+[Bdale](http://www.gag.com/~bdale) is
+[NAR](http://nar.org/) Sr member 87103 and
+[Tripoli](http://tripoli.org/) member 12201, and holds a level 3
+high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Jr member
+87104 with a Jr L1 certification, and [Tripoli](http://tripoli.org/)
+member 14036. He was one of the first kids to pass the
+[Tripoli Mentoring Program](http://www.tripoli.org/TMP)
+exam, and at age 16 can now often be spotted flying research motors at
+Tripoli launches!
+
+## [Airframes](airframes) ##
+
+## Photos ##
+
+See some of our launch photos in the [Garbee Gallery](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/),
+and on
+Bdale's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28636323@N03/">Flickr Photostream</a>.
+
+## Clubs ##
+
+We have family memberships in (and regularly enjoy flying our
+models with!) local clubs
+[COSROCS](http://cosrocs.org/), which is
+[NAR](http://nar.org/) section #515,
+[SCORE](http://scronline.net), which is
+[NAR](http://nar.org/) section #632, and
+[NCR](http://ncrocketry.org), which is
+[NAR](http://nar.org/) section #565, and
+[Tripoli](http://www.tripoli.org/) Prefecture #72.
+We have also flown with
+[Tripoli Colorado](http://www.tripolicolorado.org/) and
+[ARS](http://www.arsabq.org/).
+
+## Vendors ##
+
+* [Apogee Components](http://www.apogeerockets.com/) is a local
+ company. Perhaps best known as the place to get the RockSim
+ rocket design and simulation software (which we wish came in a Linux
+ version!), we've also bought lots of
+ [parts](http://www.apogeerockets.com/building_supplies.asp)
+ from them for building rockets from scratch, and we really like some
+ of the [Dynastar](http://www.dynastar-rockets.com/) mid-power
+ kits like the Rip-Roar and Sky Torpedo. Apogee is also a distributor of
+ our [TeleMetrum](http://www.apogeerockets.com/Altus_Metrum_GPS.asp) starter
+ kits!
+
+* [Giant Leap Rocketry](http://giantleaprocketry.com/) is a
+ great source for components for building high power rockets. We particularly
+ like the Pinnacle nose cone series, and DynaWind pre-glassed airframe
+ tubing. Local rep Joe Hinton shows up at various launches we attend, and
+ gets most of our commercial motor reload business.
+
+* [What's Up Hobbies](http://stores.whatsuphobby.com) is the home of the
+ Polecat Aerospace line of kits, plus Jack carries a lot of other useful
+ bits and pieces.
+
+* [Public Missiles](http://www.publicmissiles.com/) make very nice parachutes
+ and HAMR retainers, which are our favorite retainers for 29-54mm motors.
+
+* [Aero Pack](http://www.aeropack.net/) makes the flanged motor retainers we
+ like the large projects that contain 75 and 98mm motor mounts.
+
+* [Chris' Rocket Supplies](http://www.csrocketry.com/) handled a problem
+ caused by one of their suppliers with an order brilliantly, and will get
+ more of our business in the future.
+
+* [Discount Rocketry](http://www.discountrocketry.com/)
+ used to consistently have the best prices on kits and motors, but recently
+ has seemed to be mostly out of stock on things we want. We've bought lots of
+ [Estes motors](http://estesrockets.com),
+ smaller [Aerotech reloads](http://aerotech-rocketry.com),
+ and [Rouse-Tech cases](http://rouse-tech.com) from them. And they're
+ responsive and helpful on the phone, so we'll happily buy things from
+ them that are in stock.
+
+## Electronics ##
+
+Lots of people make electronics for use in hobby rockets. This is a brief
+list of only the things we've actually used ourselves.
+
+First off, Bdale and friends develop fully open hardware and software
+designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
+[Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
+
+We also fly commercial altimeters in some projects. The cheapest off the
+shelf altimeter we've used and often recommend to beginners is the
+[Missile Works](http://www.missileworks.com/) RRC2-mini. At about $80, it
+gets the job done for simple barometric control of dual deployment. Note
+that while early versions had a firmware bug that we believe is at least
+partially responsible for Bdale's loss of his first L3 project, recent
+versions seem fine. For another $20, the
+[PerfectFlite](http://www.perfectflite.com/)
+[miniAlt/WD](http://www.perfectflite.com/catalog/MAWD.html)
+adds the ability to records the barometric flight altitude profile. Both
+of Bdale's L3 certs flew with one each of these two commercial altimeters,
+and we often use the MAWD as a backup for our
+[TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) units during test flights.
+
+The [BeeLine TX](http://www.bigredbee.com/BeeLine.htm) boards from Big Red
+Bee are radio tracking transmitters that just work. They require an
+[amateur radio](http://www.altusmetrum.org/Radio) license, but we think
+anyone flying big rockets can and should get one of those anyway!
+
+## Books ##
+
+While a lot of great information is available on the web, there are some paper
+books that we've found very helpful at various stages.
+
+* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471472425?ie=UTF8&tag=garbandgarb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0471472425">Handbook of Model Rocketry, 7th Edition (NAR Official Handbook)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=garbandgarb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0471472425" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
+ may be the best first book on model rocketry. While the focus is on small
+ rockets, the basic principles of static stability and construction covered
+ here are important at all levels of the hobby.
+
+* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1412058104?ie=UTF8&tag=garbandgarb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1412058104">Modern High-Power Rocketry 2</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=garbandgarb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1412058104" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
+ covers a lot of material, and is a great resource if you're starting to think
+ about a high power certification and don't have a club nearby, or just like
+ to read about how other people have done things and why.
+
+* [Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry](http://www.apogeerockets.com/topics_advanced_model_rocketry.asp) is definitely not for everyone, as it's heavy on
+ math and isn't a "how to" book at all! But, if you really want to understand
+ what's going on with higher performance models and/or inside the simulation
+ software we use when designing rockets, the material here will take you
+ a long way!