I fly rockets at all of the Tripoli Idaho launches.  This page is a collection of some of my favorite photos of other Tripoli Idaho members and their rockets. 

Photo by Rich Bolitzar

Tripoli Idaho members Greg Fannin and Jose Guerricabeitia help Dave Thedens load his 12 foot Sandhawk onto a launch pad at the Tripoli Idaho SpudRoc-5 launch in May 2000.

Photo by Dave Williams

Dave Thedens launched his Sandhawk on an L1120 motor for an awesome boost and perfect recovery.

Photo by Michael J. Blackburn

Click on this photo to see it in a larger size!

The Team Boltizar “Deca” rocket stands on a column of smoke that hangs in the still air.  This rocket is 5.5 inches in diameter, nine feet long and weighs 41 lbs.  It has a central K700 and NINE outboard air starts.  The air starts were configured to ignite in groups of three.  Three I200’s, three H180’s and three H128’s. 

In the photo above the central K700 motor is still burning.   The first set of outboards ignited a few seconds after K700 burnout. The subsequent sets of outboard motors sequenced exactly the same with about 1 second between burnout and the start of the next set.  It was really fun to watch!  The rocket reached 5199 feet and then deployed the drogue chute and eventually a large main chute once it was closer to the ground.  Perfect flight!  It was launched on Sunday morning at the SpudRoc-7 launch in May 2002 at the Tripoli Idaho launch site near Swan Falls Idaho.

This is the Tripoli Idaho launch site near Fairfield Idaho on a beautiful day in July 2003.  It's a great place for flying rockets! 

His rocket is an Air-X Delamar kit flying on an Aerotech M1297W.  It reached 13075 feet with a perfect flight.

Click on the liftoff photo to see the "mach diamonds" in the exhaust gas!

Greg Fannin flew his "Red Headed Step Child" on a K1100T at the Tripoli Idaho launch on Aug 23, 2003.  This rocket is a scratch built carbon fiber design that is 4 inches in diameter and about 8 feet long.  Weight with motor was 10 lbs.  Liftoff was extremely fast! It reached 7328 feet for a picture perfect flight.

Dave Thedens launched his upscale Broadsword on a K550 at the Tripoli Idaho launch site on October 19, 2002.  This rocket is 5.5 inches in diameter and uses an Adept ALTS25 and a Missile Works RRC² to deploy the parachute.

Michael J. Blackburn

John McVey

Greg Fannin was in fine form at SpudRoc-7 with his usual extreme rockets.  He launched a scratch built carbon fiber rocket called Copperhead on a J800.  This rocket is 3 inches in diameter, 7 feet long and 9 pounds.  The J800 put it up to 7866 feet. Dual deployment brought it back safe and sound.

Photo by Chris Leavitt

Photo by

Michael J. Blackburn

This is a beautiful scratch-built rocket that is 4 inches in diameter, 7 feet tall, and 10.7 lbs.

Left photo by Rich Boltizar

Right photo by John McVey

Greg Fannin certified level-3 using an M1419 motor in his "Hypercarbon" rocket at Black Rock 2001. This rocket is made of carbon fiber tubing and won the "Best Project" award at that launch.

Close up of Greg's Hypercarbon rocket.  The fins are aluminum and are bolted onto the airframe.  The motor mount is also a custom machined aluminum part.

Dave Thedens and his beautiful two-stage Black Brant VIII.  Right photo shows lift-off on a J350.  The upper stage was on a J330.  Great flight!

Left photo by Greg Cowan

Right photo by John McVey

Neil Pyke with his "Beenie Baby Express" at Black Rock 2000. It flew with a J350W to about 2700' and a J415W to 4346'.  It's 5.5" dia x 84" long. Cardboard tube, plywood fins. Launch weight was 11 lbs.

Photo by Rich Boltizar

Richie Boltizar has his "Cloud Penetrator" ready to go with a K185 motor.  Estimated altitude was above 10K feet.

Rich and Richie are "Team Boltizar".  They are ready to launch their Patriot on a Cesaroni J330 at the Tripoli Idaho Swan Falls launch site on June 14, 2003.

Frank Ross stands next to his "AfterImage" hybrid rocket at the Tripoli Idaho launch site near Fairfield Idaho in July 2003. AfterImage had a perfect flight on a Hypertek J330.

Gary Hunt has his PML Ariel ready to launch on an I30 Hypertek motor. This was Gary's first hybrid flight, his first flight with an altimeter and his first flight with dual deployment.   It went perfectly!!  Nice job Gary!

Joe Bowen launched his Yellow Jacket on a J350 at the Tripoli Idaho launch site near Swan Falls on June 14, 2003.

Photo by Richie Boltizar

Vern Knowles with his Aerotech ARCS ready to fly on an H128. Nice flight.

Dave Thedens stands behind his rocket called "Biggalow and Slow". It had an awesome flight on a Hypertek K240 hybrid motor.  Not exactly "low and slow!".

Kaye and Hugh O'Riordan prepare their Binder Design THUG for launch in May 2003.

Lynn Thomas has his PML Endeavor ready for launch on an I357 in June 2003.

Rock Thome and his 3-inch PML AMRAAM ready to launch on an I357 at the Tripoli Idaho Swan Falls launch site in June 2003.

LDRS-17, Aug. 1998.

Bob Kunz launched his Binder Design Cobra at LDRS-16 in Hartsel Colorado in Aug, 1997.

Tripoli Idaho display at the Discovery Center of Idaho.  The Discovery Center had a special day devoted to rockets and space technology.  Tripoli Idaho members Dave Thedens, Scott Carter, Rich Boltizar, Richie Boltizar, Ray Amaya, and Vern Knowles put together a great looking public relations display at the event.  Ray Amaya also flew some scale models of US space craft at the event to entertain and educate the kids. 

There are lots of other pictures there!

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