Estes A3-6T availability

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TomBroad

Old Time Rocketeer
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I just received this response from support at Estes (a very prompt response -- they are good) in regard to when to expect availability of the recently certified A3-6T:

Thank you for contacting Estes!

The A3-6T target availability date is 8/22/2022. So it is not looking promising for this summer flying season. But keep an eye on the website and social media for any changes in the target date.
 
I just received this response from support at Estes (a very prompt response -- they are good) in regard to when to expect availability of the recently certified A3-6T:

Thank you for contacting Estes!

The A3-6T target availability date is 8/22/2022. So it is not looking promising for this summer flying season. But keep an eye on the website and social media for any changes in the target date.
That is odd. I would have expected a NARAM release.
 
Is there any word on whether it will be marked as a purple-text upper stage motor or a green-text single stage? The specs and classification in the catalog were a bit wonky.
 
How about a 1/2A3-6T? And an 1/2A3-0T.
The 1/2A3 upper-stage motor is the -4T, which is more than adequate.

These mini A3 motors don’t really have enough initial thrust to function as credible booster motors either, that’s why the A10 is available in -0T and the rest aren’t.
 
There used to be an A3-0T, plenty of thrust for a 4 stage rack rocket back in the 70's.
 
I used a pack of 1/2A3-0Ts flying my Beta (Estes 0845) kit back in the mid-90s. They worked well, especially on small fields. I wish Estes still made them.
 
The NAR Contest Board has set four different A-motor competition events in the list for the 2022-2023 Contest Year. To the best of my knowledge the longest delay time for a 13 mm NAR certified "available" motor is the A3-4T. Obviously, if an A3-6 motor becomes available, it will catch the attention of those who are interested in doing competition.
 
I just received this response from support at Estes (a very prompt response -- they are good) in regard to when to expect availability of the recently certified A3-6T:

Thank you for contacting Estes!

The A3-6T target availability date is 8/22/2022. So it is not looking promising for this summer flying season. But keep an eye on the website and social media for any changes in the target date.
Are they available?
 
It seems the target date has been missed, at this point, by 6 weeks. Also, at this point in time, Estes has not notified hobby shops and/or hobby distributors that they are available to order.
 
The 1/2A3 upper-stage motor is the -4T, which is more than adequate.

These mini A3 motors don’t really have enough initial thrust to function as credible booster motors either, that’s why the A10 is available in -0T and the rest aren’t.
I never had a problem with A3-0T when they were available, they have plenty of thrust for a booster.
 
Pffft, not even that much. I'd be ok putting it in anything with the ideal closer to -6 than -4.

I know that chute and the mini buttons are a bit ridiculous, most of my OR projects are ridiculous in some sense or another.


Stachwick MD13-A3-6T.jpg


Stachwick MD13-A3-6T 3D finished.jpg
 

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Packs of A3-2T and A3-6T motors are now available on the Apogee Components website.

I expect these motors will soon show up as available from other vendors.
 
Packs of A3-2T and A3-6T motors are now available on the Apogee Components website.

I expect these motors will soon show up as available from other vendors.
Every time I hear about new motors I always wonder about which rockets may be good for them. Maybe we’ll find out in the 2023 catalog.
 
A3-6Ts will be good for upper stages of sport models like the Checkmate, but also for B Altitude competition models and possibly B Payload Altitude models as well. These are typically two stages with A10-0T on the first stage. Some of these I've flown lately are pretty wimpy though. See https://flightsketch.com/flights/3846/ from earlier today. This is an almost stock Checkmate. On that particular flight, though, the 4-second delay was almost exactly 4s, and was the right delay based on the altitude curve. A 6-second delay wouldn't have done it much good on that flight.

A3-2Ts will be good for A Rocket Glider and A Boost Glider competition and maybe A Helicopter as well.
 
I wish Estes would at least try to make their delays more accurate. I know, I know, +- 20%, but that's just being lazy. After all these years, you would think Estes could do a tighter tolerance , say +-10%.

Jeez Estes, add a little more delay train charge. How freaking difficult would that be.

Adjust your MABEL'S to add a small increment. How difficult can that be?

So the A3-6T is actually an A3-4T, while the A3-4T is an A3-3T.

And make some A3-0T, and 1/2A3-0 and 1/2A3-6 .

Everybody doesn't have access to large flying fields.

We need more park flyer motors.

Ok back to your regularly scheduled station.
 
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