AVI -- Early Literature
 

Earl's post on MPC first product literature ( https://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=19644 ) got me digging into some of my old model rocketry literature and I happened to find a bunch of original Aerospace Vehicles Inc. (AVI) flyers along with an introduction letter written in 1972 after Myron "Myke" Bergenske acquired the remaining MPC stock of model rocket kits and parts to sell as AVI products.

The following is a scan of the AVI introduction letter and the AVI branded flyers of the MPC kits and parts. Because of file size limitations, I will have to post these in four parts. So here is the letter and part 1 covering AVI flyer pages 1-4.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

AVI -- Early Literature -- Part 2
 

Here are the AVI early literature flyers - Part 2 covering AVI flyer pages 5-8: (For some strange reason the order got reversed after I posted these. Maybe Scott can correct.)

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

AVI -- Early Literature -- Part 3
 

Here are the AVI early literature flyers - Part 3 covering AVI flyer pages 9-12: (For some strange reason the order got reversed after I posted these. Maybe Scott can correct.)

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

AVI -- Early Literature -- Part 4
 

Here are the AVI early literature flyers - Part 4 covering AVI flyer pages 13-16:

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

Jeff-

Thanks for posting these. I knew a decent amount of the AVI background but did not realize that their assumption of the MPC line and stock was quite as early as 1972. That would indicate that MPC’s standing in the model rocketry field (beginning in late ‘69) lasted about only three years or so...possibly a few months less than that.

And while that ‘formal’ MPC line — in its first pass — lasted only that short time, the ‘bones’ of that line certainly has lasted a long, long time...even into this very day, more than 50 years later!

It’s various parts and pieces have scattered through AVI, Quest, FSI, Canaroc, and SMI, with Quest STILL actively selling parts and kits based directly from those parts molds and designs.

Earl

Things get more interesting when you learn that some MPC designs were made by MRI, Bergenske's first rocket company.

Interesting thing learned from these docs: AVI announced, but maybe didn't make, longer delay 18mm motors. MPC had a very limited set, w/o "upper stage" motors.

From my memories: AVI sold MPC packaged motors through most of the 70s. Toward the end they sold the same motors with trippy AVI labels. You can see these in the scanned in catalogs. I know they existed because I bought some. I don't remember the packaging. Might have just been a plastic bag.

These docs fill me with nostalgia. My first kit was an Estes Alpha ordered by mail, but when MPC kits showed up at a local hobby shop I bought many of them. And I bought still more from AVI, especially after winning that design contest!

I built and finished a Nike Patriot a couple years back.

I have a couple of the Pegasus part assortments, a Microsonde, and a Lunar Patrol and maybe a Flat Cat. But I wish I had more. A Martian Patrol at least, and maybe a Redstone Maveric, which was absolutely the first MPC kit I purchased. I would do these up with absolutely perfect finishes, and fly them carefully.

Yes these plastic parts live on 50 years later, and I don't understand it in the least.

Stefanj,
Just curious, did you ever get the AVI Nike Tomahawk? If so, do you still have it? I am curious about the plastic transition, if you may have any details on it.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

Jeff wrote:


I was puzzled by that one. I don't remember ever seeing it "back in the day," either from MPC or AVI.

AVI was WAY into vaporware. They announced kits and parts that never materialized.

One interesting thing that appeared in the catalog, over and over, was a set of nested coupler-like tubes in .5mm thickness increments. You could use these to create nose cones and transitions. They offered (or announced) a putty that you'd smear over the resulting "steps" to create a smooth surface.

I ordered this item (might have been called the "Metrix" system) at least twice, only to get a refund and told it wasn't ready yet.

There was also a line of UFO kits. AVI's newsletter (which I just remembered after 45 years?) had articles about the aliens corresponding to each alien spacecraft kits. Again, announced and in the catalog but never shipped.

The one for-sure AVI produced kit was the Lineus Gigantus, which was a bunch of MPC parts strung together into a LONG model. Pioneer fin can, 4 or so T-20 tubes, plastic transition, T-25 tube, nose cone. I still have the instruction book for mine.

It would be great to get a scan of this!