JACKSONVILLE, Texas USA — A belated loss has been discovered in the untimely death of Robert E. Ellis, owner of Ellis Mountain Rocket Works, a manufacturer of single use and reloadable model and high power rocket motors.  Ellis died on December the 4th after complications from an accident.

Ellis grew up in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia before returning to the United States in 1967 to attend high school.  After graduation, Ellis joined the United States Navy, where he served 25 years and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.  After retirement from the Navy, Ellis returned to Jacksonville, Texas and started his business developing and building low-cost rocket motors for the model rocketry community.

Robert Ellis died on December 4, 2007, of complications arising from a paragliding accident in Utah. Ellis had suffered a broken leg in a paragliding accident after he crashed on the west side of Monroe Mountain in the south-central portion of the state on November 17th of last year. Sevier County (Utah) Search and Rescue responded and transported Ellis off the mountain, where he was later transported by ambulance to Sevier Valley Hospital. A blood clot formed from the injury, which ultimately took Ellis' life. Ellis is survived by his mother, Lawanda L. Ellis of Jacksonville, Texas; and younger brothers James Russell of Rusk, Texas, and Reed of Dallas, Texas.

Ellis was noted for his long-burning motors and for helping buoy the hobby after a fire destroyed the AeroTech manufacturing facilities in October of 2001.  In early 2002, Ellis began manufacturing the more popular AeroTech motors and continued production at his Texas facility until the new AeroTech facility in Cedar City, Utah was able to take over.

01-15-2008 03:30 PM  #1
Steve_Shannon Will fly beer for rockets   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1657	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Rest in Peace. My sympathy to his brothers and mother.

01-15-2008 03:35 PM  #2
Garoq New Member   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident The sympathies and condolences of the entire RCS/AeroTech family go out to Mrs. Ellis, his brothers and the rest of the Ellis family.

01-15-2008 04:47 PM  #3
QuickBurst Certified Level Three TRA   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 45	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Robert was a good friend. He will be missed.

01-15-2008 07:53 PM  #4
Rocketthon TRA L3 TMT   Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 6	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident We have now lost two of our Texas flyers and rocketeers to the same complex problem. Tom Lanier, who died several years ago of the same broken leg to blood clot, and now Bob. I remember sitting around at many launches and chatting under his canopy, everyone was always welcome. I hope the score in Texas is high enough and we can fly rockets without anyone else being added to the list. Let us also not forget the Rocketbabe Beth Sapp who graced many launches at the same time as Bob. Tom Lanier's signature on my three part form will remain a reminder of those who helped pioneer this hobby.

01-15-2008 08:44 PM  #5
porthos Certified Level One   Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 19	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Godspeed Robert.

01-15-2008 09:04 PM  #6
H_rocket Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 262	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Without Rob's fine motors, I would probably have stayed with low power a bunch longer than I did. My L1 was on the H50, a wonderful motor for the time. Also being addicted to his 24mm G's and the beloved G-20, things will not be the same. I never met Rob in any form, however I will miss someone who filled such a need. Rest in peace

01-15-2008 09:20 PM  #7
tbrogan Certified Level Two   Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 85	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident You will be missed. Our condolences to the Ellis family. Rest in Peace, Tom & Maggie Brogan

01-15-2008 09:22 PM  #8
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2146	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Quote: ...the beloved G-20... Many a future G Alt record may be at risk here.

01-15-2008 10:39 PM  #9
2112 New Member   Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 7	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Very very sad story. Robert served our country for 25 years, then served our hobby well. My daughter just set a record using a G20-3...one of the most beautiful flights I have ever seen...it just kept burning and burning...I will never forget it. That flight was a testament to the genius of this man. Godspeed Robert....you will be missed by all.

01-15-2008 11:05 PM  #10
H_rocket Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 262	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Does anybody know if the Ellis family has any plans to continue the business?

01-16-2008 12:50 AM  #11
denverdoc Rana sapiens   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1738	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident I am stunned and saddened by this news: I never met Bob but corresponded on several occasions, and felt he epitomized the real spirit of the hobby--a one man show who bucked convention and the odds to do his thing, all the while managing to stay out of the fray even when his products were unjustly criticized time after time cuz he had a bad lot of some E's way back when. His spirit was kindred to mine in at least one way--making those long slow motors altitude junkies die for, and always a head turner when they just kept on burning. Its one thing to defy gravity for a couple of seconds--so much more satisfying when that chalk line to heaven under power kept on getting longer. Bob understood that, I loved him for it, and begged other motor manufacturers to get that the hobby is so much more than just sport flying some brick shithouse kit. As a physician, I hate to hear about these kinds of deaths that arise from complications--meaning of course if we were smarter could've been prevented. I doubt that anyone in the family could carry on the biz, but would sure love to see one of the major motor makers do us all a favor and carry on as Bob would like it--some long burning Gs thru J's.

01-16-2008 10:13 AM  #12
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 570	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident My understanding of Ellis motors is he achieved long burns from low burning rate propellants not by endburning or moonburning grain geometries. Comment? Jerry

01-16-2008 10:27 AM  #13
UncleVanya   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1469	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident I spoke with Bob a few times on the phone and in email. He seemed to be very nice - I know that's a bit vague but I did not know him well. I'm disturbed by the fact that my first reaction was - Oh no! Where will I get my G-20's now? I'm going to hang my head in shame for a little while... This is a sad occasion for Bob's family and for Rocketry.

01-16-2008 11:27 AM  #14
jsdemar NAR/TRA L3   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 293	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident Quote: My understanding of Ellis motors is he achieved long burns from low burning rate propellants not by endburning or moonburning grain geometries. Comment? C-slots. The basic propellant is medium burn.

01-16-2008 09:06 PM  #15
Johnnie Certified Level II   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 136	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident This post is not intended to be a tribute, but in September 2007, Max Gray launched one of my favorite Ellis Moutain motors, The L330! Robert Ellis will indeed be missed... Johnnie

01-17-2008 06:40 AM  #16
Juerg Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 178	Re: Ellis Mountain founder Robert Ellis dies following accident I never have had the chance to meet Robert in person, but I know what we all owe to him. Rest in peace!