"A Beginner's Guide To American High Power Rocketry"

Copyright 2004 by Brian FitzGerald - Wichita, Kansas.
"A Beginner's Guide to American Amateur High Power Rocketry" is 2 hours and 29 minutes long and was FitzGerald's first release to DVD. It was also his first movie shot on a digital tape format.
Like his other productions, "ABGTAAHPR" consists of a series of "in depth" interviews with Rocketeers interspersed with music segments. During these interviews you will hear and see "first hand" what the sport is like from people with the Rocket Passion.
Although there are some professionals in the sport of amateur rocketry - mostly on the manufacturing and retail side - all the interviews in this movie are of 'regular folks'. But as you will find out - Rocket People are not your "Average Joes". You cannot fit them in one bag - except the one labeled "I Love Rockets!".
"A Beginner's Guide to American Amateur High Power Rocketry" was shot over about a 6 month period. During this time two trips were made to cover two different Rocket events at the Argonia, Kansas site and one trip to Amarillo, Texas to cover an event there. The editing took far longer than normal complicated by the fact that FitzGerald decided mid-way through the project to release "Rocketeers" on DVD. His first full length DVD release, he a number of hurdles conspired to push back the release of the project. The Project took 3 years to finish.

[@robertlathe2165]

I was doing this, on a much larger scale, in the early 60's. All metal, no plastics. Ni Chrome Moly steel tubing machined nozzles, hand-made electronics, hand formulated propulsive charges. Three stages, 1st stage consisted of 8 chambers, 2nd stage was 4 chambers, 3rd stage 1 chamber. Achieved 65, 250 ft altitude. Verified by radar.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

That is very impressive. The highest shot I saw while making the movie was 27,000 feet and he got there so fast it was amazing.

[@rickcoona]

the launch pad assembly sequence was nausiating! bad time to play with editing effects! otherwise a great video

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Yikes!

[@jsgraham67]

I am a long time member of Tripoli and Level 3 certified. I have had the privilege of flying with every person in this video. Pat Gordzelik was one the TAP members for my L-3 certification flight. Like the video says, "You won't find better people than at a rocket launch." Great work on creating this video. I was at the launch where Neil flew the Spirit In The Sky rocket. I made my Level 1 flight that day. That was May 2001. Good times.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Thanks! I put a lot of time into that project. That's a great bunch of folks.

[@platoman214]

Thanks to all who participated in the making of this film. I was an amateur rocketeer as a young teenager and now that I'm retired, I'm considering returning to the hobby.

[@jasonsmith6408]

13:50 another reason to get an RV!I bought a cheap 1982Ford Class C for $1800. Everything works in it. Also could use a a transport for equipment and rockets

[@billbrett365]

Great video.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Thanks!

[@johnmesic254]

Hey man aren't you the sky Surfer?

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Yes, I am! kzbin.info

[@johnmesic254]

I love the "Harper Run". .. Im slowly working on my spl. Soon i will have my own journeys!! Thanks for your great videos.. I especially like the "retro" ultralight vids!.. Clear Skies and God's Speed!! J

[@TheGreenTucan]

im utah amateur just started last week and im already hooked! i hope to get my level 1 cert soon any advise would help

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Dear Tucan, Good luck on your quest! About everything I can tell you is in the movie. I suggest you contact the Texas group or the group in Kansas and make plans to attend one of the launches I show in the movie. There are also groups in California. As far as Utah, I don't know. Blue Skies & Tailwinds! Brian FitzGerald

[@bradmauderer1055]

sport??? that's not really an accurate description

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Brad Mauderer What word would you suggest?

[@jmar1371]

+Brian FitzGerald Hobby.

[@dominicgordon7268]

It's a sport. There are teams. There are competitions. Definitely sounds like a sport to me.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Check it out. From the dictionary: sport noun Simple Definition of sport : a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other : sports in general : a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment

[@rapid13]

By that definition...not a sport. Any more than RC racing is a sport.

[@johnh2055]

Very well done documentary of a really fun sport & hobby. Great job.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

John H Thanks, John. I'm glad you liked it. Please refer it to others.

[@jamato2004]

Super explanation and interesting people telling about there hobby... i enjoyed it very much. Thank you for your effort put in making this film!!

[@zakariabahbaz5348]

I find It annoying that the closest rocket club to me is 3 and a half hours away. :( Guess I'm doing everything myself.

[@worldtravel101]

hmm what to do with those 5Z's in the back yard....

[@educationalporpoises9592]

Did you not vacuum the rocket fuel to remove air pockets? If this is a practice at your club, what is a good vacuum pump that you would recommend? I've heard anything that draws 29" of mercury

[@n5iln]

It is, in fact, rocket science... (seen on T-shirt)

[@jjbailey01]

I call it rocket surgery. Especially if you've ever rebuilt one after a recovery failure.

[@tristunalekzander5608]

So its legal for me to use G motors, what if I clustered a bunch together to make a bigger rocket? Is that still illegal?

[@grantwatson5665]

Tristun Alekzander yes unless you only use two OR are l1 certified

[@battano]

Checkout this wholesome rocketry video. Made back in the 90's before the US fell to shit.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Yes. It was a good experience. The Rocket Crowd are a cut above.

[@johnnyleewalker9872]

Rules ! LOL! Only one rule check for airplanes.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Out in Texas I saw one rocket go to 27,000' in mere seconds. The FAA announces a clear zone when these rocket people are launching but it is still smart to look up before firing.

[@SonoranAstro]

Oh man someone tell him about spacex 43:32

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

This was shot long before SpaceX xisted...

[@johnnyrocket5744]

What was the show on discovery called?

[@robertlathe2165]

LDRS=Large Dangerous Rocket Ships.

[@Wolfennar]

Very neat documentary. Definitely nice to see so many perspectives on the hobby. Though, rather misleading to call this a ''guide'', expected a lot more practical information to be presented.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

For that you need to join a club.

[@Roarmeister2]

Did that first guy get his Level 3 with that flight if the chute didn't fully open?

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

No. I don't think so.

[@heyycuteking]

Will you pls tell me the ratio of propellent

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

They are relatively secret about that. You have to join one of the clubs to find out.

[@riteshsoni2639]

@@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer hey I'm the above one with another 🆔 but sorry to say that I'm from India and there is no 🚀 club.... My real name is TONISM CAN YOU TELL ME how much impulse is put by a sugar rocket carrying flexi fuel and 2 percent RIO.... It's 10 inche long and 40 mm in diameter...

[@riteshsoni2639]

@@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer should a motor be ignited from nozzle or from its top.... Which is best and why to use two different methods to ignite

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Sorry. I can't answer your questions other than what was in the movie. I just produced the movie. I have never built a rocket or mixed the fuel.

[@riteshsoni2639]

@@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer OK dude thanks for helping me

[@stevesidare2493]

Nice video! Informative and entertaining!

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Thank you!

[@machy8515]

Thank you for making this free sir.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

You are welcome. It took a lot of work. The bottom fell out of the DVD/BluRay market so I am posting my stuff on KZbin. I want people to see it. A good place to start is here: www.fitzvideo.com/

[@bradleyryancreative5112]

"This is a level 1 certification rocket... this is the rocket you certify with... you need to be certified to fly this"????? So you need a license to drive but cant get a license unless you drove but you can't drive unless you have a license??? Lmao. Dude was talking in circles

[@ej-1608]

That's how it works. To buy a high power motor you need to be certified. If you're attempting a certification, someone can buy it for you or you can buy a single one if you tell them that it is for an attempt.

[@DFX2KX]

He didn't explain it terribly well, yeah. It works similar to an instruction/lerner's permit, you may fly a level 1 without a certification so long as a member of an approved organization is supervising the prep/launch of that rocket. In practice, your first flight is *always* your cert flight, because if it goes well, you'll get signed off and be an official member. I can go and buy a LOC-IV kit and nobody will care. It's a level 1 rocket, I can buy a motor case for that rocket that also meets level 1 criteria as well. But the FAA won't clear me to fly it on my own (you can do this with a cert, but most folks launch at clubs anyway), and I can't go to a dealer and buy Ammonium Permanganate fuel canisters. If I want to fly it (which I would!), then I have to ask someone from the rocket association to supervise. They'll supervised the preparation, launch, and recovery, which *is* my level 1 certification if it goes well. The rocket must reach the altitude target I set, deploy it's chute, and land without sustaining damage that would prevent a second flight. If you do that, they'll sign you off. Level 2, they won't even sell you the kits until you've done the written half of things, and then the above rules apply. Level 3 is just level 2 without the test and strict equipment requirements because recovery has to be done very carefully for the safety of aircraft and whatnot.

[@ProChoiceJesus]

Are Tripoli certifications a thing within the confines of law? Federal law? In other words, if I decided to fly a certification-required motor size would I be breaking law?

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

ProChoiceJesus It is my understanding the law states you can only legally buy and use the certification required motors if you have been certified by one of the recognized clubs.

[@ProChoiceJesus]

Thanks.

[@jjbailey01]

I can't speak for the legality, but it is possible to build your own engines above certificate levels and fly them on your own outside of sanctioned events.

[@TheRebelmanone]

The thing is, you need to get it into space then there is really something to be impressed with in this modern day. Think outside the box, look at Elon with Space X, he never went to college and he helps design rockets that land themselves back on earth. Plus, you can shut the flat earth society up once and for all if you get a video of it leaving the ground flying to space and entering space. Or, you will be shutting me up if it hits a transparent dome or something, but trust me, i am not holding my breath for that, i don't believe flat earth by far.

[@colinburfeind6947]

Elon most certainly went to college, some great schools at that.

[@mechwarriorforever]

"cause its really hard to do, this is cardboard wrapped three times in fiberglass", sluper hard yo

[@nocod100]

Hey thanks for lending your opinion, but I might ask have you ever done the calculations for a 5 pound object traveling at 400 mph hitting a person ? To save you some time and to put it into terms you may understand, it will kill somebody, so while you may not think this is a big deal, one slip up putting fins on it no longer flies up, no instead it will spin and either destroy itself (making super fun shrapnel) or it just might head to the crowd. You never really know what it will do, also more with the higher power motors (I don't think you watched the whole video before lending your astute opinion) bulkheads are in place, and then you have timers and altimeters and not to mention small amounts of explosive charges to separate and deploy parachutes. Of course since you do seem to have a SUPER intellect I am sure you already know all of this...

[@southjerseysound7340]

nocod 100,great explanation but we both know this fool knows everything there is to know in life and wont listen to a thing you say.But then when something bad happens he'll blame it on never being told and how our sport is evil and should be outlawed because of its danger.

[@treelonmusk8324]

I understand why you have to get certified but I know many people who have built big rockets without any certification and they worked perfectly, just gotta have common sense in rocketry

[@RogerKeulen]

Looks more like fireworks than rocketry. At least give it some dynamic control surfaces to call it a rocket. The chinees did this already 2500 years ago....

[@aepceo1]

Dynamic control surfaces turn a rocket into a missile, mate.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

Justin Dixon Right, Justin. Roger has it backwards...

[@qqqqqqqqqq7488]

Roger Keulen Please do not perpetuate wrongfully.

[@jjbailey01]

Fireworks don't have a recovery system.