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I need a FSI (Flight Systems) history lesson?
Hi there,
I am getting more and more confused about FSI history. When I was younger ( in the early '80's) FSI stuff was available. I thought they had gone out of business back then. But, on ebay, I have seen catalogs for sale that list the '90's? So, anyone out there have a time line, a web link or just some information on this company? I am curious that no-one has bought the company, reproduced the kits and motors. After all, I would still by their F100 and E motors!! Who owns the rights to the company? Any information would be greatly appreciated, Thanks, Bob |
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FSI may have gone vewwy, vewwy quiet for a few years after 1984, when the driving force behind the rocketry division, Lonnie Reese, was killed in an auto accident.
They were putting out catalogs and such again by the time I got back into the hobby (1988). They went under for good around 1993. I think the Reese family ran out of interest and expertise after Harold Reese, who made the motors, died. |
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StefanJ is pretty much on the money. They continued to make special effects motors for various clients (movies and such), they obtained one or two of the MPC/AVI motor machines and introduced a line of 18mm A-C motors which they sold through hobby shops in the late 80's and early 90's when Quest somehow obtained the machines from them. They continued to make the 21 and 27 mm motors until Harold Reese died. I have F100s and F7s made in 1980 and in 1988
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Roy nar12605 |
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Don NAR 53455 "Carpe Diem" |
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You wouldn't love these. Everyone I tried (even when they were fresh) created an exciting cato. It got to where I made special throwaway two stage rockets to see if by chance one would work. Boost it up to a safe altitude on a D12-0 and then see what happens (it always blew!). It was very annoying, because Romie Lucas bought his motors from the same hobby store (B&B in Loganville, GA) and he never had a cato (or rarely).
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Roy nar12605 |
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Adventures with the steam machine
Here's an article I posted on my web site about my adventures with the F7:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanave.../steamrock.html My one three-pack of F7s didn't CATO, but I had some wild times with it. I bought lots of stuff from FSI in the early 90s. I appreciate the history info in this thread. I once actually tried to track down their address in Raytown, Mo. All I found was a house in a residential neighborhood. Maybe that was their mailing address. I heard unofficially that they operated out of an old Nike missile station. timmwood |
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Don NAR 53455 "Carpe Diem" |
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I wonder about that myself - I heard a number of years ago that someone ( I forget who ) had bought the old 21 and 27 mm presses, but obviously no product in all that time. Shoot I'd buy them if the price were right! |
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Someone must know something?
Thanks for all the responses.
It just seem strange to me that a certified NRA motor would just go away that fast. Plus, the kits would most likely sell in todays market. Semroc ( along with others) have shown a market for the older kits. I did not know that Quest and FSI had a link. I have been waiting to see Quest's new "D" motors, so may be we will see larger motors from them? I still have some F100's and they were like 50/50 at some launches. But FSI D and E motors where great. Nothing like my old Echo 1 going up on two E motors. Those were the days..... Keep the information coming, hopefully I can get a better understanding of the history of FSI. Thanks, Bob |
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FSI Echo
I had an Echo that I launched on a D20 booster with an E5-6 in the upper stage. The high thrust of the D got the rocket going well and then the long-burn E made for a nice show.
If FSI motors magically reappeared on the market, I think I'd go for the 21mm motors but stay away from the 27mm E and F motors. There are just too many composite motor options out there now that would be less prone to CATOs. timmwood
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NAR 60014, Level 1, SAM 124 |
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