What is the Highest flying single stage rocket currently available? ( non level 1 )

[rickster75]

Hello everyone. Im Looking for guidance in my next purchase. I'd like to purchase the highest flying single stage design.Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[tim cubbedge]

Probably the Apogee Aspire.
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-2-Model-Rocket-Kits/Aspire

 

[astronwolf]

You need to clarify. Did you post it here because you are interested in the "highest flying single stage" model rocket? Is that what you meant by "non Level 1?" Or are you looking for buying something that flies to the edge of space?

 

[dhbarr]

Do you have a local motor vendor? CTI g65's are up near the top end of what's possible, but they require a HazMat fee.

What kind of tracker do you have to get it back from a mile and a quarter up?

 

[David Schwantz]

29mm Go Devil with AT I205W Just under 10,000' agl. Streamer recovery, rocket hunter, JL alt2. But a 54 mm Go devil with no payload section and an AT K2050 will damn near double that. And I am sure there are many others, like Wildmans Mach 2 and 3.

 

[Bat-mite]

29mm Go Devil with AT I205W Just under 10,000' agl. Streamer recovery, rocket hunter, JL alt2. But a 54 mm Go devil with no payload section and an AT K2050 will damn near double that. And I am sure there are many others, like Wildmans Mach 2 and 3.

He said "non-level one". OP is not certified.

Now, to the question. Rockets don't fly to any altitude without a propulsion system. Your question "What is the highest flying single stage rocket currently available?" is unanswerable.

The question you want to ask is "What is the highest flying rocket/motor combination available?" And then remember, too, on any given day, that same rocket/motor combination may produce different results, based on wind, weather, air quality, and a variety of other things.

Other questions to ask yourself: how big is my flying field? What maximum altitude does my field support, according to the safety code? And as someone else stated, how will I recover my rocket when it goes out of sight, over the tree line or beyond the hills?

Level one is one thing, but there are motors that do not require level one certification but which cannot be legally sold to those under 18. So what motors are available to you and legal for you to fly?

If you can ask a more specific question, like, "I have access to up to F-class black powder motors. What rocket would fly the highest on that class of motor?", you will get more specific, helpful responses.

 

[kuririn]

Probably the Apogee Aspire.

+1. Paired to an Apogee Medalist F10-8 motor. Long burn, lower impulse than an Aerotech G but higher apogee (5479 ft. per Rocksim). No certification needed to purchase but there is a HAZMAT fee.
And if you want to get it back then you may want to put some kind of lightweight tracker on it and launch on a big field with many eyes on it.
PS There is also an optional Ebay add on so you can use dual deployment (to limit drift) and add electronics to verify apogee and track/recover. However this will add weight over the stock rocket and lower apogee. But your chances of getting it back are much higher.

 

[David Schwantz]

Hey Bat, guess I missed that.

 

[rickster75]

+1. Paired to an Apogee Medalist F10-8 motor. Long burn, lower impulse than an Aerotech G but higher apogee (5479 ft. per Rocksim). No certification needed to purchase but there is a HAZMAT fee.
And if you want to get it back then you may want to put some kind of lightweight tracker on it and launch on a big field with many eyes on it.
PS There is also an optional Ebay add on so you can use dual deployment (to limit drift) and add electronics to verify apogee and track/recover. However this will add weight over the stock rocket and lower apogee. But your chances of getting it back are much higher.

What is the best value ( small tracker) for this missle? Also can you point me to the ebay build?

 

[retortec]

Another vote for the Apogee Aspire. Kit has been around for some time and a dual deploy upgrade is available. Best value for the money and ease of use in my opinion for a tracker is the Eggfinder Mini. Pushing past 50000 feet with that set up may require some creative mods in RockSim. RF trackers are quite a bit lighter but harder to use. Plus a shortwave operators cert is needed. Tracking powder and reefing the parachute is the old fashion way of doing it. Super light launch weight but high probability of losing it. Many of my high flying Mach busters suffered this fate. Here is a pair of mine. Red is a unmodified kit packing a Eggfinder Mini and is dual deploy. Black is dual deploy with a RF tracker and optimized in RockSim. Fins are much thinner than stock and made from acrylic.

 

[kuririn]

What is the best value ( small tracker) for this missle? Also can you point me to the ebay build?

Eggfinder mini tracker transmitter will fit in a 29mm nose cone. You also need a receiver. Basic receiver needs to plug into a tablet or laptop. Handheld does not. Optional add on module adds nice features, including arrow and bearing to the rocket.
All needs to be assembled and soldered. That cuts down the kit costs.
https://eggtimerrocketry.com/home/eggfinder-gps-tracking-system/

And Ebay (Electronics bay) not ebay. Go to the Apogee Aspire page for the link and much more information.
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-2-Model-Rocket-Kits/Aspire

Alternatively, if you build the Ebay and use dual deploy you can save some bucks by foregoing the tracker. The rocket MAY come down close enough to be in sight. Or not. Check the description page for two recommended altimeters with DD. One is pricier but available. The other is produced in limited quantities and quickly sells out when available.
This way you get flight info including apogee and the DD will land the rocket closer to the launch point.

 

[NateB]

How many Aspire kits have been lost? I don't think I have seen a listing for a kit say "you may not get this one back" so many times. Looks like fun though

 

[retortec]

I would be embarrassed to admit how many I have lost. A few were simply yard sales in the sky. Nothing like a G80 to highlight any flaws in building a balsa and cardboard rocket.

 

[cbrarick]

blackhawk 24 https://wildmanrocketry.com/collections/wildman-blackhawk/products/blackhawk-24
Aerotech F12.....

gonna need a tracker for that one, and I'd bring it down on a streamer.

Completely out of sight!

 

[Jacob Ritzke]

I flew an aspires 4 times on f12's last year, I have yet to lose it! I did fly one on a G8st-p (it's a shame they don't make that motor anymore) to ~10,000 feet, Lost the rocket and it's deployer

 

[K'Tesh]

The HIGHEST flying single stage rocket currently available ( non level 1) (to be seen) can be found at the The Museum of Flight in Seattle (though it didn't use its own motor for the flight).

"The Astron Scout logged nearly 6 days in space, traveling 2.5 million miles (4 million km) while circling the Earth 93 times."

https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-021115a-model-rocket-space-exhibit.html

 

[Voyager1]

What is the best value ( small tracker) for this missle? Also can you point me to the ebay build?

What is your budget? Can you solder surface mount components? If you're into soldering then an Eggfinder Mini Tx and USB receiver is the best value, if it fits into you chosen rocket, and is not too heavy. It does require a laptop. Go for the LCD receiver if you want device independence, or you can bluetooth the the receiver to an android phone.

"Avbay" (avionics bay) is less confusing than "ebay"!

 

[BABAR]

Ya know, by the time you start getting into buying the trackers and receivers, ya might as well go whole hog and get level 1 certified.........

Still, I don’t know where the original poster is from, and he or she may not have a field to fly rockets that need waivers. I think @kuririn has that problem.

 

[GalantVR41062]

Highest impulse non hp rocket motor: 29mm CTI G54 redline motor. I estimate a 5oz rocket will do 4,650'.

For maximum non hp altitude I would look at the 24mm CTI G65-8 load.

24mm CTI G65 144ns 8s delay. In a 24mm mmd rocket weighing 3-4oz it would go about 8500' and need RF or GPS tracking and electronic deployment as the 8s delay is to short: mach 1.3, 152fps off the rail, and about a 15sec delay.

the rocket kit that has the potential to go the highest on a non HP rocket motor would be the Wild Man Black Hawk 24.
https://wildmanrocketry.com/collections/wildman-blackhawk/products/blackhawk-24

I am building a Estes Black Brant 3 in MD form with this flight in mind. I am also going to do a carbon layup as the rocket will be going supersonic. I will use a MW RRC2+ for apogee and cable cutter on a 12" nylon chute, then a RF tracker. Or upgraded to a altus metrum telemini.

~John

 

[Ez2cDave]

The highest flying single-stage rocket, at any impulse level, will be minimum diameter, optimum weight, and lowest aerodynamic drag.

Dave F.

 

[Scott_650]

What is your budget? Can you solder surface mount components? If you're into soldering then an Eggfinder Mini Tx and USB receiver is the best value, if it fits into you chosen rocket, and is not too heavy. It does require a laptop. Go for the LCD receiver if you want device independence, or you can bluetooth the the receiver to an android phone.

"Avbay" (avionics bay) is less confusing than "ebay"!

Not to (partially) highjack this thread but can someone who’s much more fluent in electronic-ese walk me through how the Eggfinder TX/Mini plus the RX “dongle” receiver would work in an actual launch and recovery scenario? I’m having a hard time visualizing the whole process from launch to finding the rocket...thanks!

 

[Buckeye]

The highest flying single-stage rocket, at any impulse level, will be minimum diameter, optimum weight, and lowest aerodynamic drag.

Dave F.

Correct.

The OP's question has no answer. Purchasing a bag of parts does not make a kit the "highest flying design." I depends on the motor and how it is built/finished.

 

[Steve Shannon]

The Dude, if filled with just enough helium to begin floating with an expended Motor should be the highest flyer.

 

[Ez2cDave]

The Dude, if filled with just enough helium to begin floating with an expended Motor should be the highest flyer.

Steve,

Would you sign off on a Level 3 Dude for a Cert attempt ?

LOL !

Dave

 

[Zeus-cat]

How many Aspire kits have been lost? I don't think I have seen a listing for a kit say "you may not get this one back" so many times. Looks like fun though

I have only seen one Aspire launched and it was not recovered. No one saw it once the motor burned out. It used the F10 motor.

 

[rharshberger]

I have only seen one Aspire launched and it was not recovered. No one saw it once the motor burned out. It used the F10 motor.

I saw one launched as well, on a G motor, it got recovered 10' from the pad....20' from the pad....it shredded at about 200-300' (lots of bits raining down).

 

[58pan]

For a tracker might look at
https://eurekaproducts.com/product/ultralight-single-drone-recovery-system/
Don't have one but probably will soon. No tech savvy needed. $220 - 1 receiver 1 sender, $361 1 receiver 3 senders.
If They survive drone crashes, they ought to survive rocket launches.

 

[retortec]

Quite deceiving how much skill and attention to detail a rocket like that needs to have a successful flight. With a G80 an Aspire can approach 45G+ in the first 800 feet. I started down the rabbit hole of tweaking the design years ago. It mutated into something completely different. All that remained was the nose cone, coupler and body tubes. My bad added an extra 0 in the earlier post. Mach Buster #8

 

[Rocketjunkie]

1/2 length of Apogee 29mm tube, 1/16" thick plywood fins epoxied on, streamer (I use ribbon), tracking chalk, and an Aerotech single use (DMS) G80. Rocket is disposable, you don't have to recover it. I've made lots of disposable rockets. If the motor costs more than the rocket, then I don't look for it.If you put an altimeter in it to get actual altitude, then it won't be disposable.
Here's an O powered version I launched in 1990 (rocket was made from G10 fiberglass). 5 lb. chalk dust.

Latest disposable rocket 4 stage F15 rack rocket

 

[cerving]

The Dude, if filled with just enough helium to begin floating with an expended Motor should be the highest flyer.

LOL, having flown mine several times with a F12 including a 3 x Dude drag race, I think that "might" be a stretch... it's heavier than it looks.