Ed Hackett of Tripoli Motor Testing made a public statement today indicating that TMT has fired and certified all eight of the Ellis Mountain Rocket Works reloadable motors. Sue McMurray, TMT Chairperson, is preparing the test data and will have those available shortly. This should end speculative comments that TMT is favorable to certain motor manufacturers, since this is a new manufacturer altogether, and has followed the regulatory requirements necessary to produce and sell Class B products.

The range of the new motors included a 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 grain 38mm motors that run in impulse from low I to upper mid J, along with 3, 5, and 7 grain 3" motors that are mid L, full L and mid M. The 3" motors average about 8 seconds of burn time.

Speaking from direct testing experience, Hackett added, "The propellant is an aluminized HTPB mix with an ISP running right at 220, depending on the design pressure of the particular motor. It produces a yellowish flame with moderate gray-white smoke. No ISP sacrificed for 'effects' here. These motors will appeal to the purist rocketeer. They pack a lot of power into a compact, easy to load, no frills package. The motors do not include any type of delay, tracking smoke, or provison for motor ejection. They must be flown with electronics."

Flyers should also note that because of the long burn time, the 3" motors run hotter than they may be used to encountering with similar AeroTech motors and the short burning Kosdons. Robert Ellis and TMT has strongly recommended the use of forward thrust rings and positive motor retention. Do not rely on masking tape for thrust rings or motor retention.

If your goal is to fly high and at a lower cost than any of the other currently certified motors, you'll love the new Ellis Mountain Rocket Works motors.