| | [Not displaying correctly? View web version.] | Peak-of-Flight Newsletter #646: | |
Martin Jay McKee, designer of the Apogee Nike-Hercules, reveals how to transform this intricate multi-stage rocket into a simplified single-stage marvel. Perfect for enthusiasts craving launch simplicity without sacrificing excitement! Inside this article, you’ll learn how to: Ditch the launch prep complexity—Replace clusters and staging with a single-motor setup for faster prep and fewer failure points. Save money—Use budget-friendly motor configurations and minimal materials to keep costs grounded. Boost safety—Rely on electronic deployment for reliable recovery, even without sustainer motors. Maintain sky-high altitudes—Hit 2000+ feet with proven motor options like the Aerotech H100W. Customize your build—Choose between a 38mm single-motor mount or a simplified cluster design. Whether you're a high-power veteran or a mid-power flyer, this guide unlocks simplified, cheaper, and safer flights while preserving the Nike-Hercules’ iconic scale appeal. Don’t let complexity keep you grounded.
ð Read Now and Transform Your Nike Hercules rocket! Launch simpler, soar higher—no nuclear engineering required! | | Read the rest of this week's article, either on a downloadable PDF for printing out, or on our website (great for viewing on your phone)! Previous issues of our newsletter are found at our archive page. |
| Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves! | Apogee Invicta | |
The Apogee Invicta is a high-power, two-stage marvel designed for thrill-seekers and skill-builders alike. Standing nearly 6 feet tall with a robust 3-inch diameter, this rocket combines laser-cut precision and electronic staging for jaw-dropping air-start flights that will have every video camera on the field pointed at your rocket's launch. Perfect for post-certification enthusiasts, the Invicta offers versatility: fly it as a towering two-stage beast (using motors up to "I" class) or solo with just the sleek upper stage. With rugged through-the-wall fin construction, reusable nylon parachutes, advanced features like removable rivets for easy access to electronics, and an innovative baffle system, it’s built for repeat adventures. Ready to command the skies? Visit Apogee’s website to explore specs, assembly videos, and motor options—your next launch masterpiece awaits! |
| NCR SA-14 Archer XL | |
The iconic SA-14 Archer XL returns, engineered for a new generation of rocketeers! Celebrated since its 1990 debut, this 4" diameter classic soars gracefully, flies straighter, and lands tougher than ever. North Coast Rocketry’s 2025 edition combines decades of passion with cutting-edge innovation, delivering a model rocket built to dominate the skies—flight after flight. Click here for more information. |
| Zephyr Bulk-Pack | |
Here is a 5-pack of the Zephyr rockets, perfect for school groups. This is a great rocket to use for Level-1 high power certification because it is big and robust. It flies low and slow, which helps recovery after the flight, but can still easily take the punishment of high thrust motors. It is simple and easy to build thanks to its highly illustrated instructions. And it uses fool-proof motor ejection, so no electronics are needed. Save money by buying in bulk! |
| G-Flex Thickened Epoxy | |
G/flex 655 Thickened Epoxy quickly builds up thickness and will not run or sag, making it great for fillets on your rocket. It permanently bonds fiberglass, ceramics, metals and plastics. It adheres tenaciously to difficult-to-bond woods including resinous woods and even wet wood. It is also toughened (with rubber addatives) to make structural bonds that absorb the stresses of expansion, contraction, shock and vibration. Check it out here. |
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| | Launch of the Week
Explore the incredible Launch Visualizer application by clicking this link to see a simulation of the Nike-Hercules rocket, now converted to a single-stage design. Watch your rocket take off, coast, deploy its parachute, and land—all in stunning 3D. You'll see how it reacts to wind and weather, feel the acceleration, and track its landing on a realistic Earth model. In this simulation, launching from the San Francisco Bay Area, you can discover whether your rocket lands on solid ground or in the water! The best part? You can tweak your launch setup to optimize performance. Adjust the launch angle, change the rocket's direction, or reposition it on the launch field. See how these changes impact the flight path and landing location. What would you modify to perfect this launch? Click here now to try it out and see your rocket come to life! Customer Testimonial “t's my first time ordering with Apogee and I honestly just expected the regular customer service you would get when ordering with a company. However Apogee has outstanding customer service and communication with their buyers! They even add on small little free gifts with order which I didn't even expect so it was a nice surprise! I'd recommend anyone looking to buying rocket components from Apogee. Their kindness and service is one of the best out there.” -- Yen P. | |
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| I'm now actively seeking writers for articles to appear in this newsletter. And I want unique and cutting-edge articles because that is what you want to read, right? I realize this, so to get articles from outside writers that have the same level of quality, I'm going to have to pay a lot of cash to make it worth it for them. So I've come up with a compensation package where I'll pay up to $350 for good how-to articles. Are you a writer, and does that interest you? That is a lot of cash! Far more than you'll get by writing for other magazines. And with over 23,000 worldwide subscribers, if you write for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter, you'll gain a lot of notoriety. Writing for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter is a great way to show off your rocketry projects and your technical expertise, at the same time as helping out other rocketeers. Imagine how great you'll feel knowing that you made a difference to the hobby. If you're interested in writing, see the guidelines on our site. | |
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