Aerotech Dark Matter Propellant

[Wiley]

Does anyone know anything about this propellant? AT demoed an M and an L(that I know of) at RGXI, and the videos on MDRA's site (https://www.mdra-archive.org/photos/RedGlare11/PeterAbresch/ Dan Michael's Der Red Max on the M and his 1/2 scale Patriot right next to it on the L) show it to be a very pretty motor, much better than what CTI markets as "skidmark" motors.

Anyone know when AT will be releasing certified motors, and if so, which sizes they might be, and how much might they cost?

 

[jsdemar]

Anyone know when AT will be releasing certified motors, and if so, which sizes they might be, and how much might they cost?

Depending on the metal particle size, the demo formula might not pass certification.

 

[stantonjtroy]

Dan had given me two to demo at RG; An H123 ( I think) which he had me pass on to a mutual friend and an I327 whitch I flew in my Red Max. both were 38mm. The H used a 360 case and the I a 720 case. Both motors performed great though the Red Max (it's second flight of the weekend) didn't, through no fault of the motor ( need to add shear pins to the nosecone). There were a total of I think 6 Dark Matter flights over the course of the weekend. All I can say is AWSOME!! What Dan told me was Gary is using Iron as a spark element as opposed to titanium. The spark size is smaller than most others I've seen but more plentifull. The burn time on both the H & I was 1.4sec. They have a little gentler boost so watch your thrust to weight ratio. In all, I love them and I'm not normally a fan of sparkies. When I asked how long to Cert, Dan said they were currently in test ( I assume with Tripoli) and aproval was expected in the EXTREAM NEAR future.

These are the Dark Matter flights that I remember. I think there may have been one other.

 

[mikec]

Does anyone know anything about this propellant?

Best place to ask is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/AeroTech-Consumer-Aerospace/159005948954

 

[J Blatz]

I really need one of the 38/360 loads for my AAA Magnum PA Crude project.

I am a huge sparky fan and am stoked to see AT bring them out!!

 

[daveyfire]

I am a huge sparky fan

Black Rock Propulsion Firestarter :dark:

 

[Highpowerrocketyahoo]

Man that looks good!

 

[J Blatz]

Black Rock Propulsion Firestarter :dark:

It's a small rocket-world I guess.

I haven't seen one of those fly in quite a while.

 

[UPscaler]

I thought firestarter was a US Rockets formula?




Braden

 

[cwbullet]

Awesome sparky.

 

[Aksrockets]

Dark Matter staged to Metalstorm! :dark:

Darkmatter looks sweet!
I hope the darkmatter is available is the 38/480 case!

 

[J Blatz]

I thought firestarter was a US Rockets formula?




Braden

To my knowledge the first firestarter type motors were indeed USR.

I bought and flew a few of them long ago. Ths success rate was really bad. These were labelled as "Teeling Technologies" and sold out of the back of sketchy-$#@ looking van at some of the launches. The delays were drilled on site with a cordless drill.

The Black Rock Propulsion motors did not use the USR formula.

 

[jimzcatz]

Black Rock Propulsion Firestarter :dark:

DUDE, you KNOW the Firestarter is Jerry's. The first, and still IMHO the best sparkies ever put into the sky.

 

[jimzcatz]

Depending on the metal particle size, the demo formula might not pass certification.

Excuse me? Why would that even be an issue?

 

[billspad]

Excuse me? Why would that even be an issue?

NFPA 1125 limits the size of metal particles.

 

[Highpowerrocketyahoo]

NFPA 1125 limits the size of metal particles.

Hmm wow never knew that. Does it regulate particle density in relation to the total mass of the propellant? Or just the actual size of the particles themselves?

 

[RedMaxFlyer]

A question for those who saw the Dark Matter flights.

What do they sound like? AMW Skids are the coolest sounding motors I've ever heard (an M2200 launching a half-mile away sounded exactly like thunder). CTI Skids are loud, but they don't make that percussive, random thumping in your chest. I have yet to see a Loki Spitfire or a Gorilla Black Lightning in person.

I've seen videos of all of the aforementioned propellants, but recorded audio doesn't do justice to the sound of a big rocket motor.

 

[billspad]

Hmm wow never knew that. Does it regulate particle density in relation to the total mass of the propellant? Or just the actual size of the particles themselves?

Here's what it says in the 2012 edition of NFPA 1125.

 

[daveyfire]

DUDE, you KNOW the Firestarter is Jerry's. The first, and still IMHO the best sparkies ever put into the sky.

Yea, though Jason had his own special blend that had that name attached to it too, hence my reference. Jerry's always seemed iffy, depending on if the delay stack held together. (I never knew the drilling story, that explains a lot!)

My favorite was always Ron Urinsco's formula -- if more Ti is good, lots more is better

A question for those who saw the Dark Matter flights. What do they sound like?

Somewhere between CTI and AMW in sound intensity. I think the phenolic nozzle costs some noise. Way more sparks than typical loads from either one, though, with possibly the exception of the N2801.

 

[butalane]

DUDE, you KNOW the Firestarter is Jerry's. The first, and still IMHO the best sparkies ever put into the sky.

Well, if you believe that formula was Jerry's.

 

[DAllen]

Well, if you believe that formula was Jerry's.

I hear so much conflicting information on that whole saga. The one that I think is most credible is that once Jerry and Frank parted ways (or exchanged punches - whatever) is that Jerry started making the motors and the quality of the Firestarter motors "lawn-darted" as it were.

I have a reliable source and I am not saying who it is so don't ask... :grin:

On the sparky motors from AT though...they are awesome. I got to fly the H demo at LDRS this year and I loved it.

 

[Buckeyegator]

Ron and Mike Dunkel had a Spitfire that they wanted to sell from their fledgling company, APS, that was nice. I got to demo 2 of their I-140 Spitties and they kicked butt, both visually and sonically.

Right now, I have to put my money on Jim Harris' Gorilla Motors sparkies in the 54mm and 75mm range. His 98mm Black Lightning is unsurpassed in my opinion. Fortunately, Jim shows up at our launches every month, so we get to see a lot of his demos, and people are flying a lot of his propellant down here.

Terry

Yea, though Jason had his own special blend that had that name attached to it too, hence my reference. Jerry's always seemed iffy, depending on if the delay stack held together. (I never knew the drilling story, that explains a lot!)

My favorite was always Ron Urinsco's formula -- if more Ti is good, lots more is better

Somewhere between CTI and AMW in sound intensity. I think the phenolic nozzle costs some noise. Way more sparks than typical loads from either one, though, with possibly the exception of the N2801.

 

[MarkH]

Scientist are trying to detect dark matter, yet Aerotech is certifying Dark Matter by the N-s, what gives?

Dark Metal, Dark Matter :confused2retty cool unofficial name.

 

[Wiley]

Here's what it says in the 2012 edition of NFPA 1125.

10 mesh Ti is HUGE! 8 mesh Ti is even more huge:y:! As you can see from the photo on this site: https://scienceforyou.net/pyrotechn...ls/titanium-sponge-powder-coarse-10-mesh.html, 10 mesh Ti is very much "gravel" consistency . I highly doubt that any but very, very large motors could eject such enormous hunks of metal .

 

[JStitz]

To my knowledge the first firestarter type motors were indeed USR.

I bought and flew a few of them long ago. Ths success rate was really bad. These were labelled as "Teeling Technologies" and sold out of the back of sketchy-$#@ looking van at some of the launches. The delays were drilled on site with a cordless drill.

The Black Rock Propulsion motors did not use the USR formula.

Jerry Irvine..the Pit Bull of HPR. (has delighted and pissed off thousands of flyers)

I wondered who Brian Teeling was..did he mix up Jerry's formula? or did he just broker Jerry's propellent grains?
Folks..Jerry was probably the first one to cast propellent grains to fit in Gary's casings.
He called them the "A-Team"

 

[New Ocean]

Wow that looks cool, but don't fly it on a dry day...

 

[UPscaler]

Scientist are trying to detect dark matter, yet Aerotech is certifying Dark Matter by the N-s, what gives?

Dark Metal, Dark Matter :confused2retty cool unofficial name.

also, the "Dan Michael Signature Propellant" has been tossed around...by Dan Michael. :wink:



Sorry AT, while those motors are FANTASTIC looking, I still would prefer a good ol' skidmark.



Braden

 

[CarVac]

Uhhh. Why do you call it FANTASTIC yet say you still prefer skidmarks?

Anyway, on my part, I'm building a rocket specifically for the Dark Matter I motor.

 

[cbrarick]

These are the Dark Matter flights that I remember. I think there may have been one other.

Hey! The stealth is not dark matter. It's a CTI K454 skidmark...I know, it's my stealth! (I checked my shots of the launch)...but I'd fly some dark matter if Dan threw one my way!

anyhow, that's a great shot of the stealth!

rick

 

[JStitz]

AMW skidmarks almost seemed like the motor was snuffing itself out and re-igniting rapidly.
They were LOUD! (in your chest thumping with the "M's")
the CTI sparkies are close with out the chuff/thumping they are continous during the burn but i'm not sure of the spark metals in them.
Dark Matter seems smooth with LOTS of (Iron?) sparks. almost like a c-slot grain.
Just my :2:...:duck:
can't wait to see a Dark Matter "K" soon.:dark: