I am your typical "BAR" or Born-again
Rocketeer. I flew Estes rockets as a kid but like most, at about age 14 or 15 I discovered girls and cars and left rocketry for a while.
I didn't get back into rocketry big time until the Spring of 2003 although I did build and fly a few hobby level rockets with my children
as they were growing up. Like most things I get into I was a bit obsessive about rocketry and accomplished my Level 1 cert with a PML IO in
March of 2003, my Level 2 cert on the scratch built Silver Bullet in June of 2003, and finally my Level 3
cert with my 6:1 upscale of the famous Estes Fat Boy in October of 2003. Some will argue I didn't take enough
time along the way yet that is just the way that I am.
I have found rocketry to be a great family hobby.
You can get into it at any level and with any size checkbook. An entrty level hobby kit isn't going to break anybody's bank and, on the
other end, if you have big piles of cash sitting around you that you don't know what to do with you can spend it rapidly on a Level 3 AP
monster. You decide, well you and whatever significant other shares your checkbook.
Speaking of significant others I could not have asked for a better one. Certinly pleasant on the eye but also willing to put up with me and my never ending projects. She is the social compliment of our team, packing hot chocolate and cookies for the December launch while I am trying to figure out a way to launch a plastic Santa Claus. The Lord has indeed blessed me with a wonderful lady whom I hope you get a chance to meet. One note: we use the 50% rule when it comes to hobbies (If I spend a dollar on rocketry then she gets a dollar to spend on whatever she wants). So my level 2 costs me a Chihuahua and my Level 3 cost me a leather sofa. Inevitably it means that everything costs me twice as much but it keeps the boss happy. My father taught me long ago that a happy wife does not guarantee a happy husband but an unhappy wife; well, you prabably know how much fun that is.
My son is at that place that I was when I left rocketry although when I was his age my father was not involved. He still helps out with
building and builds his own occasionally. He attends most of the rocketry events as long as his girl friend can go along. My daughter doesn't
mind helping out either especially if there is a big job at home like fiberglassing a piece of congrete form tube or making a bunch of fins
with the Foodsaver.
Anyway, I hope you find my website useful and fun to visit. I will keep it updated as I can and if you let me know I can add links to other sites or fix links that aren't working properly. Take time to enjoy rocketry, there are so many different ways to enjoy the hobbies. You can enjoy building them, flying them, you can get into electronics or motor building, whatever lights your fire!