# Garbee Rockets # ![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") Building and launching model rockets is one of our favorite hobby activities right now. While everyone in the family gets into the act in one way or another, Bdale and Robert are the most serious and so most Garbee rocket projects end up being father and son affairs... [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. ## Airframes ## ### Bdale's L3 Projects ### * A custom rocket for NAR L3 certification, called [YikStik](airframes/yikstik). This rocket flew beautifully but a significant portion was lost and not recovered. Feel free to look through my [collection of photos](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/yikstik/) from the build and flight. * A second airframe for NAR L3 certification, this one based on a Polecat Aerospace [Goblin 10](airframes/goblin10) kit and capable of flying at more launch sites in Colorado. Flew on 15 November 2008 at the SCORE Hudson Ranch launch site on an Aerotech M1297W to 5953 feet AGL for a successful level 3 certification! See [photos by James Russell](http://picasaweb.google.com/jamesr2/StealeyMemorialLaunchSiteHudsonRanch) and a [Jeff Lane video](http://cosrocs.org/all%20other%20videos/2008videos/11-15hudson/bdale_L3.mov) of the flight! You can also have a look at my [photos of the build and flight](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/goblin10/) from various contributors. ### [The Rest of the Fleet](./airframes) ### ## 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. * [Giant Leap Rocketry](http://giantleaprocketry.com/) is a good 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. * [Public Missiles](http://www.publicmissiles.com/) make very nice parachutes and HAMR retainers, which we like for 29-54mm motors. * [Discount Rocketry](http://www.discountrocketry.com/) seems to consistently have the best prices on kits and motors, but often are 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. ## Photos ## See some of our launch photos in Bdale's Flickr Photostream. ## Electronics ## A related project Bdale works on delivers fully open hardware and software designs for rocketry avionics, under the name [Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org). ## Rocketry books we like ## Note that Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry is definitely not for everyone, as it's heavy on math and isn't a "how to" book at all! The others are great general books for learning about and gaining greater enjoyment from the hobby.