AeroTech Information Release 12/15/08

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Garoq

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AeroTech Information Release

12/15/08

AeroTech Announces Creation of ValueRockets.com Webstore


AeroTech has created ValueRockets.com™, a webstore dedicated to the sale of low and mid-power composite propellant rocket motors, kits and parts at wholesale prices.

“The goal of ValueRockets.com is to bring entry-level composite propellant rocketry to consumers at the lowest possible cost and with minimal impact to our traditional distribution channels” stated AeroTech/RCS President Gary Rosenfield. “After soliciting our customers' advice and opinions, we carefully selected those AeroTech products for the webstore that we felt would benefit most from rock-bottom low prices and national exposure through a targeted advertising campaign."

And the prices are rock-bottom indeed. 18mm D10W and D21T single-use motors will be sold in 3-packs for $15.90, and 24mm E15W and E30T motors will be sold for $18.90 per 3-pack. This compares with the significantly lower-performance 24mm black powder ‘D’ and ‘E’ motors that currently retail for $14.49 and $19.99 per 3-pack respectively. In addition, each single-use motor will ship with a FirstFire Jr.™ 2-lead igniter.

18mm reloadable motor pricing is equally aggressive. RMS-18/20 motor hardware sets will be sold for $29.90 each along with D13W and D24T reload kit 3-packs priced at $7.90 each.

Other initial offerings for the webstore will include a complete ValueRocket mid-power starter set for $99.90 and a ready-to-fly ValueRocket 1.9™ mid-power rocket for $39.90.

A prototype of the website is now up and running at https://www.valuerockets.com, and customers can download an order form in Excel or PDF format and email, fax or mail it to AeroTech. The webstore is expected to be complete with full online ordering and payment capability within 60 days.

No products requiring “hazmat” shipping are included on the site. Motors and reload kits will be shipped via U.S. Mail Parcel Post™. There is no minimum order but an $8.00 shipping and handling charge will apply to all orders under $100, with free shipping for orders exceeding $100.

AeroTech believes that exposing more entry-level rocket customers to the benefits and high performance of composite propellant rocketry at dramatically lower cost and with easier availability, will result in increased sales by dealers and distributors of the larger AeroTech products, including high-power rocket motors, and will expand participation in the hobby as a whole. Ads for ValueRockets.com will soon appear in major rocketry publications including LAUNCH, Sport Rocketry and Extreme Rocketry magazines.

In difficult economic times, AeroTech is working to make affordable composite propellant rocketry a reality.


AeroTech Consumer Aerospace is a division of RCS Rocket Motor Components (RCS), Inc., Cedar City, UT. ValueRockets.com is a trademark of RCS.
 
I ordered a bunch of stuff from valuerockets. Great service, and fast shipping, even during the holliday rush. The stuff all looks like a lot of fun, but sadly, I haven't had a chance to go fly them yet. I'm looking forward to it though. My nephew will get a kick out of seeing his Big Daddy on an E30. :)
 
I have no experience with FirstFire igniters. Please tell me they are nothing at all like Copperheads. If I receive these igniters with an order of motors, are they classified as 'explosives' like igniters for other composite motors (and will I have to get a LEUP and a storage locker to store them)? Are there any tricks to using them (like, what kind of launch controller will I need to get them working)? Anything else?

This new website sounds like some great deals are available. Looks like I better start saving up some funds.
 
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Firstfires are very good igniters. They're just like any other igniter. Long leads and a good pyrogen tip.
 
No LEUP required. They are the same as purchasing Estes ignitors. The firstfire Jr are like the ignitors Aerotech includes with the larger loads, 2 wire leads, easy to pull apart and strip the insulation with fingernails. They work great, and have been more reliable for me than the copperheads ever were. I've actually had good luck with the copperheads overall, but I see why many people don't like them.

You do need a 12V launch controller. The Estes astro-beam, or whatever they call them, can't fire these things. Aerotech sells one, as does any company involved in mid/high power rocketry. Once you get past black powder motors, you need to get a better controller as well. They are easy to build, and you could put together a relay box and still use the Estes controller if you wanted to I suppose.
 
Thanks for the info, ttabbal

I am curious, though, why it is that Estes igniters are 'safe' and 'legal' and OK for anyone to have without LEUPs and permits and storage lockers (and apparently these FirstFires fall into this 'safe' category?), but that possessing or using certain other igniters apparently requires LEUPs and permits and storage lockers. I would just like to understand the difference. (I would like to know where the line is so I do not inadvertently step over it.)

I mean, I know we're talking about GOVERNMENT rules here that make no sense, are inconsistent, and self-contradictory, but can still land you in prison. Makes it kinda tough to try to stay in compliance.
 
Wow - those are great deals. I may have to order some 18mm reloads. The D13 is high on the list of my favorite motors :)
 
Thanks for the info, ttabbal

I am curious, though, why it is that Estes igniters are 'safe' and 'legal' and OK for anyone to have without LEUPs and permits and storage lockers (and apparently these FirstFires fall into this 'safe' category?), but that possessing or using certain other igniters apparently requires LEUPs and permits and storage lockers. I would just like to understand the difference. (I would like to know where the line is so I do not inadvertently step over it.)

I mean, I know we're talking about GOVERNMENT rules here that make no sense, are inconsistent, and self-contradictory, but can still land you in prison. Makes it kinda tough to try to stay in compliance.

I'm sure Gary R. will correct me if I garble this, but from what I recall reading, the igniters sold with the motors are in a different class from the igniters that are sold by companies that do not make motors and the igniters that you make yourself from kits of chemicals.

Any igniter that a company makes to go along with their motors is considered a 'replacement part' for a product that is classified as appropriate.
 
I'm sure Gary R. will correct me if I garble this, but from what I recall reading, the igniters sold with the motors are in a different class from the igniters that are sold by companies that do not make motors and the igniters that you make yourself from kits of chemicals.

Any igniter that a company makes to go along with their motors is considered a 'replacement part' for a product that is classified as appropriate.

I concur with your explanation. :)
 
I have no experience with FirstFire igniters. Please tell me they are nothing at all like Copperheads. If I receive these igniters with an order of motors, are they classified as 'explosives' like igniters for other composite motors (and will I have to get a LEUP and a storage locker to store them)? Are there any tricks to using them (like, what kind of launch controller will I need to get them working)? Anything else?

This new website sounds like some great deals are available. Looks like I better start saving up some funds.

FirstFire Igniters are very good. Much better than Copperheads. They use wire rather than the single coated lead of the Copperhead.

Personally, I've never had an issue with Copperheads.

The only issue I've had with FirstFire is size. And that is only because they were too big for 18mm and 24mm. But they can usually be worked in, if care is taken.
 
FirstFire Igniters are very good. Much better than Copperheads. Personally, I've never had an issue with Copperheads.

Most people who really hate Copperheads--do not like them with larger motors--H-K. They tend to ignore the fact that "in the old days" Aerotech included a 3/4" piece of thermalite with each Copperhead igniter for "H" and above motors. I do not know what the original intent was--but certainly as of '91, Coperheads with "H" and above motors were meant to use Thermalite as an "assist"--and it worked great. It was unfortunate that Federal rules/regulations/stuff made it impossible for Aerotech to continue to include thermalite with each kit. When this happened, Copperheads became marginal with larger motors. Prior to this, a Copperhead with thermalite was a great combination. Copperheads work fine with smaller motors--they just do not cut it with larger motors without the thermalite assist. Now, with FirstFire igniters--people should not have too much to complain about. Those things are fantastic.
 
FirstFire igniters are great, and as far as I know, all motors >G ship with either a FirstFire or no igniter (54mm and up IIRC). As for copperheads, I've had mixed luck, but for the most part they seem to work ok.
 
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