In 1988, a new model rocket company named Enertek (TEK not JET) was announced at the 1988 HIAA Show. Enertek displayed a line of larger model rocket kits using E through G motors. Enertek was run by several well known rocketry people including Lee Piester (Founder of Centuri Engineering).

The response of the hobby distributors was overwhelming. Enertek would garner about $5M in orders from distributors at this show. The Estes folks were a bit shocked and called a meeting of the dormant Model Rocket Manufacturers Association. In this meeting, the Estes staff tried to get support from the other model rocket manufactures to have Enertek products banned. Their efforts failed.

As it was, Enertek failed for other reasons but Estes took away the knowledge that there was a market for larger model rockets.

The rights to the Enertek product line was purchsed and incorporated in AeroTech. AeroTech was able to bring to market larger rockets promised by Enertek and begin shipping product in January 1990.

Possibly in response to the Enertek 'threat' Estes released some larger model rocket kits in 1989 including the Super Big Bertha and S.W.A.T.

The Damon Company decided to sell Estes in 1989 and the company sold for $40M+. A new General Manager named Robert Buroker took over running Estes.

The 1990 Estes catalog announced a new large kit named the Optima and designed by Mike Dorffler. Still, the maximum motor for this kit was the D12.

The 1990s dawned with a revitalized model rocket industry.

(To be continued)

__________________
Bob
S.A.M. # 0014