The concept behind the proposed Level 3 design is effectively the copy of a 3-inch minimum diameter rocket that I have used as a testbed for my Level 3 design as well as for my modular aluminum fin assembly.

To date this rocket has had two successful flights – once at Balls 33 up to 17,500′ doing 1.4M (setting a Group EX Altitude record) and recently at MisFITS to ~8,000′ doing 0.8M.

Motor proposals:

1) Long burn Aerotech M865W.

• Initial Open Rocket simulation predicts an altitude of 22,765′ at a conservative max velocity of 1.3M.

2) The alternative would be the Aerotech M1850W

• Simulation predicts an altitude of 22,983′ at a more aggressive max velocity of 2.03M

The only difference would be to stretch the sustainer tube by 7″ to accommodate the larger 75/ 7680 motor case.

Question relating to HPR Level 3 HPR Certification Requirements:

Section 2. Rocket Requirements:

The certification rocket must be substantially built by the certifying flyer. “Substantially built” will be defined, as a minimum, as:

• Fabrication of the engine mount with centering rings (if applicable)
• Alignment and mounting of the individual fins (prefabricated fin canisters are specifically disallowed)
• Installation of attachment points for the recovery system
• Mounting and installation of airframe electronics
• Final flight preparations including pyrotechnics installation, recovery system packing, motor assembly (as required) and motor installation

Question: The proposal for this design is to use my modular aluminum fin assembly that I will “substantially build” myself – this is not a purchased fin canister. Will this be allowed in the context of this NAR guidance?

The reality is that I can and know how to laminate fins onto a min-diameter airframe and do the vacuum bag lamination. Making this aluminum assembly is orders of magnitude more complex than a standard lamination process. So when it comes to demonstrating engineering and technical skills then I would argue that this modular assembly will truly showcase my skills.

Other core design features:

• Electronics: 2 x Featherweight Blue Raven flight computers
• Tracking: Featherweight GPS
• Chute Deployment using fully redundant Tinder Rocketry Sparrow CO2 systems – 2 charges for apogee deployment and 2 charges for main deployment.

These systems have been and refined during last flights.