Roadrunner Rocketry

[TNmike]

Are they still manufacturing motors? Nothing on their website indicates they are defunct. Yet ThrustCurve says they are not in production, and I haven't seen anything to confirm they are still in business. So, what is it? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[mikec]

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?66887-Motor-Manufacturer-round-up says they are defunct.

 

[TNmike]

Bummer. I wished there were 2 or 3 more who made single use motors.

 

[mikec]

Bummer.

Yes, these looked like good motors, and they were even certified for use in California. I'd be curious to know what the story with RR was -- they used molded cases like Aerotech's.

 

[manixFan]

They were great motors, I flew dozens of them without a single issue. I still have one or two left to fly but haven't flown anything small for a while. At one launch I flew 7 RR motors which was probably the most fun I've ever had at a launch.

RR also caused AT to up their game. After RR came on the market, Gary moved to molded cases and regular two-wire ignitors for his F & G motors. So anyone who buys a SU F or G motor today is still benefitting from RR motors. (Darkstar motors had those as well but were long out of production.)

RoadRunner is also now out of production unfortunately.


Tony

 

[RoyAtl]

Four years ago, I inquired about becoming a vendor for RoadRunner at our launches, and the owner wrote back saying he no longer had time for the business, and did not see that changing in the future. Now four years later, and that doesn't seem to have changed.

And yes, the five motors I purchased and used were very good.

 

[shreadvector]

[video=youtube;Gy88-5pc7c8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy88-5pc7c8[/video]

 

[samb]

Shread is a punk rocker ?!? Who knew. :wink:

A Roadrunner F45 was my first AP motor back in 2007. You never forget your first one.

 

[jsdemar]

Roadrunner motors were manufactured by Ellis Mountain. After Robert Ellis' untimely passing, there weren't many other options for the owner. It was a significant investment for a small market when they decided to mold the casings. Other custom jigs were made to help reduce the labor cost. I had the pleasure of visiting Bob several times when I used to live 30 minutes from him. A great loss to the hobby when he died.

 

[cwbullet]

I think Roadrunner and Ellis are two fo the single motors I really miss.

 

[rstaff3]

Ellis had some interesting motors, miss them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Rocketry Forum mobile app

 

[cwbullet]

i really wish some one had the formulas.

 

[fyrwrxz]

i really wish some one had the formulas.

So do I, Chuck, the long burns held most of the alt records for a long time.

 

[jsdemar]

The formulas were simple low-solids, good for pourable processing. The other thing that made them long-burn was the grain geometry Ellis used.

 

[Bdpeters]

they are great motors, got a couple left. looks like they are still certified but it looks like the G80 is expiring dec 30th.

 

[dvdsnyd]

John, Do you have any more information on the grain geometry? I assume it differed quite a bit from simple bates grains?

The formulas were simple low-solids, good for pourable processing. The other thing that made them long-burn was the grain geometry Ellis used.

 

[jsdemar]

John, Do you have any more information on the grain geometry? I assume it differed quite a bit from simple bates grains?

They were C-slots, mostly. I think some larger long-burn motors were offset long cores.