Model Rockets
Solid Fuel Rockets
1980
My first adult hobby was solid fuel rockets which is defined as "Model Rocketry". I often flew rockets while my brother Steve flew his remote control planes. This photo was taken in 1980 and was my first launch. I still have this rocket. Currently it is painted solid black.
The photo at the bottom page is of the actual launch taken at 1/500 of a second.
1981
This photo was taken from about 300 feet with my camera rocket. My brother Steve and I (and our cars) are in the lower right of the image. This was not an approved launch site, but we were able to do this for weeks until we were told not to launch from this location.
The Camera Rocket used 110 color film shot through a half/silvered mirror so that there was no distortion to the mirror image.
This image has been flipped for proper orientation.
2015
Various hobbies and toys from childhood to the present. A photo of my late brother Steve playing with trains from the summer of 2013.
Some of my existing rockets are on display here. All of these have quite a few flights per rocket.
New Rocket 2018
This is a new rocket I built on August 13, 2018. This is a simple and small rocket. Melissa and Mike bought this for me several years ago and I am just now getting this completed.
My First Launch - 1980
Model rocketry: What it is
A model rocket is a small rocket designed to reach low altitudes (e.g., 100–500 m (330–1,640 ft) for 30 g (1.1 oz) model) and be recovered by a variety of means.
According to the United States National Association of Rocketry (nar) Safety Code, model rockets are constructed of paper, wood, plastic and other lightweight materials. The code also provides guidelines for motor use, launch site selection, launch methods, launcher placement, recovery system design and deployment and more. Since the early 1960s, a copy of the Model Rocket Safety Code has been provided with most model rocket kits and motors. Despite its inherent association with extremely flammable substances and objects with a pointed tip traveling at high speeds, model rocketry historically has proven to be a very safe hobby and has been credited as a significant source of inspiration for children who eventually become scientists and engineers.