AEROBEE 350 Scale Data Drawing Project
(2nd Update for NARTS SP-1)
Aerobee Project Bibliography | Articles, Data, Etc. | Aerobee 350 Scale Model | Meatball Rocketry Home
NOTE: IMPORTANT DIMENSION IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE ACTUAL NOSE LENGTH (updated 8-17-2010)
ADDED 11-25-06: Aerobee 350 Project Bibliography
 Drawing update HistoryThe Aerobee 350 Scale Data Update project began around 1991 when I discovered certain discrepancies between the drawings and photos in the original NARTS data packet. I have been in search of corrective information ever since. The 2002 NARTS update (just prior to the release of the NARTS Scale Data CD-ROM), was an attempt to correct the old discrepancies and add new information. Although the 2002 drawings were a definite improvement over the old data, too much corrective detail data had to be derived solely from photos (the update included a list of explanations for all the changes made). In the last year (2006) I have acquired a great deal of new information that will allow me to update the drawings once again. This time I hope to have the drawings published in Sport Rocketry magazine, then hand the data over to NARTS, along with fresh scans of the old NARTS SP-1 35mm slides. Recent Data Acquisitions Some important detail data (and some neat B&W launch photos) have been found by researching the NASA Technical Reports Server. An old Space General brochure on the rocket was donated by Taras Tataryn. But the best data was acquired in April of this year (2006). A real Aerobee 350 sustainer had been planned for exhibition at the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport in Washington D.C, but due to logistical constraints, that plan was put on hold indefinitely (Note: I have recently found out that the vehicle is undergoing restoration for display at the Aerospace Museum of California).  I
was able to contact a NASM curator, Frank Winter, who graciously
offered me a look
at the rocket still in storage at the Smithsonian's Garber Restoration
Facility. Local rocket
friend (and bass player extraordinaire),
Dan Wheeler, accompanied me to take measurements and several digital
photos. A more in depth article on our trip to Garber was published in the Jan/Feb edition of Sport Rocketry magazine, under the title "A Visit to the Smithsonian's Attic".In early 2007, I was in contact with longtime rocketeer Al Pizzo, who had many years earlier acquired Aerobee 350 data and photos from legendary rocketeer Jon Randoph. Thanks to Al, I now have several "new" photos of round 17.01 GT for the NARTS update. In 2008, Peter Hughes took several photographs of an Aerobee 350 stored in a fenced-off location at White Sands Missle Range with the help of WSMR archivist, Doyle Piland. I am still looking for additional help in acquiring specific data and photos from that bird (especially regarding the nose tip--see this page for more info). |
Aerobee Project Bibliography | Articles, Data, Etc. | Aerobee 350 Scale Model | Meatball Rocketry Home
Page updated 8-17-2010