shockwaveriderz
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2002
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G. Harry Stine got the Denver Post Master back as early as 1958 to allow shipment of Rock-A-Chute model rocket motors through the mail.
During that 50 year span, I would take a SWAG that literally millions of modle rocket motors have been shipped to customer without 1 reported case of an accident.
Estes had some tests run on its motors back in 1977 and they follow that the average auto ignition temperature of a typical modle rocket motor is 589 F. This was the average remember, the range was from 562-627 F. There was a 99.7% probability that ALL motors would ignite within 48F of the 589 F value.
In addition , this laboratory also tested the mechnaical or impact force that would be required to auto ignite such a model rocket motor, and they found that it would take a 463 pounds of weight dropped from a distance of 10ft to create enough mechanical energy to get a typical model rocket to auto ignite.
Imagine what force would be required to make it explode.
The point being, these tests have shown and 50 years of experinece has taught as all that estes BP modle rocket motors are probably one the safest items that was ever made when you also take into consideration that literally 100's of millions have been used over 50 years without 1 death or major injury to show for it ( that X-15 don't could as I am talking here about motors not plastic nballistic artciles dropping out of the sky unto your noggin).
So isn't it about time the the NAR leadership showed a little leadership, and considerd the following:
1. NAR members need a legal way to ship, trade and sell small quantities of model rocket motor to one another without having to be a hazmat shipper.
2. The only was this will ever come aboutm, is for the NAR to approach the USPS about getting a "blanket waiver" for its membership.
3. The new USPS waiver would be for NAR members only; and it would be for small quantities. 100 engines at a time is not a small quanity.
4. The NAR also needs to consider the fact that the BATFE has exempted 62.5 propellant slugs from its jurisdiction as an explosive. The CPSC defines modle rocket motors up to 62.5g. The NAR therefore should consider also getting the 30 gram limit raised to at least 62.5g; and If possible go all the way to the 125g FAA limit.
This would allow for a wide range of motors from 1/8A-small H to be shipped to and for by NAR members (and TRA members too!)
Suitable packaging and labeling would be part of the waiver .
Now, this would not happen overnight. And it would not be easy. But I think we have the record and the data to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that allowing a small subset of the NAR to legally ship via the USPS mails would be a good thening for its membership.
The penalty for shipping explosives in the USPS mails is 10 years in Federal prison and a minimum 10K fine. Plus people who illegally ship model rocket motors place the current USPS regulation exemption in jeopardy by shipping ilegally.
Now one potential objection to this is that people would then start shipping even larger motors thru the US mails. I would respond, people already do that.
If you think you might agree with me on this, considr using this post as a petition sign up listing. The more people that say yes, the more the NAR leadership might listen. If you are in the TRA this applies to you to, so I'll also send this petition to the TRA and let them work it out between themselves a they should.
so what do you think?
terry dean
nar 16158
During that 50 year span, I would take a SWAG that literally millions of modle rocket motors have been shipped to customer without 1 reported case of an accident.
Estes had some tests run on its motors back in 1977 and they follow that the average auto ignition temperature of a typical modle rocket motor is 589 F. This was the average remember, the range was from 562-627 F. There was a 99.7% probability that ALL motors would ignite within 48F of the 589 F value.
In addition , this laboratory also tested the mechnaical or impact force that would be required to auto ignite such a model rocket motor, and they found that it would take a 463 pounds of weight dropped from a distance of 10ft to create enough mechanical energy to get a typical model rocket to auto ignite.
Imagine what force would be required to make it explode.
The point being, these tests have shown and 50 years of experinece has taught as all that estes BP modle rocket motors are probably one the safest items that was ever made when you also take into consideration that literally 100's of millions have been used over 50 years without 1 death or major injury to show for it ( that X-15 don't could as I am talking here about motors not plastic nballistic artciles dropping out of the sky unto your noggin).
So isn't it about time the the NAR leadership showed a little leadership, and considerd the following:
1. NAR members need a legal way to ship, trade and sell small quantities of model rocket motor to one another without having to be a hazmat shipper.
2. The only was this will ever come aboutm, is for the NAR to approach the USPS about getting a "blanket waiver" for its membership.
3. The new USPS waiver would be for NAR members only; and it would be for small quantities. 100 engines at a time is not a small quanity.
4. The NAR also needs to consider the fact that the BATFE has exempted 62.5 propellant slugs from its jurisdiction as an explosive. The CPSC defines modle rocket motors up to 62.5g. The NAR therefore should consider also getting the 30 gram limit raised to at least 62.5g; and If possible go all the way to the 125g FAA limit.
This would allow for a wide range of motors from 1/8A-small H to be shipped to and for by NAR members (and TRA members too!)
Suitable packaging and labeling would be part of the waiver .
Now, this would not happen overnight. And it would not be easy. But I think we have the record and the data to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that allowing a small subset of the NAR to legally ship via the USPS mails would be a good thening for its membership.
The penalty for shipping explosives in the USPS mails is 10 years in Federal prison and a minimum 10K fine. Plus people who illegally ship model rocket motors place the current USPS regulation exemption in jeopardy by shipping ilegally.
Now one potential objection to this is that people would then start shipping even larger motors thru the US mails. I would respond, people already do that.
If you think you might agree with me on this, considr using this post as a petition sign up listing. The more people that say yes, the more the NAR leadership might listen. If you are in the TRA this applies to you to, so I'll also send this petition to the TRA and let them work it out between themselves a they should.
so what do you think?
terry dean
nar 16158