Rocketeer's Corner

Rocketeer's Corner Posts

Sport Rocketry / Rocketry Products / Aerotech / Kits

    An hour with the B sisters... (2015-09-20)
    After the scout launch yesterday, Duane warned me that he might head over to Pegasus field this afternoon for a couple of practice flights with his geezer TARC rocket. When he called about 3 to let ... [Read More]

    A chilly launch (2016-02-06)
    The Falcon Rocketeers had scheduled a practice today at noon, which provided an opportunity for me to a launch a few members of the fleet. At first, the weather seemed almost perfect - slight ... [Read More]

    It fell, daddy! (2017-06-28)
    "It fell, daddy" - These words were the comment made by a little girl after witnessing a very heavy model of a Blue Origin (I think) spacecraft arc right into the the ground at Southern Thunder. It ... [Read More]

    The season begins at Pegasus... (2017-09-12)
    My Estes Alpha streaks skyward on an A8-3 (click to enlarge). My apologies for no blog posts over the past couple of months - it's been a busy summer, and I haven't found much time to write. Things ... [Read More]

    Pics from Saturday's launch... (2017-10-01)
    Duane's Estes Make-It-Take-It leaves the rod on an A8-3 (Click to enlarge). Saturday's launch did not just involve the TARC Geezers; quite a few other folk joined us at Pegasus, many bringing ... [Read More]

    Advancing to the next round... (2018-04-08)
    Well, the dry spell for the Huntsville locale is over - we have a TARC team that is going to the national competition. The Saint John Paul II Longshots will represent their school at the flyoff in ... [Read More]

    Breaking news from the rocket vendors! (Part 2) (2020-07-29)
    One of the best features of the NAR manufacturer's forum is that you are exposed to new ideas and products beyond your normal hobby experience. This was the case for me and vendor #6, Cris Erving of ... [Read More]

    Lightning is coming! (2020-10-12)
    Last year Quest/Aerotech released their line of 18mm Q-Jet composite motors, which were a welcome addition to the stable of model rocketry power plants. The C12, at 9.8 newton-seconds, is a full C ... [Read More]

    The one where nothing goes right... (2020-11-23)
    My LGM lies on the ground after its fall (Click to enlarge). Yesterday was a very nice day, perfect rocket flying weather - clear sky, no wind, and an afternoon high of 70 degrees. So Duane and I ... [Read More]

    The factor that many TARC teams ignore (2022-01-22)
    Duane spent a few hours this afternoon giving a couple of new TARC teams much needed practical experience in launching mid power rockets. Naturally, he had to fly the rocket that propelled him to ... [Read More]

    More TARC musings... (2022-01-30)
    I keep thinking about TARC - specifically, my rocket's performance in Geezer TARC. I wanted to understand why the simulation programs were giving way too high altitudes, while Thrustcurve.org and ... [Read More]

    Sunday afternoon launch (2022-02-10)
    Girl scouts watch as the rocket they prepped heads skyward (Click to enlarge) . The John Paul II TARC teams had scheduled a TARC practice for this past Sunday, which provided a perfect excuse for ... [Read More]

    Vendor review - Apogee Components (2022-03-18)
    I decided some time ago that I should occasionally write reviews of some of the vendors I patronize - to heap praise on the things they do right (which is often) and to keep them honest when they ... [Read More]