X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?p=web%2Fgag.com;a=blobdiff_plain;f=rockets%2Findex.mdwn;h=bd1117de412f280163e6a1bfc681db27498ec287;hp=c053b6886e72779e19659e37dfbdd9b1e31fb51c;hb=f0ded3f03a570109ddaad7b38612bef2217c1e56;hpb=674c0e757bdac803084486ca83e0bc030ecfc747
diff --git a/rockets/index.mdwn b/rockets/index.mdwn
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--- 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!