I ASKED BRUCE KELLY straight up about the new Tripoli insurance program recently, and Bruce was kind enough to agree to do an interview, for the benefit of everyone it affected. Here now is the contents of that discussion:

Flying high power rockets safely means also spending some thoughts on a state-of-the-art recovery system. The introduction of electronic altimeters and timers has brought a big improvement but also some new problems: The relatively low output current of most devices asks for a low current igniter.

The Missile Works WRC² Wireless Recovery Controller is a sophisticated, radio operated, two channel event activation device for high power rocketry. The WRC² is most often used as a backup recovery deployment device. Other uses for the WRC² would include primary recovery deployment, ignition of clustered motors or second stage motor, operation of photographic equipment, or activation of a tracking agent or sound. The use of radio control in high power rocketry is not new; what is new is the advanced design and reliability of the WRC².

PUBLIC ATTITUDE: Rocketry = crazy people using explosives and creating a public hazard. Many rocketeers' attitude: those who make propellant = crazy people using explosives and creating a public hazard.  Neither attitude is true. Both are based on misconceptions. Both may be modified by education. I am disturbed that some portion of the model rocketry community appears to want to educate the public about model rocketry, gets angry when the public doesn't understand, but refuses to educate itself about amateur rocketry.

I GUESS this is sort of a hybrid post; I'm mating an opinion with a question.

I remember, back in the 'sixties, when model rocketry opened all sorts of fascinating possibilities to my callow little imagination. It seemed to charge off in so many different directions. There were 3FNC rockets, sure. But there were so many other things; all manner of boost gliders, fantastic exotic models, helicopter-recovered rockets, parallel-staged rockets. You name it, and some club had it refined unto the third generation.

With the Winter building season in full swing for most rocketeers across North America, this is the time of sawdust, sandpaper and epoxied fingertips. Tucked away in basements, garages and spare bedrooms, rocketry enthusiasts are busy preparing and/or repairing their fleet for the first touch of green that signals the Spring flying season is officially back open.

Many rocketeers are using altimeters for recovery system control. Some are also watching their rocket whistle down from apogee to go splat. What went wrong? The answer could be one or more of a number of possibilities. This article lists ways to prevent problems, describes possible failures and troubleshooting steps for when trouble pays a visit. Many of the recommendations also apply to accelerometer and timer recovery control systems.

When I found out about high power rocketry, I decided to build some of the rockets that had made such an impression on me as a kid, when getting to orbit was still a fantasy. My first non-kit high power rocket was a 1/8 scale Viking 7.