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Peak of Flight Newsletter #420:

Designing and Constructing Fins for Low-Powered Rockets

This article covers the selection of materials for fins, and how to arrange them use them on the fin for maximum strength. Fins should be constructed so that they can withstand the forces expected during flight. The materials and methods of construction determine how much force they can withstand. Small models do not need very strong fins, and simple cardboard or balsa fins will suffice. Large models and those intended to fly at extremely high velocities will need more strength.

This article was taken from the book: “Model Rocket Design and Construction.” This book is will give you all sorts of ideas and techniques for designing and building your own rocketry creations.

Read this week's article.

Previous issues of our newsletter are found at our archive page.

Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves!

Foam-Core Rings for TARC

These lightweight rings are featured in this week's newsletter issue. They are lightweight and extra thick to make them easy to glue into a paper transition section or a body tube. See our new items for a listing of all the sizes available.

Apogee Logo Decal

How much do you love Apogee? Put this white vinyl window decal on the back of your automobile and let the world know who feeds your passion for rocketry. Size is 6.5" X 3" (165mm X 76mm). Made in USA.

38mm Reloads - No HAZMAT Fee Required!

Aerotech has released two new 38mm high-power reload motor kits. The nifty thing about these is that they can be shipped without a HAZMAT fee. So you'll save big bucks. The motors are the H130W which fits the RMS 38/240 case and the I180W which goes with the RMS 38/360 reload casing. We have them in stock and ready to ship.

C amera Hood

This camera hood forms an aerodynamic shroud around your keychain video camera. It lowers the drag and helps protect the camera. Hoods are available to fit BT-60, BT-70, 2.6" (66mm), and 3.0" (75mm) diameter tubes. Made from lightweight vacuum formed plastic. It is paintable and can be moved from rocket to rocket so you can get video from different models. Other tube sizes will be available in the near future.

Patch Batch - Collection

The second sticker in the patch-batch collection honors the SR-72 Darkbird boost glider rocket kit. This was one of the first rockets that Apogee Components produced. We originally wanted to call the kit the SR-71, but Estes already had a kit by that name. Our kit is an actual glider rocket and looks really cool in flight. You'd almost swear you were looking at a real Blackbird when you see it flying. So we believe that our kit is better; in fact "one better." That's why we went from the SR-71 to the SR-72. It is "one better."

We call this collection of six vinyl stickers the Patch Batch. They look like patches, and there is a whole batch of them. When you collect all six, they can be arranged to look like a rocket as seen in the image on the page. Every two months we’ll release a new vinyl sticker. The sticker doesn't cost anything when you place a regular order! But you have to claim it by clicking the link above and adding it to your cart.

LAST CHANCE! The collection moves on to the next sticker on July 1st.

"Love ordering products and supplies from you - everything, including customer service, is always high quality and shows up at my door very quickly."

-- Todd Moyer

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Friday is "Feature Friday" - This is the one day where we pick a product and tell a little bit more about it. It may be when we started selling it, or some other little-known fact about the product.

Saturday is "Launch Day" - We're out to launch... and we'd love to see a great photo of an Apogee product from one of your personal launches!