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 How long have you been into Sport
Rocketry?
"Became a BAR in late 1997. Got started as a kid back in 1969, built and flew
until around 1976 during high school when cars/girls/parties etc. became more a priority. It didn't take me long to go
from kits to scratch-building back then. At that time I knew about the NAR but didn't/couldn't make contact with any
clubs. Flying was almost exclusively with a few friends and often by myself. "- 2/01
What attracted to rocketry as a hobby?
"I always was interested in space and aeronautics. I also liked to build things
so it was a natural fit. I guess the same still holds true as to what got me back into rocketry. Unfortunately our
space program has not advanced to the point we thought it would back then."
What organizations are you a member of?
"I'm NAR #72312 and was recently elected president and am the newsletter editor
for NAR section 500, The Southwest Michigan Association of Space-modeling Hobbyists (SMASH). I am also a founding member of the IAR (Independent Association
of rocketry)."
What level are you certified to?
"I am NAR level 1."
What is your all time favorite rocket?
"Now that's a hard one. I never really had a favorite kit, though I always
thought the Estes Interceptor was always pretty cool. Right now my favorite in my fleet is a toss up between my
Blue Blade X3 and my LOFT projects. I'll dig
out the pics on the LOFT. It used to be used by Tim@Apogee as a freebie plan. I also up-scaled it from BT50 to BT60
size. "
Tell me an interesting rocket related experience?
"Well, our section held the first "official" NAR F/F Sport Scale
event at our spring 1999 contest. I placed 2nd with a Friede rocket from the German 1930's Fritz Lang film "Woman
in the Moon". I "kit-bashed" it from a Fat Boy.
A few of our section members volunteered to be judges/helpers for the US
Aerospace Challenge last spring. At the judging they had a guest astronaut come in to speak to the students. It turned
out to be Story Musgrave (sp). That was a nice surprise."
Anything else you would like people to know?
"Like what??? Heck I don't know. I almost exclusively scratch build. I think I
have maybe 6 kits. Building your own designs is the appeal of rocketry for me."
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