# Model Rockets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982 "2006-05-01T18:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/21 "2006-05-01T20:33:55Z")
Oh, one regulation they really care about – don’t launch these things near any airports – big or small. The FAA gets really irritated about rockets intruding into airspace. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/22 "2006-05-01T21:39:45Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Never heard of this. Might be a local California thing where fires start if you think warm thoughts. We needed a permit launching rockets in eastern MA back in the 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/23 "2006-05-02T00:36:42Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > We needed a permit launching rockets in eastern MA back in the 70’s. Thta’s exactly where I launched them as a kid. Should have, but didn’t, realize the law might not be so widespread. My bad. Check your local fire department. As I recall, they readily gave them out, but you could only launch in specific areas, namely large fields where thy wer less likely to come down on houses. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/24 "2006-05-02T01:24:47Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Oh, one regulation they really care about – don’t launch these things near any airports – big or small. The FAA gets really irritated about rockets intruding into airspace. Can you imagine being the controller and seeing a fast moving trail heading _up_ just as the American Airlines heavy is on final approach? Betcha excitement would ensue. Not in any kind of good way. Anyway, model rocketry is fun. I’ve chased a few down with my son. Funny how even a light breeze will end up causing a cross-country hike to the recovery zone. ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/25 "2006-05-02T01:33:59Z")
I once launched a rocket without the lauchpad just for fun. You know that scene from October Sky where the model rocket goes whizzing by their heads? - kinda like that. Alway launch use the 1 to 2 foot rod of the lauchpad!!! ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/26 "2006-05-02T06:13:33Z")
Here’s [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=321150&highlight=rocketry) that we started last year on rocketry as well. Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@Buck\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/27 "2006-05-02T07:30:26Z")
Model rockets wow are kids even interested in that anymore? Check this out, I had a junior high class for rocket building, nothing else. Back in the 1960’s we sent everthing from mice up in payloads, had distance contests where thousands of people competed, [made pipe bombs from the engines- cough cough-sorry no more info there], rocket clubs. Fond memorys, those were the days… ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/28 "2006-05-02T12:23:02Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Be sure to remove the safety key. AAAAAAAGGGGHHH!!! Now I’ve been earwormed with those old high school shop class safety films! " \*\*_NEVER_ leve the key in the chuck! \*\* " followed by some image of a horrible shop injury :smack: ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/29 "2006-05-02T19:06:21Z")
> [@Buck Rogers](#): > > Model rockets wow are kids even interested in that anymore? I don’t know about kids being interested in it anymore. It’s the Dads that are into it now. The kids are just underfoot at the big launches, and at some, are strictly not invited. It has evolved into a very expensive adult hobby. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/30 "2006-05-02T19:26:35Z")
> [@Buck Rogers](#): > > Model rockets wow are kids even interested in that anymore? Look at the links in this [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6273750&postcount=53) from last year…It’s gotten quite BIG. ---
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982/31 "2006-05-03T19:12:04Z")
Thanks everyone! I don’t know a whole lot more yet but I followed through some of the links that some people gave, and found some members of a local rocket group and e-mailed them to see if they are able to help. I haven’t heard back yet but let’s hope! I found some better sites for basic launch info, but I think that since I just went to a very generic hobby store that the reason I didn’t get all of the right equipment because they don’t carry it. For example, yes I only bought launch rods, not a launcher… I was wondering about just what those two little metal sticks were for… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/model-rockets/354982.md?page=1)