X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?p=web%2Fgag.com;a=blobdiff_plain;f=rockets%2Findex.mdwn;h=bd1117de412f280163e6a1bfc681db27498ec287;hp=0b286af175d26f9758b54c3c8ccdc2c227d5b8ba;hb=9cf1473593caade4a6c4053ee844a0b6e2e4518a;hpb=1ef8bbb7e04bb487734a85ce89b9235a0c1a12f1 diff --git a/rockets/index.mdwn b/rockets/index.mdwn index 0b286af..bd1117d 100755 --- a/rockets/index.mdwn +++ b/rockets/index.mdwn @@ -1,6 +1,7 @@ -# 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") + + +# Garbee Rockets # 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 @@ -14,28 +15,11 @@ being father and son affairs... high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Jr member 87104. -## Airframes ## - -### Bdale's L3 Projects ### +## [Airframes](airframes) ## -* 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. +## Photos ## -### [The Rest of the Fleet](airframes) ### +See some of our launch photos in Bdale's Flickr Photostream. ## Clubs ## @@ -69,9 +53,16 @@ We have also flown with 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 we like 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. + * [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 @@ -80,24 +71,52 @@ We have also flown with 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 ## +Lots of people make electronics for use in hobby rockets. This is a brief +list of only the things we've actually used ourselves. -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. +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. + +* Handbook of Model Rocketry, 7th Edition (NAR Official Handbook) + 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. + +* Modern High-Power Rocketry 2 + 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!