MODEL ROCKETRY

I started building model rockets in my youth as a Boy Scout. It was fascinating to build something of cardboard and balsawood and then watch it streak high into the sky. I built and launched these rockets for years, well into my married life. I used to launch them wherever I could find a large plot of land.

After a time, though, things got a bit busy and other priorities intruded. I sold or threw away all of my rocketry supplies and old rockets.

However, for Christmas 2008 my wife and I bought my nephew a model rocket kit and that started me back on the path of model rocketry. I assisted with the building of the rocket, and a few days after Christmas (with too much wind blowing) we launched the rocket. It went up and the wind caught it... I had to chase it down about 300 yards away from where it started!

When we returned home I started building a couple of rockets I had bought years before but never bothered to take out of the box. I've also bought more (see my Fleet page) and continue to accumulate rockets.

The obsession has returned!

See My Rocket Fleet!

See My Multi-Rocket Launch Pad!

Rocket Launches!

• 01/09/2010
  Launch with the Alamo Rocketeers at China Grove. Had 8 successful launches, including the return to flight of my EMRR project "Double Barrel." See the videos on my YouTube channel.Unfortunately my Hydra VII didn't survive the day.
• 08/21/2010
  Launch with the Alamo Rocketeers in China Grove. Had 8 successful launches, including the maiden flight of my EMRR project "Double Barrel." The second launch was... interesting. See the videos on my YouTube channel. I also got to launch my LexxJet again and it had another successful launch.
• 08/15/2010
  Launch at the Ultralight airfield. Steady breeze. One rocket lost in the cow pasture, and my modified Future Launch Vehicle had a catastrophic failure. Maiden voyage of the LexxJet! (Video on YouTube)
• 07/17/2010
  Launch at the Alamo Rocketeers monthly launch in China Grove. It was *way* too hot for a breeze! Lots of rockets launched, none of mine were lost but my Colonial Viper was very unsteady and so was my clustered Future Launch Vehicle.
• 05/31/2010
  Launch at the Ultralight airfield. Almost no breeze. One rocket lawn-darted, but all rockets were recovered. Maiden voyage of several rockets.
• 04/10/2010
  Launch at the Alamo Rocketeers monthly launch in China Grove. Two successful launches and three rockets damaged. Medium wind with gusts.
• 04/08/2010
  Launch at the Ultralight airfield. Almost no breeze. No damage but one rocket was lost in the dark. Recovered the next day. Maiden voyage of several rockets
• 10/04/2009
  Launch at the Ultralight airfield. Light breeze and high clouds. No rockets lost, but one did break a couple of fins.
• 09/12/2009
  Launch at the Ultralight airfield. Light breeze and threatening storm clouds. No rain, but we did lose one rocket.