On Tuesday of this week, our Peak-of-Flight Newsletter #607 was sent out. The feature article was about why parachutes spiral down, and how you can fix the issue so you get the slowest descent speed, and the least amount of landing damage.

The newsletter also contained a free plan rocket, called the Escape Velocity. This is a hot-rod rocket, designed to fly high and fast on simple 18mm diameter motors. It is small, simple to build, and can be made with cheap parts. Be sure to send us photos of your completed model, as we'd love to see it.

On Monday, we released a new version of the Simple GPS Tracker. This has some minor feature upgrades, such as displaying the altitude of the rocket during the flight. But mostly, the changes affect the components used in manufacturing. Due to Covid, it was hard to get some electronic components used in the device, so our developer made some changes so that we would have a better supply in the future. As part of the re-release of the GPS Tracker, we created a new video showing an easier way to calibrate the electronic compass in the receiver. You can see that YouTube video here.

Also this week, we released a new product for us here at Apogee. It is the Adjustable Expanding Foam from LOC. What is cool about this foam is you can change how much it expands by adding a few drops of water. Use it to encapsulate parts inside the rocket, so that they don't shift around. A lot of people use it in high power rockets to lock those through-the-wall fins into place so they are nearly impossible to break away from the motor mount tube. You can also use it to fix nose weight inside a nose cone, and to make parts that feel squishy, solid again. When cured, it is rigid and lightweight. Be sure to check it out and get some today.

This morning, while you were sleeping, we started our September tool-of-the-month give-away. This month's tool is a 20 piece set of micro drills. See below for a description and how to get your's.

Rocketry Tool of the Month - 20pc Micro Drill Set

Our September Tool-of-the-Month is a 20 piece set of micro drills, along with a convenient dispenser case. The set includes a range of bit sizes (from 0.3mm to 1.6mm) to accommodate various needs in your rocketry projects. The bits are made from high strength steel (a very hard tool steel), granting them exceptional resistance to wear and tear. Whether you're working with balsa wood, plastic, fiberglass, aluminum or other materials, these micro drill bits provide reliable performance.

Why are we offering this Tool-of-the-Month?

We believe that if you find construction of rockets fun, easy, hassle free, and that it goes quicker because you have some simple tools in your arsenal, you'll stick with rocketry for a longer time. You'll have the skills to make really great rockets, and you'll want to show off your models to other modelers. You win because you have a more enjoyable experience, and we win because you'll be a customer well into the future. We're investing in your skills, because we want you to be our customer for a lifetime. And maybe you'll recommend us to your rocketry friends and any newbies that you mentor.

While you can buy this set of drill bits separately, you can have them free when you order $50 worth of other merchandise before September 30th. Visit this link for additional instructions to claim your free set of micro drill bits.

What is Coming Up Next Week?

On Tuesday, we'll be sending out the 6th video in the build series of the TTV rocket. This is a rocket designed to allow you to test your staging electronics in a small rocket before you commit to an expensive high-power rocket. This step in the build sequence of the "Timer Test Vehicle" (TTV) model rocket kit is where you will install the fins in the upper stage of the rocket. You'll see how we get them perfectly straight and perpendicular to the tube.

Next week we are also planning on releasing the long-expected "Draco BG" rocket kit. This is a boost glider design that was patterned after the military's Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). It has a unique scissors wing with an additional support wing that locks the wing into place once it is deployed. It is an engineering work of art as well as a huge crowd pleaser.

Check your email inbox next Tuesday.