Why does the AT 24/60 case exist?

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Other than the amount of propellant and total impulse, also consider the type of propellant. Blue Thunder vs White Lightning.

You saw a White Lightning fly today in my Big Daddy, the E20W. Nice smoke and flame. Blue Thunder loads in 24mm, 29mm, and maybe even 38mm have nearly no smoke or flame. They generally have more kick at the beginning to get heavier birds moving, higher thrust and shorter burns.

My first mid power was a F42T, 29mm single use. It was kinda like opening a can of coke. A little fizz and a pop. That was it. The Estes D12 puts on more of a show. And that motor has kept me away from Blue Thunders all together. I will fly a larger one someday, but after I work through the other propellants first and/or get tired of seeing the smoke and flames...likely never. LOL


Big Daddy on a D12big daddy d12.jpg Big Daddy on an E20Wbig daddy E20w.jpg Wildman on an F42Twildman f42T.jpg
 
Like usual, no one in the cert organizations will tell members anything, and aerotech is cryptic with its comments on the next loads.

Were all just too stupid to deal with with open info. Maybe we should all elect people who don’t think we’re morons
 
Like usual, no one in the cert organizations will tell members anything, and aerotech is cryptic with its comments on the next loads.

Were all just too stupid to deal with with open info. Maybe we should all elect people who don’t think we’re morons
I'll happily vote for you to join a board of your choice. Then you can show us all How It's Done.
 
Like usual, no one in the cert organizations will tell members anything, and aerotech is cryptic with its comments on the next loads.

Were all just too stupid to deal with with open info. Maybe we should all elect people who don’t think we’re morons

David, cert orgs? The motors were given to NAR S&T to cert. They are having some issues- see Steve Shannons post. TRA TMT is not setup to certify motors of that size yet.

You are really a very reactionary person. You accuse a lot of people of things with no basis. If you really think you can do better than the elected representatives then run.


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Like usual, no one in the cert organizations will tell members anything, and aerotech is cryptic with its comments on the next loads.

Were all just too stupid to deal with with open info. Maybe we should all elect people who don’t think we’re morons

I don’t believe you or anybody else here is stupid, but certification is a service that we offer to commercial organizations which necessarily requires us to protect some information. Similarly, we may be discussing various issues that affect our respective organizations. Those discussions must also remain behind closed doors for various reasons. Some of them may include strategies we might use to respond to or possibly sway a regulatory agency, a proposed insurance issue, or issues or questions with a local club. In other words, even though you seem to consider it a personal affront that you are not privy to every discussion held at either the certification organization level or board of directors level, we will continue holding some things back while they are being discussed.
Also, although I attempted to help people here understand the delay in S&T in a more personal manner, using information from before I held any kind of position within Tripoli, I’m not privy to NAR‘s inside information, but even if I did know more it wouldn’t be my place to divulge such information.
It’s obvious that you believe that we should make public every communication and every issue, even while they’re under discussion. It’s simply not wise and not practical. I participate here and on Facebook in order to make myself accessible to members and to help overcome the image that TRA has had of being a “good old boys” organization. I can only do that by being professional and respectful. I don’t believe you or anybody else here is a moron, but neither is our board the intensely secretive organization that you wish to ascribe. We publish most of our discussions in the Tripoli Report as the minutes of our meetings. The few things we don’t publish are usually sensitive and ongoing and could easily be jeopardized by publication.
I’ve worked with people over the years who simply placed nothing in the public eye, for fear of it being misinterpreted, misquoted, or leading to some other failure. I choose not to be that way, but when you attack us for doing our jobs, I can understand their choice.


Steve Shannon
 
I don’t believe you or anybody else here is stupid, but certification is a service that we offer to commercial organizations which necessarily requires us to protect some information. Similarly, we may be discussing various issues that affect our respective organizations. Those discussions must also remain behind closed doors for various reasons. Some of them may include strategies we might use to respond to or possibly sway a regulatory agency, a proposed insurance issue, or issues or questions with a local club. In other words, even though you seem to consider it a personal affront that you are not privy to every discussion held at either the certification organization level or board of directors level, we will continue holding some things back while they are being discussed.
Also, although I attempted to help people here understand the delay in S&T in a more personal manner, using information from before I held any kind of position within Tripoli, I’m not privy to NAR‘s inside information, but even if I did know more it wouldn’t be my place to divulge such information.
It’s obvious that you believe that we should make public every communication and every issue, even while they’re under discussion. It’s simply not wise and not practical. I participate here and on Facebook in order to make myself accessible to members and to help overcome the image that TRA has had of being a “good old boys” organization. I can only do that by being professional and respectful. I don’t believe you or anybody else here is a moron, but neither is our board the intensely secretive organization that you wish to ascribe. We publish most of our discussions in the Tripoli Report as the minutes of our meetings. The few things we don’t publish are usually sensitive and ongoing and could easily be jeopardized by publication.
I’ve worked with people over the years who simply placed nothing in the public eye, for fear of it being misinterpreted, misquoted, or leading to some other failure. I choose not to be that way, but when you attack us for doing our jobs, I can understand their choice.


Steve Shannon
Steve what I do believe is an issue here is the turn around time for motor certs. The financial well being of our motor manufacturers is dependant on them getting products to production and distribution, while the larger manufacturers have commercial/military contracts and we are a small part of that business, smaller companies like Loki most likely cannot afford extended wait times. My opinion is that the length of time from submittal to cert testing should not exceed 90 days NAR or TRA. The new loads for the 24/60 have been well over that, in my mind that is unacceptable. As rocketry enthusiasts variety is a great thing to have.
 
Steve what I do believe is an issue here is the turn around time for motor certs. The financial well being of our motor manufacturers is dependant on them getting products to production and distribution, while the larger manufacturers have commercial/military contracts and we are a small part of that business, smaller companies like Loki most likely cannot afford extended wait times. My opinion is that the length of time from submittal to cert testing should not exceed 90 days NAR or TRA. The new loads for the 24/60 have been well over that, in my mind that is unacceptable. As rocketry enthusiasts variety is a great thing to have.

I absolutely agree with you, on every point, and without exception. Tripoli TMT is open for business and currently able to process motors using our existing load cells that range from 29-98 mm. 0-250 to 0-2000 lbs. Because the smallest motors require more sensitive load cells we cannot do them yet but we have ordered them. Lead time and fabrication time of course can throw a wrench into schedules, but we expect to be able to test 18 mm to 98 mm with load cells ranging from 0-25 lbs. through 0-2000 lbs by the end of the year.
Currently we have no motors that are waiting to be tested or processed in our queue.


Steve Shannon
 
Steve what I do believe is an issue here is the turn around time for motor certs. [...] My opinion is that the length of time from submittal to cert testing should not exceed 90 days NAR or TRA. The new loads for the 24/60 have been well over that, in my mind that is unacceptable.

I think you are missing the point - the people who are doing the certification are volunteers.
I also recall reading in another thread that their linchpin certification person had passed away.

There is no such thing as "unacceptable" when discussing the work of volunteers.
If you think you you can do better, do step up and carry the load!

If you can't volunteer your time / money / effort for the common good, than the most productive thing you can do is politely "thank" those who do. Blaming them for not volunteering enough of their time / money /effort while the rest of us are sitting on our buts and doing nothing, is just poisonous.

I'm pretty sure you did not meant it that way, but this thread is taking a pretty negative turn, so I wanted to take a moment to state the obvious.

Like usual, no one in the cert organizations will tell members anything, and aerotech is cryptic with its comments on the next loads.
Were all just too stupid to deal with with open info. Maybe we should all elect people who don’t think we’re morons

I trust you can state your point with even greater clearity in ways that will not be construed as being rude.
Please tell me I'm right?
:confused:

a
 
I think you are missing the point - the people who are doing the certification are volunteers.
I also recall reading in another thread that their linchpin certification person had passed away.

There is no such thing as "unacceptable" when discussing the work of volunteers.
If you think you you can do better, do step up and carry the load!

If you can't volunteer your time / money / effort for the common good, than the most productive thing you can do is politely "thank" those who do. Blaming them for not volunteering enough of their time / money /effort while the rest of us are sitting on our buts and doing nothing, is just poisonous.

I'm pretty sure you did not meant it that way, but this thread is taking a pretty negative turn, so I wanted to take a moment to state the obvious.



I trust you can state your point with even greater clearity in ways that will not be construed as being rude.
Please tell me I'm right?
:confused:

a

I have neither time, money, nor a location for testing, therefore much of my VOLUNTEER time goes to rocketry outreach, build nights, and being on the BoD for TriCities Rocketeers there are many launches where I have chosen not to fly so that we could spread the work load around, so I do what I can in other ways like many others here.
 
There is no such thing as "unacceptable" when discussing the work of volunteers.
If you think you you can do better, do step up and carry the load!

a

Incorrect. If you say you're going to do a job- do it.

Being a Volunteer does not relieve you of responsibility of the job taken. And questioning the work of a volunteer does not mean the work is not appricated.
 
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Those discussions must also remain behind closed doors for various reasons.

....we will continue holding some things back while they are being discussed.


I disagree with this in its entirety.

We're not talking about some short term thing here..... And I don't think it's too much to ask why the loads aren't ready.
 
I trust you can state your point with even greater clearity in ways that will not be construed as being rude.
Please tell me I'm right?

a

Sure- the testing of these motors should be explained, they're high profile, everyone wants them, and it's been a long enough time that "do not look at the man behind the curtain" is no longer a suitable response.

If you can't volunteer your time / money / effort for the common good, than the most productive thing you can do is politely "thank" those who do. Blaming them for not volunteering enough of their time / money /effort while the rest of us are sitting on our buts and doing nothing, is just poisonous.

When part of an organization isn't working, pointing that out is not poisonous, it's required to maintain health.
 
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I absolutely agree with you, on every point, and without exception. Tripoli TMT is open for business and currently able to process motors using our existing load cells that range from 29-98 mm. 0-250 to 0-2000 lbs. Because the smallest motors require more sensitive load cells we cannot do them yet but we have ordered them. Lead time and fabrication time of course can throw a wrench into schedules, but we expect to be able to test 18 mm to 98 mm with load cells ranging from 0-25 lbs. through 0-2000 lbs by the end of the year.
Currently we have no motors that are waiting to be tested or processed in our queue.

Once again, My issue here is obviously not with TMT, as the motors were not submitted to them ;)
 
I have neither time, money, nor a location for testing, therefore much of my VOLUNTEER time goes to rocketry outreach, build nights, and being on the BoD for TriCities Rocketeers there are many launches where I have chosen not to fly so that we could spread the work load around, so I do what I can in other ways like many others here.

And all effort is important. Your efforts are appreciated- at least by most. I think outreach and recruitment are really important- I believe that if it does not happen we will see this hobby dwindle and die over time.

Work at launches, and planning launches is important. Obviously the hobby need this.

There are a lot of ways to help out. All are important. Those who like to talk smack- it is easy to be a member of the peanut gallery- it is a whole other thing to dig in and help.

As to the testing situation. TRA TMT, as Steve mentioned, is working to expand capacity. As far as I know, TMT does not have any motors pending testing.


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Sure- the testing of these motors should be explained, they're high profile, everyone wants them, and it's been a long enough time that "do not look at the man behind the curtain" is no longer a suitable response.
TRA can't test anything this small yet, no gear. NAR can't test 'em, team has to reform. I believe I gleaned those facts from this thread, with which I am done.

Actually, a proposal to NAR, TRA, and CAR that they each post a twice-yearly testing summary, including a broad overview of readiness / capability might be useful.
 
TRA can't test anything this small yet, no gear. NAR can't test 'em, team has to reform. I believe I gleaned those facts from this thread, with which I am done.

Actually, a proposal to NAR, TRA, and CAR that they each post a twice-yearly testing summary, including a broad overview of readiness / capability might be useful.

Not being an ass here... I want to be very clear on that. If no one is setup to test them currently... perhaps a way of using the testing gear the manufacturer has to test them may work. Also, they have the money and time to invest in doing these tests.....and likely do them anyways.... if the data can be verified by some means.... It seems like a solution that would take pressure off everyone else.

I mean this all in the most constructive of ways.... all frustration leading up to this post aside.
 
TRA can't test anything this small yet, no gear. NAR can't test 'em, team has to reform. I believe I gleaned those facts from this thread, with which I am done.

Actually, a proposal to NAR, TRA, and CAR that they each post a twice-yearly testing summary, including a broad overview of readiness / capability might be useful.

I’ll pass that along. The readiness and capabilities could possibly even be kept continuously on our website.
 
Not being an ass here... I want to be very clear on that. If no one is setup to test them currently... perhaps a way of using the testing gear the manufacturer has to test them may work. Also, they have the money and time to invest in doing these tests.....and likely do them anyways.... if the data can be verified by some means.... It seems like a solution that would take pressure off everyone else.

I mean this all in the most constructive of ways.... all frustration leading up to this post aside.
Self-certifying seems like a dangerous game to play. The whole point of third-party results is to address unknown unknowns, revealing blind spots and potential bias the tester may not even know they have. Many eyeballs, and all that.

Would developing a process & procedure to inspect test gear and results at manuf. facilities take more or less time & effort & money than what our orgs are doing? I don't know, but I do trust they've been doing this a while & also want what's good for flyers & vendors both.
 
Self-certifying seems like a dangerous game to play. The whole point of third-party results is to address unknown unknowns, revealing blind spots and potential bias the tester may not even know they have. Many eyeballs, and all that.

Would developing a process & procedure to inspect test gear and results at manuf. facilities take more or less time & effort & money than what our orgs are doing? I don't know, but I do trust they've been doing this a while & also want what's good for flyers & vendors both.

I'm not typically the trusting type (go figure right?). Third party testing is a great value, and there is plenty of evidence of loads needing to be modified or failing. (G138 as an example) So I don't think eliminating it is a good idea.

But, with the current situation, an interim solution may be nice to have. Of course it'd likely take longer to change the rules than to get testing up and going, it's food for thought.
 
As I recall, Self-certifying was proposed and voted down during the last review process.
 
As I recall, Self-certifying was proposed and voted down during the last review process.

capability has changed, therefore so would the discussion. If it hadn't been such a long time already, and no clear indication of when anyone would be able to test....
I think it's worth talking about other options to get those motors out of purgatory.
 
I say let the manufactures self certify. I'm confident they will release the product as advertised, why would they want to do otherwise. No matter who certifies the product, the consumer is the ultimate tester. There have been plenty of ideas/new items certified through our organizations that have been proven to not work so great through us, the users. RMS Easy, problems with thrust rings, problems with certain motors etc. all corrected or "shot down" because of us.
 
I say let the manufactures self certify. I'm confident they will release the product as advertised, why would they want to do otherwise. No matter who certifies the product, the consumer is the ultimate tester. There have been plenty of ideas/new items certified through our organizations that have been proven to not work so great through us, the users. RMS Easy, problems with thrust rings, problems with certain motors etc. all corrected or "shot down" because of us.

Another point I’m hesitant to bring up, there is no random batch testing. In reality, after testing, they could be shipping anything. So we already are trusting them Personally I’d love to see random testing from user supplies. I think that would show more issues like Estes E motor failures. But please let’s not open that can of worms here or now.
 
None of us can enjoy this hobby without motors. That’s uppermost in our testing organizations minds.
The manufacturers already have the option of sending their test apparatus to us or making it available to one of our volunteers. For unusual motors that is sometimes the only way it can be done. We ensure its calibration satisfies us before testing.
Likewise, the manufacturers can pay expenses for one of our testers to test at their facility. But we cannot just witness the test. Our certification means the instructions are correct, the package has the correct parts, that the loads are truly a product that can be sold commercially rather than a prototype, and that we believe the manufacturer will provide support to its customers.
Many have wondered about the long time since the videos of new motors were posted. Please remember it only takes a prototype to make a YouTube video.
Finally, any motor that’s not plugged requires that its delays be certified also and per NFPA 1125 at sea level or adjusted to sea level. Nobody knows how to adjust the empirical data to sea level from the elevation of Cedar City (for example). For that reason we must test those loads at or near sea level. NAR does theirs at MIT in Boston. That also makes it more difficult to slide in replacement volunteers. The pool becomes more limited.
Our new TMT chair is very near sea level so his testing will be compliant.
Self certification would remove the requirement to have tests witnessed and validated by a third party (NAR, CAR, or TRA). I don’t believe that’s the solution. I believe that our motor testing agencies represent the interests of our members.
 
Our certification means the instructions are correct, the package has the correct parts,


I wish that were true, see lots of confusion posted here, not only with newcomers to the hobby, but with longtime BARS as well. I trust the manufactures, and in a case like this, the reason for this thread, an exception could be made to let the manufacture self certify and when things are in order with the testing committees, let them confirm.
 
I wish that were true, see lots of confusion posted here, not only with newcomers to the hobby, but with longtime BARS as well. I trust the manufactures, and in a case like this, the reason for this thread, an exception could be made to let the manufacture self certify and when things are in order with the testing committees, let them confirm.

Please report things (to us and the manufacturer) like confusing directions, parts that don’t fit, incorrectly packaged propellant grains, etc. We need that feedback so we can make improvements, yet almost nobody turns in anything other than catos and even then only a few.
Without a significant change to NFPA 1125, self certification can’t be done. It was suggested once and voted down. I wasn’t on the NFPA Committee at that time but I did speak out against it. I’m convinced I did the right thing, especially now that I’m more familiar with the problem.
 
As Steve mentioned, self certification
does not fit within NFPA 1125.

As to reasons against it other than 1125. There were some motors put forth years ago that were very over rated versus manufacturer claim. Not saying it was a current manufacturer ( it was not), but there is some history there.




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Wow, lots of good information now in this post, and I now feel like I have a better understanding of the problem. Thanks. I guess I'm left feeling NAR as an organization needs to step up. Things do happen in life and allowing one person to be the "Kingpin" of something sets an organization up for a single point of failure should some thing happen to that person.

Here all the time I was thinking the 24-60 casing was the main stay of the North Korean missile program and not certifying new loads would save us all.
 
For me, this is turning out to be a communications problem with NAR. I support NAR. I send them money every year. When certifications of new motors fell behind, if NAR had put out information as to why they were were falling behind, they would have had my sympathy, support, and patience. But when no information was released (that I could find), I’m left to come up with my own speculative reasons as to why they’re not doing the job.


In this age where the expectation is instant news, 2 day delivery, numerous time stamped updates per day on web pages, NAR might need to up their PR game. I think the buzz word I’m looking for is transparency.
 
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