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aviator

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Female rocketeers : Male Rocketeers

I was just wondering what the percentages are; male vs female, within the hobby.

The reason for the question is this. In engineering, Mathematics, science and technology in Ireland women make up 20 - 25%. We have the same 20 - 25% making enquires and showing an interest in model rocketry at our launches.

I wonder what the percentages are in TRA and NAR.

Does anyone know?
 
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Can't really say what the percentages are but I've seen an increase in interest by Girls groups here in the states as well. I sure thinks it's a lot more fun co-ed LOL!!!!
 
From personal experience, in the Air Force and with Boeing, the average ratio of men-to-women ratio in the Aerospace Industry is 5:1 (20%) as an average. Typically the ratio is less in fields such as aircrew, engineering, and mechanics, and higher in management, finance, support and other administrative areas.

Within the actual hobby, based on personal obeservations and from the membership here on TRF, my guess is that ratio would be on the smaller side. While I may be off the mark, it could be due to the building and launching of such models is a reflection of the engineering and mechanics nature.

It's a bit of a shame, but it is - what it is.
 
Do the girls have any color preferences, like pink, lavender etc.?

My daughter just painted her Nova Payloader hot pink this weekend . . .

My Mission Specialist wannabe son is the main driver for our family's involvement in the hobby, but my husband enjoyed rockets as a child, so he has some history there.

My daughter and I are sort of along for the ride but enjoying learning about the hobby and the science behind it. We do launches as a family affair.
 
My daughter just painted her Nova Payloader hot pink this weekend . . .

My Mission Specialist wannabe son is the main driver for our family's involvement in the hobby, but my husband enjoyed rockets as a child, so he has some history there.

My daughter and I are sort of along for the ride but enjoying learning about the hobby and the science behind it. We do launches as a family affair.

Welcome aboard! Feel free to contribute, to ask questions or just to lurk and see what the rest of us are up to. If you haven't already noticed, the folk here REALLY like pictures!
 
Welcome aboard! Feel free to contribute, to ask questions or just to lurk and see what the rest of us are up to. If you haven't already noticed, the folk here REALLY like pictures!

Thank you! I've mostly been lurking and reading until my eyeballs feel like they are going to fall out. Yes, I have noticed that the people here like pictures!
 
Do the girls have any color preferences, like pink, lavender etc.?

Two little girls at our launch last weekend flew a beautiful rocket named "Dorothy" that was painted a perfect sparkly "ruby slipper" color. I'd think that finish would sell itself to rocketeuses of the fairer gender.
 
In 2008 an 2009, the Birmingham Rocket Boys were involved with helping students at Bragg Middle School to launch their rockets. An entire class, 7th or 8th grade, built Alphas. In 2008, 270 of them. In 2009, a similar number. The school sports nickname is “the Rockets”, BTW (as is the high school next door whose fields were used).

Anyway, since all students in the class built models, then there were lots of girls who built and flew models. Some were very unusual in decoration. Including sequins, or jewels, and one had a Superman type cape (really). I took lots and lots of pics, and other club members took some as well. So, check out the 2008 and 2009 photos to see examples. I think I did a better job with photos of who flew what and some close-ups of unique ones in 2008 than I did in 2009, and if you only picked one set to see, I’d suggest 2008. But both sets are interesting.

https://birminghamrocketboys.com/BRBGallery/main.php?g2_itemId=28879

https://birminghamrocketboys.com/BRBGallery/main.php?g2_itemId=127402

- George Gassaway

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George, are there any Birmingham Rocket Girls?

MarkII
Yes, several. You see Verna DeArman on here a lot, wife of Randy. She does plenty of her own rocket stuff (Verna was at both of the Bragg Middle School launches I linked to above. I think Verna appears in more pics of the second set, 2009, than 2008 , as she was stuck helping to fix troubled rockets in 2008).

We have Suzy Kraft who got her level-1 in June. Eileen McCoy, who had at least a Level-1 cert, has graduated college (Univ. of Alabama in Tuscaloosa) recently and moved on.

There is Carol Witherspoon, wife of BRB co-founder Ron Witherspoon, who builds and flies. Plus several others who are wives of club members but do not necessarily fly but help out.

There are also some families we have had join which include girl fliers as well.

I hope Verna jumps in here to cover what I’ve missed.

The name Birmingham Rocket Boys was inspired by Homer Hickam’s book: “The Rocket Boys”, which became the movie “October Sky”. Homer is an honorary member of BRB, and wrote an article about BRB co-founder Ron Witherspoon which ran in Parade Magazine sometime around January 2007.

- George Gassaway
 
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The name Birmingham Rocket Boys was inspired by Homer Hickam’s book: “The Rocket Boys”, which became the movie “October Sky”. Homer is an honorary member of BRB, and wrote an article about BRB co-founder Ron Witherspoon which ran in Parade Magazine sometime around January 2007.

- George Gassaway
One of the very best movies ever.

I have made Verna's acquaintance on TRF already and I have visited her web page. She builds and flies some awesome stuff.

MarkII
 
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Female rocketeers : Male Rocketeers

I was just wondering what the percentages are; male vs female, within the hobby.

Does anyone know?

I would say for adult women it's about 25%, with less than 10% being level 1 or higher.

Judging from what I've seen at our club's outreach events and launches it's about 50% female from age 6 -16, of those who participate in the hobby. We have a good number of girls who fly with their dads regularly.

There seems to be a huge fall off for boys and girls about age 16 as teenagers become mobile and begin to date and get their first job.

On TRF the number of women, at least that post, is very small.

The girls do tend to build "girlie" rockets as far as colors and decorating goes but I have to say we all enjoy seeing what they come up with. As George said, take a look at the BRB website and you will be amazed at the decorations.

In the past wRandy and I have built rockets that we hoped would spark a young person's interest and imagination. Of course, my version of a "Dorothy" type rocket is a little more complex than most kids would attempt, being 6 engines clustered and staged with 3 payload bays and carrying movie action figures but if you are going to get a young person's attention today it takes something like that to do it.

I believe in 3-5 years there will be as many girls and women flying as there are boys and men on the low - mid power level but women like Dr. Sue and Sheri are still a rarity. They are true craftsmen or is that craft-women? ;)

Verna
www.vernarockets.com
 
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