Originally posted by DynaSoar
Zackly. For RMS to actually be cheaper, you have to have flown and recovered and reused the same motor enougn times.
Here's a rough guesstimate:
AT 29/40-120 casing $35.00
AT F22 loads $6 each.
AT F20 S/U $10 each
It takes 10 successful RMS motor recoveries (regardless of flight success) to cost less ($95.00) than S/U motors ($100.00) to fly the same amount.
Even after this point, if you lose the RMS motor it's a major replacement cost. You wouldn't want to go into this with the possibility of losing a motor and having a set back. You'd want to start with two at least. I'd start with 3. That ups the break-even point to 23 flights. This does allow for potential loss of up to 2 motors during this time.
With RMS motors, even the most experienced can make a mistake putting it together causing a CATO or at least a failed flight attempt. It is far less likely for this to happen with S/U motors. It may cost more to use S/U in the longer run. Considering that it reduces the chances of failure, I'd consider the extra cost to be insurance premiums. It might be easier to pay more in the long run by buying fewer at a time rather than coming up with the big chunk up front. (It's a lot easier to ride the bus 10,00 times than to buy a $5,000 car).
If it's for the TARC team, consider contacting a motor seller and asking for a bulk discount based on buying 20 or whatever 2 packs of Econojets over the next year. They might even send you them in bulk based on payment over 90 days or something. If Rockeguts is doing well, this might be an option.