TEN THINGS I LEARNED IN MY FIRST YEAR OF ROCKETRY

By Dale Netherton

I got into rocketry in November 1999 and started with an Estes silver comet.  On my first anniversary, I launched on two H180 motors my pride and joy, a 4 inch diameter, 7 foot tall rocket named “Blinded by Science”.  Only the fin can and motor mount assembly survived.  I guess there was something prophetic about the name. At the launch it was commented that you should learn more from failed launches than from prefect ones.  I made this list in the hope that others new to the hobby would learn from my efforts this year and be spared such spectacularly educational flights.

10 – Start small and work your way up the alphabet.

9 – Krylon. No substitute.

8 – Loc/Precision nose cones are not indestructible.

7 – An E-30 rocket motor makes a really cool sound as it travels through the motor tube into the rocket.  (Securely mount your motor!)

6 – 9V Duracell batteries are made up of 6 really small batteries and you need to use a thin wire with a hook in it to get them out of a Loc/Precision nose cone.

5 – Even an Aerotech reloadable motor will blow-by if the O-ring is in on the wrong side of the delay element.  Read the instructions, even if you have assembled that motor a zillion times.

4 – Speaking of Aerotech, don’t use Aerotech igniters in a cluster!  Make your own or buy electric matches from Daveyfire or Oxral!

3 – There is no such thing as a stupid question!  If something doesn’t look or sound right ask the LCO or any of the many long standing members.

2 – Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  People may learn something from your crash.  The folks at Lockheed will testify to this.

1 – Get involved with a club.  The members of NCR are some of the most knowledgeable and friendly people I have ever had the pleasure of being with.  Launching with a club comes with a long list of benefits.