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Are you looking for a heavy duty launch pad that you can use to support and luanch those big-'n-burly high power rockets? Do you want something made from heavy-guage steel that isn't going to tip over in a strong wind? How about a pad that can take either a rail or a launch rod? Or how about getting a pad that is going to be the last one you'll ever buy because it can be used to launch any size rocket?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," they you might be interested in the "Gun Turret" launch pad.

This is the high-power launch pad that is used by several rocketry clubs throughout the state of Colorado (COSROCS, SCORE, and NCR) because it is heavy duty, and because the club members like how easy it makes it to load a rocket in preparation for launch. A single person can load the biggest rockets, because the head and the rail tilt horizontal during the loading process.

The entire head on the pad can pivot to the horizontal to allow easy loading of the rocket. All it takes is to pull out a single pin, and the head is free to pivot. If you let someone use your Gun-Turret pad, they'll be able to figure it out without you having to explain it to them. Just be sure to tell them to keep their fingers out of the way when they tilt the rocket back to the vertical position, or they will get smooshed.

• The legs fold down for compact stowage. That makes it easy to set up on the range, and store in your garage. The tilt-stop rod doubles as a carrying handle.
  
  
• Made entirely from steel. Weighs about 30 pounds (13.6 Kg).
  
  
• Painted with high-temperature black paint to resist corrosion. But you should take care of it like you would any steel fixture to keep it from rusting when not in use.
  
  
• Constructed here in Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA).

Q. Does this pad come with a launch controller to ignite the motors?

A. No. You'll need to purchase the controller separately. We offer two different controllers that can be used for mid-power size rockets. The Aerotech Interlock and the Pratt Hobbies GO-BOX Controller.

Be sure to click on the links to these these fantastic products:

Reloadable Rocket Motors - If you're wanting to fly the big rockets, you'll need the reloadable motor cases. We carry the Rouse-Tech casing that are fully compatible with the Aerotech reload propellant.

Cesaroni (also known as CTI) is a manufacture of reloadable rocket motors. These motors are made in the standard diameters, so they will fit into your current fleet of rockets without having to do any further modifications.

Epoxy Clay - While it has a 1,001 uses around the house, it works great on rockets to make super-strong fillets where the fins attach to the rocket. Better than regular epoxy because it stays in place and doesn't ooze all over the rocket. So you can get perfect fillets on all your fins, without having to do them one at a time. On the rail buttons, it works great to cover the inside threads so that the parachute won't catch on it as it is ejected out the rocket.

Nomex heat shield - This is a reusable substitute for disposable recovery wadding that protects the parachute from the heat of the ejection charge. For a large diameter rockets, it is the way to go, as it will save you a lot of money!

Sunward Nomex Ground Cover Blanket
Product No. 29310

Provide a bit extra fire protection to the grass under the launch pad with the 5-by-5 foot nomex blanket.

Aero Pack Engine Retainers. These are useful on rockets that use the big reloadable motors. And yes, they can be installed on existing rocket kits!

Shock Cord Protectors. While not required, this would be a nice upgrade to most high power rockets. A shock cord protector prevents the shock cord from getting too scorched by the ejection charge. Click Here for more information about shock cord protectors.

Rail Buttons are used in place of launch lugs on larger rockets. The reason is that big rockets need a stiffer launcher so they don't sway around in breezy conditions. A launch rail is much stiffer than a circular rod, and therefore are used on big rockets so they launch safely and higher into the sky.

It would be a significant set-back to have your parachute come out of your big rocket and then fail to inflate properly. The cause of most deployment failures (and there sure are a lot of them), is that the parachute does not inflate in the correct sequence. Lines get tangled, lines flip over the top of the canopy, and other disasters happen too. A deployment bag is a device to help ensure that the sequence of inflation happens in the correct order. It forces the lines to completely stretch out first, and then the canopy is released so that it can properly inflate. It also minimizes the loads on the suspension lines to prevent tears, and it gives additional protection from the heat of the ejection charges. If you're doing high power rockets, you really need this extra insurance to make your project a success.

These engine retainers hold reloadable rocket motors securely in the model so they can't be kicked out by a strong ejection charge. These are much less expensive than other engine retainers, and can be retrofitted onto rockets that are already constructed and ready to fly. They also work great on flat-bottom rockets where the engine tube is flush with the centering ring.

SkyAngle parachutes were designed and constructed specifically to handle the extra stress of high power rockets. Because of the extra weight of the bigger rockets, they have more than their share of parachute malfunctions. The SkyAngle parachutes are more durable, and bring your big rockets down slower.

The most extensive book ever written about "how to build LARGE high power rockets." Recommended for all modelers getting ready to take a jump to those bigger and more powerful rocket engines. It takes you step-by-step in the process of how to prepare for Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 high power certification.

"I should have mentioned this earlier but I want to thank you and your team for your excellent website and customer service. I get details and perspective from your website that I get nowhere else. I especially appreciate that you have built and flown all of the kits that you sell." -- John Dykes