Gerlach, Nevada USA -- It's another day in the life of Sue McMurray and her band of volunteers who are running Tripoli Rocketry Association's motor testing operations, known as "Tripoli Motor Testing", or "TMT" for short. This particular session found guest of honor, Robert Ellis of Ellis Mountain Rocket Works, joining in while his motors were being tested.

L to R; Don Milhollan, Robert Ellis, Sue McMurray, Chet Geyer, and Ed Hackett. Don Milhollan photo.

TMT has come under fire recently for what appeared to be lapses of sufficient management. As it turns out, the chairperson's position, along with the entire testing staff, are volunteer positions and ones that requires sufficient time and resources to apply one's self to the tasks at hand. Recent TMT chairs haven't had the time or resources to sufficiently apply themselves, leaving TMT in slight disarray.

The position of chairperson has recently been filled with someone more than adaquate to do the job, Tripoli member Sue McMurray. Together with her all volunteer crew, she has been venturing into the desert every available weekend to test yet another batch of motors. The thankless job often goes unnoticed or at the very least, is a magnet for verbal abuse. Sue's demeanor appears to be one not to concern herself with such trivialities, chosing instead to get things "whipped into shape." Whatever her motivation, it's a welcome addition to the TMT chair history.

Robert Ellis and his Ellis Mountain's motors are a welcome addition to the lineup of available certified motors for the rocketry community's flyers. This day's testing found TMT putting the fire to his product line, which consists of a host of 38mm and 76mm motors. His motors are simple in construction and, unlike other motor manufacturers, they do not use any ejection charge or tracking smoke/delay mechanism. This requires the use of electronic deployment devices.

The 6 grain 38mm J270 in the test stand. Ed Hackett photo.

• 3 grain - I150
• 4 grain - I160
• 5 grain - I230
• 6 grain - J270
• 7 grain - J330

All of the 38mm motors use 60 gram propellant grains, making them available without the need of an explosives permit.

The 5 grain 3" L600 being fired. Ed Hackett photo.

• 3 grain - L330
• 5 grain - L600
• 7 grain - M1000

Look for Ellis Mountain certification specifications to appear on the Tripoli Motor Testing website soon. For more information on these and other certifications, see the TMT website at: http://www.tripoli.org/motors.htm.