired term of the vacated office or the newly created opening. Candidates shall be nominated from the floor and voted upon at the same meeting. No mail-in ballots will be utilized to fill temporary vacancies on the board of directors.

****

As can be seen, the Board may appoint a temporary director, by normal majority vote. The term of the temporary director is to last until the next membership meeting, at which point nominations and the majority vote of the members present would elect a director to fill the remainder of the unexpired term associated with the vacant seat. However in this case, the next membership meeting, scheduled for LDRS 29, in June 2010, actually coincides with when Erik’s term would have normally expired (Erik’s seat was up for re-election in 2010, and it appeared he planned to run in that election to retain his seat). Thus, there would be no “unexpired term of the vacated office” for the members to vote on at LDRS 29.

Accordingly, the TRA Board determined that a temporary director would be appointed to fill the remainder of Erik Gates’ director term, lasting until LDRS 29, at which point the position would expire. This seat will then be subject to being filled by the 2010 TRA Board of Directors election, as it would normally have been even if Erik were still with us. Any temporary director affirmed by the Board will of course be free to run in the 2010 election, if he/she so chooses.

The TRA Board gave serious consideration to who should be selected for this temporary position, and a short list of names was evaluated. It was considered important that the individual should be in tune with the workings of TRA and current issues, especially since an important meeting had already been scheduled for January 8-10, 2010 to work on several much-needed revisions to the TRA Bylaws. With this in mind, the person nominated, and affirmed by unanimous vote on December 28, 2009, is former director and vice-president, Pat Gordzelik.

As most should recall, Pat retained important duties even after stepping down from the Board last year, including being our primary insurance liaison, as well as one of our FAA liaisons, and was very much engaged in previous discussions on the areas of the bylaws which will require revisions. Pat’s extensive experience as one of TRA’s key leaders and his current understanding of the issues at hand made his selection a natural one. Additionally, it seemed fitting that having to move decisively to fill Erik’s vacant seat, we should select a person well-respected by TRA, including Erik himself. I am sure he would be pleased with our choice.

So we welcome Pat back to the Board in the role of temporary director, even though the need to make this happen is accompanied by the sadness we all feel. Pat will assist us in carrying on the important work we face in the months ahead. That too, would be very much what Erik would have preferred.

Ken Good

TRA President

Your Chance to Submit Conect for Experimental Composite Propellant

Dear fellow rocket nuts:

I would like to thank you all for your tremendous support of "Experimental Composite Propellant." Over the last decade a lot of rocket enthusiasts have been introduced to composite propellant by ECP. Many of you have gone far beyond my own level of operations. I have been teaching for 27 years and nothing has made this teacher happier than to see so many people who have---with a little help from me---moved successfully into propellant- and motor-making.

However, the time has come to update. I've worked on this task, off and on for several years, but have never made a concerted effort to complete the second edition. The time for that effort is now.

Accordingly, the first edition is going offline. This does not mean that it's "out of print". (If it was "out of print" there are people who would assume that it's ok to copy and distribute the first edition. That's wrong.)

Tentatively, the second edition will be available in early spring of 2010. Some (also tentative) features of the new edition:
--over 400 pages in length
--seven characterized propellant formulas.
--formulas that use HTPB as well as some that use PBAN (yes, there's a starter propellant for HTPB...).
--over a hundred pre-calculated motor designs for the characterized propellants.
--printed by a commercial publishing house, with an ISBN.
--a special section constructed by YOU, wonderful rocket people. (More below on that subject).

One thing I'm NOT going to do is to take advance orders, nor give a firm date for publication, because I've seen how that practice can be abused or just screwed up. ECP 2nd edition will appear...when it appears. However, rest assured that I'm working on this project in all my spare time, and you'll be informed as soon as I have a definite publication date.

MISCELLANY
One of my favorite telescope-making books has a large section entitled "Miscellany". It's a collection of random helpful hints and odds n ends from those who have been successful and want to share that success. I can't even pretend to know all there is about propellant and motor making. So if you have something you'd like to share with the rocketry community---a special technique for making cores, something special you do during mixing, an explanation for a phenomenon, maybe even a formula that you'd like to share---you'll have the opportunity to do so.

If you have a hint or other material you'd like to have considered for inclusion in the second edition, please email it to the following address:

prfesser@gmail.com

Also include your name, city, and state, which will be included at the end of the material. Any amount from a paragraph to a couple of pages will be considered for inclusion. Don't worry too much about grammar and spelling; I'm a member of the G&S Police and will edit as needed. There will be a disclaimer at the beginning of this new section, indicating that anyone who uses this information does so at their own risk.

Here's an example:
For propellant that is soft enough to extrude, one way to fill small casting tubes is to dump the mixture into a zip-top bag, squeeze out most of the air, snip off one corner of the bag and "hand-extrude" the mixture into the casting tube. Joe Blow, Parts Unknown AK.

I'm really excited about this new edition, and am looking forward to getting it out to you!

Wildman Dark Star Lite Now Available

Wildman Rocketry is excited to announce their latest member of the Wildman kit lineup -- the Dark Star Lite.

As a special introductory offer, the first 20 kits sold will include a Pro-29 3 grain case and aft closure, complements of Cesaroni Technologies. In addition, all Dark Star Lites purchased in December will include free rail buttons and a Nomex heat shield.

The Dark Star Lite kit includes:

32" Lightweight F/Glass 2.1" Booster Tube
Lightweight 5-1 Von Carmen F/Glass Nosecone
1/16" Fiberglass Fins
Birch Plywood Centering Rings
Kevlar Shock Cord
29mm Fiberglass Motor Mount
24" Top Flight Nylon Patachute

This awesome kit is 43.5" inches long, weighs 1.25lbs and flies on E through I motors.

All this can be yours for $89.99