3 ![Photo of Bdale and Robert with Horizon just before successful level 2 certification flight](./level2.jpg "Photo of Bdale and Robert with Horizon just before successful level 2 certification flight")
5 Building and launching model rockets is one of our favorite hobby activities
6 right now. While everyone in the family gets into the act in one way or
8 and Robert are the most serious and so most Garbee rocket projects end up
9 being father and son affairs...
11 [Bdale](http://www.gag.com/~bdale) is
12 [NAR](http://nar.org/) Sr member 87103 and
13 [Tripoli](http://tripoli.org/) member 12201, and holds a level 3
14 high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Jr member
19 ### Bdale's L3 Projects ###
21 * A custom rocket for NAR L3 certification, called
22 [YikStik](airframes/yikstik). This rocket flew beautifully but a
23 significant portion was lost and not recovered. Feel free to look through
24 my [collection of photos](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/yikstik/)
25 from the build and flight.
27 * A second airframe for NAR L3 certification, this one based on a
28 Polecat Aerospace [Goblin 10](airframes/goblin10) kit and capable of
29 flying at more launch sites in Colorado. Flew on 15 November 2008 at the
30 SCORE Hudson Ranch launch site on an Aerotech M1297W
31 to 5953 feet AGL for a successful level 3 certification! See
32 [photos by James Russell](http://picasaweb.google.com/jamesr2/StealeyMemorialLaunchSiteHudsonRanch)
33 and a [Jeff Lane video](http://cosrocs.org/all%20other%20videos/2008videos/11-15hudson/bdale_L3.mov)
34 of the flight! You can also have a look at my
35 [photos of the build and flight](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/goblin10/)
36 from various contributors.
38 ### [The Rest of the Fleet](airframes) ###
42 We have family memberships in (and regularly enjoy flying our
43 models with!) local clubs
44 [COSROCS](http://cosrocs.org/), which is
45 [NAR](http://nar.org/) section #515,
46 [SCORE](http://scronline.net), which is
47 [NAR](http://nar.org/) section #632, and
48 [NCR](http://ncrocketry.org), which is
49 [NAR](http://nar.org/) section #565, and
50 [Tripoli](http://www.tripoli.org/) Prefecture #72.
51 We have also flown with
52 [Tripoli Colorado](http://www.tripolicolorado.org/) and
53 [ARS](http://www.arsabq.org/).
57 * [Apogee Components](http://www.apogeerockets.com/) is a local
58 company. Perhaps best known as the place to get the RockSim
59 rocket design and simulation software (which we wish came in a Linux
60 version!), we've also bought lots of
61 [parts](http://www.apogeerockets.com/building_supplies.asp)
62 from them for building rockets from scratch, and we really like some
63 of the [Dynastar](http://www.dynastar-rockets.com/) mid-power
64 kits like the Rip-Roar and Sky Torpedo.
66 * [Giant Leap Rocketry](http://giantleaprocketry.com/) is a
67 good source for components for building high power rockets. We particularly
68 like the Pinnacle nose cone series, and DynaWind pre-glassed airframe
69 tubing. Local rep Joe Hinton shows up at various launches we attend, and
70 gets most of our commercial motor reload business.
72 * [Public Missiles](http://www.publicmissiles.com/) make very nice parachutes
73 and HAMR retainers, which we like for 29-54mm motors.
75 * [Discount Rocketry](http://www.discountrocketry.com/)
76 seems to consistently have the best prices on kits and motors, but often
77 are out of stock on things we want. We've bought lots of
78 [Estes motors](http://estesrockets.com),
79 smaller [Aerotech reloads](http://aerotech-rocketry.com),
80 and [Rouse-Tech cases](http://rouse-tech.com) from them. And they're
81 responsive and helpful on the phone.
85 See some of our launch photos in Bdale's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28636323@N03/">Flickr Photostream</a>.
89 A related project Bdale works on delivers fully open hardware and software
90 designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
91 [Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
93 ## Rocketry books we like ##
95 Note that <i>Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry</i> is definitely not for
96 everyone, as it's heavy on math and isn't a "how to" book at all! The
97 others are great general books for learning about and gaining greater
98 enjoyment from the hobby.
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