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Academy of Model Aeronautics Government Advocacy Coalition - Airplanes and Rockets

RF Electronics Shapes, Stencils for Office, Visio by RF Cafe

Estes Alpha Rocket

Philip Blattenberger preparing launching his Estes Alpha model rocket - Airplanes and Rockets

My son, Philip, preparing to launch his Estes Alpha model rocket. 

Alpha II rocket built by Christian H. & son - Airplanes and Rockets

Estes Alpha rocket kit for sale - Airplanes and Rockets

Website visitor Chris H. for buying my Alpha II rocket kit. He and his son built it and sent this photo - nice job! The original kit, as can be seen in the photos below, had balsa fins and nose cone. The fins were cut from sheet balsa and needed to be glued individually to the body tube. Then, both the nose cone and fins needed to be coated with filler and sanded before painting. I wonder whether the new model, which uses lightweight plastic and does not require painting, is lighter than the original?

Like just about everybody else who flies model rockets - at least back in the last century - I began my model rocketeering adventure by building and flying an Estes Alpha model rocket. It carried the "Astron" label at the time. When it came time to introduce my son, Philip, and daughter, Sally, to model rocketry, an Alpha was the natural choice. The photo to the left was taken in our yard in Smithsburg, Maryland, sometime around 1992. As you can tell by the angle of the launch pad (custom-built), the winds were rather high that day. We managed a lot of good launches with that Alpha. I'm not sure what happened to it; maybe one of the kids has it now.

 

Esteas Alpha rocket kit (front) - Airplanes and Rockets    Estea Alpha Model Rocket Kit (back) - Airplanes and Rockets

Estes Alpha Model Rocket Kit (front & back)


Estes 1971 Model Rocketry Catalog - Pages 16 & 17 - Airplanes and RocketsPages 16 and 17 from the 1971 Estes Model Rocketry Catalog are shown to the right.

Specifications:

Price = $1.50

Length = 12.25" (31.1 cm)

Body Diameter = 0.976" (24.8 cm)

Weight = 0.8 oz. (23 grams)

Here is the Estes Astron Alpha model rocket kit that I purchased on eBay. I specifically wanted one of the original kits that does not have plastic fins and nose cone.

Estes Avenger building instructions Building Instructions

 

Here is a list of my other rocket models

Model Aircraft Museum, AMA - Airplanes and Rockets

RF Cascade Workbook 2018 by RF Cafe

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics

Tower Hobbies logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Tower Hobbies

Horizon Hobby logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Horizon Hobby

Sig Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Sig Mfg

Brodak Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Brodak Mfg