
7
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. RECOMMENDED MOTORS: Only use AEROTECH composite model
rocket motors when flying your AEROTECH rocket. See enclosed chart
for recommended motors and projected altitudes.
No warranty either expressed or implied is made regarding AEROTECH products,
except for replacement or repair, at AEROTECH’s option, of those products which are
proventobedefectiveinmanufacturewithinoneyearfromthedateoforiginalpurchase.
For repair or replacement under this warranty, please contact AEROTECH. Proof of
purchase will be required. Note: Your state may provide additional rights not covered
by this warranty.
NOTICE: AEROTECH certifies that it has exercised reasonable care in the design and
manufacture of its products. As we cannot control the storage and use of our products,
once sold we cannot assume any responsibility for product storage, transportation or
usage. AEROTECH shall not be held responsible for any personal injury or property
damageresultingfrom the handling, storage or use of our product. The buyer assumes
all risks and liabilities therefrom and accepts and uses AEROTECH products on these
conditions.
AeroTech, Inc.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
www.aerotech-rocketry.com Made in U.S.A.
©1999 AeroTech, Inc., All rights reserved.
2. RECOVERY SYSTEM PREPARATION: Roll the parachute and shroud
linesfortheupperbodyassembly. Startfromthecanopypeakandrollthis
parachuteandshroudlinesintoatightcylinderthatwilleasilyslideintothe
lower body tube/fin unit. Place this parachute into the lower body tube
followed by the shock cord. Roll the parachute and shroud lines for the
lowerbodytube/finunit. Startfromthecanopypeakandrollthisparachute
and shroud lines into a loose cylinder. Pack the lower body assembly
parachute on top of the upper body parachute and shock cord previously
installed in the rocket. Pack the lower body shock cord on top of this
parachute. Insertthe remaining shock cord length into thebody tube and
insert the coupler tube for the upper body assembly. Make sure that the
parachutes, shroud lines and shock cords are not caught between the
bodytube and the shoulderof the upper bodyassembly. The upper body
unitshouldslidefreely.(NOTE: BecauseyourAEROTECHrockethasthe
LABYRINTH™ ejection gas cooling system, no recovery wadding is
required.)
3. MOTOR PREPARATION: The motors recommended for your AERO-
TECH rocket vary in physical size as well as performance. Your rocket
comeswith a changeablemotor adaptor andspacer tubes thatpermit the
rocket to use each of the recommended motors without permanent
modification to the rocket.
Prepare your AEROTECH rocket motor according to the instructions that
come with the motor. Be sure the motor hook snaps in behind the nozzle
end of the motor and holds the motor securely in place. If the motor hook
does not hold the motor in place, bend the end of the hook until it does.
4. PRE-LAUNCH CHECKOUT: Before EVERY flight, perform a complete
pre-launch checkout of your rocket;
• Check that all fins and launch lugs are mounted securely and not
damaged.
• Examine the body tube, nose cone and payload bay to make sure
they are free of damage.
• Check that the shock cord is securely mounted to the ejection gas
baffle and nose cone (or payload bay bulkhead).
• Check that the parachute is securely tied to the shock cord.
• Check that the shock cord and parachute are free of any damage.
• See that the nose cone (or payload bay), packed parachute and
shock cord move freely. After awhile, an ejection charge residue
may build up at the top inside surface of the body tube. Wipe this
residue away with isopropyl ("rubbing") alcohol.
• With the tail of the rocket pointed down and the motor tube empty,
shake the rocket to remove any loose ejection charge debris left
from a previous flight. Periodically, fluff up the cooling mesh using
a bent wire inserted through the back end of the motor tube.
• Be certain the motor to be used is a recommended AEROTECH
model rocket motor and of a size appropriate for the launch area.
• Be sure the motor hook, motor adaptor and motor tube are not
damaged and hold the motor securely in place.
If the pre-launch checkout reveals any damage, repair the damage
before the rocket is flown again.
7. LAUNCH AREA: Launch the rocket in a cleared outdoor area free of tall
trees,powerlines andbuildings. Theside dimensionsofthe clearedarea
should be at least one half of the projected altitude. An area for a radius
ofatleast5feet(1.5meters)fromthelaunchershouldbeclearofdrygrass
orotherflammablesubstances. ReadandfollowtheModelRocketSafety
Code of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and comply with all
federal, state and local laws in all activities with model rockets. A copy of
the NAR safety code is shown on the instructions that come with all
AEROTECH composite model rocket motors.
8. FLIGHT PROFILE: When the launch button of the electrical launch
controller is pressed, an electrical current causes the AEROTECH COP-
PERHEAD™ single lead igniter to ignite the composite propellant of the
AEROTECHrocketmotor. Themotorquicklybuildsupthrust andpowers
your AEROTECH rocket into the air. During powered flight the rocket
increasesinspeedandaltitude. When thepropellantburnsouttherocket
is moving at maximum velocity and a time delay material (delay grain)
inside the motor burns. While the delay grain burns the rocket coasts to
peak altitude at which point the delay grain ignites the ejection charge
within the forward part of the motor. The ignition of the ejection charge
creates a burst of hot expanding gas which is cooled by the permanent
metal mesh of the LABYRINTH™ ejection gas cooling system. The
cooled gas flows around the baffle, pressurizes the parachute bay and
ejectsthenosecone(orpayloadbay)andparachute. Theparachutethen
deploys and gently returns the rocket to the ground where the rocket can
be prepared for another flight.
9. TRANSPORT AND STORAGE: To avoid damage to your AEROTECH
rocketduringtransport,pack itinabox surroundedbysoft packing. Store
your rocket at room temperature.
5. LAUNCHPAD: YourAEROTECHrocketmustbeflownfromalaunchpad
with a 1/4"(6.4mm) diameter metal launch rod at least 36"(0.9m) long (as
measured from the top of the blast deflector), such as the AEROTECH
MANTIS™ model rocket launch pad.
6. MOTOR IGNITION: Only launch your rocket using a remotely controlled
and electrically operated launch controller such as the AEROTECH®
INTERLOCK™ model rocket launch controller. Keep yourself and all
other people at least 30 feet (10 meters) away from the rocket during
launch.
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