White Lightning
Aerotech composite rocket motors are the most technically
advanced hobby rocket motors in the world. These motors use the
same solid propellant as America's space boosters.
Pound-for-pound, this propellant delivers nearly 3 times the
power of
black powder motors.
Aerotech motors are available in both single-use and reloadable
(RMS) types, with three different propellant variants.
Single Use Motors
Aerotech's single use motors are available through High Power
Rockets from E through to G total impulse. The motors are
24mm diameter for the E's with F and G being 29mm diameter. The High
Power RMS range from 29mm diameter on up to a 98mm
diameter. Each motor has a motor type which looks like this
example below:
F25-9W
Where: F - is the motors total impulse
classification letter (in Newton Seconds)
25 - is the average impulse of the motor (in Newton's)
9 - is the election charge delay from propellant burn-out (in
Seconds)
W - is the propellant type (W-White Lighting, B-Blue Thunder, J-
Black Jack)
Each motor is provided with an instruction sheet and a single use
Copperhead igniter.
RMS Motors/Systems and Reload kits
Instead of using single use motors, with Aerotech you may choose
to use the RMS (Reloadable Motor Systems) motor
systems.
To fly an Aerotech RMS motor requires two basic items, the RMS
Motor Hardware and an RMS Reload kit. The Motor
Hardware provides a casing to house the Motor Reload kit. Motor
Hardware is designed to be used again and again and as
such should only be purchased once. The Reload kits provide all
the items which are used only once per flight (such as
propellant) and so a new reload kit is purchased for every
flight. RMS enthusiasts not only have tremendous versatility at
their fingertips, but also the advantages of flight costs
approaching one-half the price of currently available
single-use motors.
RMS Motor Hardware
Each RMS Motor Hardware Kit is precision machined, anodized
aluminum consisting of three items, a forward closure, an aft
closure and a casing. The Motor Hardware is given a type, an
example of which is given below:
RMS-38/240
Where: 38 - is the diameter of the motor in mm (either 29, 38, 54
or 98)
240 - is the length of the motor given by the amount of
propellant it will hold (in Newton Seconds)
RMS Motor System
An RMS Motor System enables a range of RMS Motor sizes to be
assembled by providing several (2 or 3) motor casings of
different lengths along with a forward closure and an aft
closure. For example an RMS Motor System, RMS-38/240-480 has
three casings of 240, 360 and 480 Ns, a forward closure and an
aft closure so that a Motor may be assembled of 240, 360 or 480
Ns is length.
RMS Reload Kits
RMS Reload kits include the disposable items used for each flight
of the RMS Motor. Amongst the items included are:
Propellant grains
Delay Grain
Ejection Charge (Black Power)
Copperhead Igniter
Spacers, washers and O-rings
Instruction and data sheet
Reloading the RMS Motor is a simple process and takes only a
couple of minutes. Reloads are given a type code similar to
that of single use motors, for example:
H123W-S
Where: H - is the motors total impulse classification letter (in
Newton Seconds)
123 - is the average impulse of the motor (in Newton's)
W - is the propellant type (W-White Lighting, B-Blue Thunder, J-
Black Jack)
S - is the delay (S-Short, M-Medium, L-Long). The actual delay
depends on the RMS diameter but is typically 6
secs for Short, 10 for Medium and 14 for Long.
Propellant Types
Aerotech Motors are available in three different propellant
types, which vary in flame color, smoke color and sound
characteristics.
White Lightning
Probably the most popular choice of propellant. White Lighting
produces a brilliant white
flame, dense bright white exhaust and a throaty roar. Easy to
track, exciting to watch ! White
Lighting looks and sounds like actual sounding rockets and launch
vehicles. Special effects
professionals and aerospace companies specify the Aerotech White
Lightning propellant to
achieve realistic simulation.
Blue Thunder
Produces a bright violet-blue flame with a minimum of
exhaust smoke. These motors provide
a higher level of thrust the White Lightning or Black Jack motors
of the same total impulse.
Blue Thunder is the prefect propellant for the greatest lift-off
acceleration.
Black Jack
Provides the high visibility tracking of the dense black exhaust.
In addition to a distinctive lift-off
roar, Black Jack motors give your models lower acceleration and
longer powered flight than White Lightning or Blue Thunder motors
of the same total impulse.
Copyright © 1986-2003 Gold Coast Hobby. All rights reserved.