Road to L3: Getting my Level 3 High Power Rocketry Certification

Rocketry has been a huge passion of mine since I was a little kid. It sparked a love for science and set me on a path toward Stanford. In spring of 2023, I worked on my L3 project, a culmination of the experience I had built up over the years. Thanks to everyone who helped along the way!
If you want to get into amatuer rocketry, visit www.nar.org/ or www.tripoli.org/content.aspx?... for information about local clubs, high power certifications, and how to get started!

[@spgallo]

I recognized the rocket from Dairy Air when it hit my feed. Cool to hear the story behind the rocket and the rocketeer. Congratulations on your L3!

[@michaelbozung1794]

Oh wow this is so awesome! I started with Estes too in 1990 when I was 7! Just got back into rocketry and earned my L1 finally and going for the L2 next spring! Its so cool you got to keep with the hobby, I can only think how far I would ne now. Very cool story!

[@brendan98ful]

I love the use of Freedom of the Hills in the construction haha. It definitely helped. Also your switch tool.. perfect!

[@CarlMarvin]

Flawlessly executed. Beautiful rocket too! Congrats!

[@Samvip00]

Awesome stuff. I had a very similar childhood as you and I’m flying my L3 next month!

[@thomasking4136]

Congrats. It really is rocket science.

[@sed6]

I'm building a rocket right now and wish I had the additional patience required to film it and edit it and post it to my channel! Great video, subbed!

[@reuvengruber7139]

I'm just starting planning for my Level 3 certification and your video was very valuable education for me I've chosen the same switches but had planned to mount them on the sled and access them thru holes in the switch ring Your installation is much better and very cool Can you provide me with some details on how you did it

[@wayneschenk5512]

Nice.

[@pathtouch1]

Congrats man, looks like a Wildman or Drago kit? I’m gonna start a similar build this winter but opting for 4 fins.

[@larsjansen4245]

Do you have any tips/resources that you can share on the design of the fins? I'm currently designing them for a large student rocket out of a carbon fiber sandwich panel. Aeroelastic flutter is the most challenging since the simplified flutter criterion from NACA is questionable for higher supersonic flight and non-isotropic materials. Aerodynamic heating is also a challenge.

[@RobbieVoy]

Neat stuff. A question, when you are sanding the angle on the top of the fins, how do you know they are correctly centered to keep the flight on the right trajectory?

[@ROVA00]

You will want to make a jig that ensures that you’re sanding one edge at the same angle as the opposite edge.

[@surah5748]

How much km Distance traveled??

[@thepilotfabio]

Getting in the HPR now as well and have been looking for options for parts..Where did you source out your material?

[@AdventuresToTheMax]

I usually use LOC for most of my builds and Wildman for high performance builds

[@thepilotfabio]

Thank you!@@AdventuresToTheMax

[@doccls]

Take a careful view of the in-flight video ~17 min in, looking for fin flutter.

[@jackspeer2127]

very nice presentation. question.....if the rocket body goes into a fast rotation about its vertical axis at launch, your video shows that as it climbs the rotation slows down. why?

[@sebdapleb1523]

wait timestamp?

[@cricket4679]

Can I contact you for mentor at Spaceport America cup?

[@crooked-halo]

What authority "allows" one to use certain powers of rocket engines?

[@AdventuresToTheMax]

The official rules are stated in NFPA 1127 and FAA Part 101. The governing bodies of amateur rocketry (who sponsor rocket launches) are NAR and Tripoli. Basically- vendors will not sell motors and clubs won’t let people fly at their launches without proof of a cert.

[@crooked-halo]

@@AdventuresToTheMax Great! Thanks! I'm coming from a curiosity/learning perspective, not a rebellious/I'm going to find a way around this. I will soon join high power rocketry & am teaching myself a few things. The FAA, huh? I'm an A&P mechanic & commercial pilot & had no idea the FAA had regs pertaining to rocketry, except when waivers and clearances are needed for launches & related oversight.

[@kenboisvert7154]

You need a little astronaut mouse for your rocket....make him a little suit with a helmet🐭 and launch him!