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Estes Rockets Motors:

Want to learn how model rocket engines work? Click here.
While the Estes motors are a little more expensive than the Quest brand of rocket motors, I have chosen to offer a small selection as a convenience to Apogee's customers.

The motors I have decided to carry are the 13mm diameter "mini-size" engines, and the 24mm diameter C11 and D12 size engines. These both are sizes that Quest does not currently make. You will find that there are a few great kits made by Apogee Components that require these Estes motors; such as the Texas Twister, and the SR-72 Darkbird.The reason they require them is that they both have 13mm diameter engine mounts.

The big "D" motors are used in kits like the Apogee Aspire rocket kit.

The Sky launch controller, and the launch pad sytem can ignite the Estes motors, as well as the Quest motors. So you do not need any extra launch equipment.

The Estes motors shown in the chart below come with Estes Solar Igniters™, instructions for use, and plastic plugs that hold the igniter into the rocket engine nozzle. You may need flame-proof recovery wadding, which is not included with these engines.

Need to convert your kit to fit a smaller diameter motor?
Check out all of the Apogee Motor Mount Kits!

Please be aware that typical shipping transit times for motors are 1-2 weeks.

Estes "Mini-size" Rocket Engines

Type

P/N

Qty
per
Pack

Price per
Pack

Place Order Now

Burn Time

Total Impulse
(tested)

Length (mm)

Dia. (mm)

Max Lift-off Weight* (g)

Max Thrust (N)

Initial Mass (g)

Propellant Mass (g)

1/2A3-2T

05755

4

$8.88

.36 s

1.09 N-s

45

13

56.6

7.62

6.4

2.0

A3-4T
05756
4
$8.88

1.01 s

2.22 N-s

45

13

56.6

5.83

8.5

3.3

A10-3T

05757

4

$8.88

.85 s

2.00 N-s

45

13

141.5

12.64

8.5

3.8

Sorry... We do NOT ship rocket engines outside the USA.

Don't Forget To Order Extra Igniters and Recovery Wadding!

Estes Rocket Engines

Type

P/N

Qty
per
Pack

Price per
Pack

Place Order Now

Burn Time

Total Impulse
(tested)

Length (mm)

Dia. (mm)

Max Lift-off Weight* (g)

Max Thrust (N)

Initial Mass (g)

Propellant Mass (g)

C11-3

05765

3

$12.70

.81 s

8.8 N-s

70

24

170

21.73

34.5

12.0

D12-0

05780

3

$15.01

1.65 s

16.8 N-s

70

24

396.2

29.73

39.2

21.1

D12-3
05781
3
$15.01
1.65 s
16.8 N-s
70
24
396.2
29.73
41.4
21.1
D12-5
05782
3
$15.01

1.65 s

16.8 N-s

70

24

283.0

29.73

45.2

21.1

D12-7

05783

3

$15.01

1.65 s

16.8 N-s

70

24

226.4

29.73

44.9

21.1

A8-3

05747

3
$8.88
.73 s
2.32 N-s
70

18

113.2

9.73

16.7

3.3

B6-2

05746

3

$9.57

.75 s

5.0 N-s

70

18

113

14.38

17.8

6.5

C6-0

05742

3

$10.49

1.71 s

10.0 N-s

70

18

113

10.79

22.9

12.5

C6-3

05743

3

$10.49

1.71 s

10.0 N-s

70

18

113

10.79

22.9

12.5

C6-5

05744

3

$10.49

1.71 s

10.0 N-s

70

18

113

10.79

22.9

12.5

C6-7

05600

3

$10.49

1.86 s

10.0 N-s

70

18

70.8

14.09

24.2

10.8

Sorry... We do NOT ship rocket engines outside the USA.
Note: Because this product contains flammible rocket motors, it must be shipped with the US Postal Service as "Parcel Post" (which goes via truck). Apogee cannot ship any rocket motors outside the USA nor use "Priority Mail" to ship this item. We cannot track packages containing rocket motors. Please allow extra time for delivery when placing your order that contains any Estes rocket engines. 

Value Packs - Bulk motors for maximum savings!

 Type

 P/N

Qty per Pack

Price

Place Order Now
Information
A8-3
05602
24
$73.95
Each package includes rocket engines, igniters, wadding, and igniter plugs.

Launch Pad and Controller are NOT included.

C6-5
05599
24
$87.81
Each package includes rocket engines, igniters, wadding, and igniter plugs.

Launch Pad and Controller are NOT included.

Sorry... We do NOT ship rocket engines outside the USA.
Note: Because this product contains flammible rocket motors, it must be shipped Parcel Post
(which goes via truck).
Apogee cannot ship any rocket motors outside the USA nor use Priority Mail to ship this item. Please allow extra time for delivery when placing your order. 

What does the motor "Type" designation mean?

Lets take an example so you can see how to read the charts below. We'll look at the 1/2A3-2T motor. The 1/2A means that this motor has a power rating of one-half the total power of an "A" size motor. In general terms, the "A" size motor will go twice as high as the "1/2A". The "3" after the "1/2A" is the average thrust of the motor in Newtons. This is not the peak thrust, but an average thrust during the entire burn time; which from the table shows 0.36 seconds. The last number, after the dash in the nomenclature tells us this motor has a two second ejection charge delay. That means, after the rocket takes off, and the propellant is consumed, the delay charge burns for two seconds. This allows the rocket to coast into the air before the ejection charge pushes out the recovery device (either a streamer or a parachute). For more information on what to expect when you launch your rocket, click here. Finally, the "T" at the end of the motor name designates this motor as a "mini" size; which is 13mm in diameter. None of the other motors, such as the D12 have any letters on the end to show the size of the motor. So always consult these charts to look up the physical size of the motor.

Flight Characteristics of These Motors:
From a building standpoint, this model is quite easy. It uses the traditional construction techniques you are familiar with from building smaller model rockets. And the instructions are absolutely phenomenal; there are lots of excellent illustrations that clarify the text.

Note: While the illustrations are supurb, we still recommend actually reading the written portion of the insructions. You'll pick up a lot of new building tips that can be used on other rockets.

13mm diameter "Mini-motors" (these are designated by the "T" at the end of the motor name). These motors fit into the Apogee 13mm diameter Airframe Tube (Part Number 10062).

1/2A3-2T

First off, this motor is a "mini" size, which means it is 13mm in diameter. It is intended for relatively small rocket kits. It will work in the Apogee SR-72 Darkbird, and the Texas Twister kits. The 1/2A motor won't loft either of these models very high, because it doesn't have a lot of thrust. This could be an advantage for the first flight of both models; since you don't want either of them to go very high on the first launch. Otherwise, they could be caught by a gust of wind and drift away. You want to be able to get them back so you can fly them again, don't you?

Another use for this motor is when you want to video tape, or photograph the descent of the models. Since they don't go so high, you'll have a much better chance of being able to capture an image of the model in flight. For both the Texas Twister, and the SR-72 Darkbird, which have unique recovery features, this is the motor you'd want to use.

The 1/2A3-2T motor is a quick burning motor. Since it is small, it doesn't make much of a roar on lift-off. It is more of a pfffffsss sound. But that OK, isn't it. Some times, when you have small children that have never seen a launch before, you don't want to scare them the first time with a loud roaring motor like the D12. So this could be used to acclamate the kids and get them used to seeing a rocket take off. Then you can start launching those bigger rocket motors that make a lot more noise.

A3-4T

This motor is the same size as the 1/2A3-2T listed previously. But it has almost twice the propellant mass, and burns much much longer than the 1/2A variety. So it will push the rocket significantly higher into the air. How much higher? That is difficult to guess at. I recommend that you run Rocksim flight simulations to see the altitude difference. It

Related Product Questions:

Q. What Controller and Launch pad should I use with the Estes Engines?

A. If it is a typical small rocket, we recommend the Sky Launch System. It is completely compatible with the Estes motors, and it costs less than the ones that Estes sells.

Q. What is Recovery Wadding, and why do I need it?

A. Click Here for more information about Recovery Wadding.
Recovery Wadding

Q. Which igniters should I buy for spares or replacements for these Estes engines?

A. Get the Quest "Q2" ingiters. Click Here for more information. They are completely compatible, and they cost less and are more durable than the Estes solar igniters.
Quest Q2 Igniters

Actual Customer Comment:

I must say, you guys are the best, not only you gave me some cool gifts, my order got here in record time, do you guys have superman or santa working for you? if you dont it seems like you do.

P.S. I'm going to tell all my friends about ApogeeRockets.com and how fast you get the orders out, and I'm going to order ALL my rocket needs from Apogee. Again, thanks for the super service. -- Sean KEHOE

Apogee Components, Inc.
3355 Fillmore Ridge Hts.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 USA
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