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Old 12-03-2016, 12:26 PM
flybuoy flybuoy is offline
Junior Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 4
Default Model Rocketry in 1964

The attached photo was taken in May 1964 at a science fair held at Michigan State University. We were a group of high school students that got in involved in model rocketry in 1962.

We designed and built the large two stage rocket and the smaller single stage rocket. The orange two stage rocket was a kit.

The large two stage rocket was powered by “F” type engines. The first stage used three of these in a cluster and the second stage used one engine. The most difficult problem at the time was ignition. We discovered that an AG-1 flashbulb fit perfectly into a “F” engine nozzle and this solved the problem. The second stage was also ignited by a flashbulb. The silver section at the top of the first stage contained a battery and mercury switch that ignited the second stage after the first stage burned out.

I remember that we had to special order these engines since we did not want any delay charge in the first stage engines. We also wanted a longer delay in the second stage engine than was available with the off the shelf engines.

The orange two stage rocket used “E” class engines and was a very high flyer. It was lost after a few flights, On the last flight we spotted the chute with binoculars but the wind carried it away. I do not remember the company that produced the kit or the engines. I know it was not Estes or Centuri. I do remember that the fins were thin wood and strong (not balsa). Also, the engines cases were made of a different material that all the other engines we used.

By the way, I married the girl in the picture, we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2017.
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