Seeking recommendation for 8 yr old’s first rocket

[augendoc]

Thank you all for a wonderful bunch of suggestions. I recommended to his Godmother the Estes Alpha III, Discount Rocketry Tooboh and Nexus, and Custom Rocketry Razor. I also recommended two rockets so if he flies and loses one it won't totally ruin his day.

I agree with the posters about the Estes Gnome. When my kids built it years ago it went together OK but the BT material was soft and it was difficult to pack a streamer, even with experienced hands. I think you want low and slow for a first rocket. The Gnome is gone in a blink.

Again, thank you all. This kid's going to have a blast.

 

[Former Squirrel]

My first, at about that age, was an Estes WAC Corporal. That shock cord attachment bugged me for years and inspired me to develop an integrated engine hook/fireproof teather/shock cord/swivel arrangment I would use in competition for more years afterward. Challenge is good.