Any crews doing model rockets out there?

[trailfinder52@yahoo.com]

I am presently an associate advisor in a new crew and at the last crew meeting this past Monday evening I proposed that the crew do model rockets for an activity and they agreed and seemed excited about this. Are there any crews out there that have done this and can they give us any advice?

[epalmer84]

We don't do rocketry, but I was into it as a youth and ended up as a rocket technician for some years.

 

You can start off with the simple kits from Wal-Mart. If interest takes off, you can contact the NAR (National Association of Rocketry) or the Tripoli Rocket Association. You can find a local group through their websites:

 

http://www.nar.org/

http://www.tripoli.org/

 

Apogee has a first time flyer kit:

http://www.apogeerockets.com/first-time-flyer.asp

 

And don't forget to watch October Sky while you build those kits.

 

Ed

[moxieman]

Trailfinder, I'm not involved with crews, but rocketry seems to be very popular with a lot of the scout troops in my district. As for advice from what I have observed:

 

1. Buy more engines then you think you'll need. Better off having a few left over at the end of the day then having someone get disappointed 'cause they ran out of engines before they felt they had done enough launches.

 

2. Be sure to do your launches in a large field or closed off parking lot away from power lines and trees to make it easier to retrieve your rocket after it floats/parachutes back to earth.

 

3. If you live in the frozen north (like me), a frozen lake makes an excellent launch site and unlike a field, you don't have to worry about scorching the grass.

 

4. Have fun!