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Sport Rocketry / History / People / Vern Estes

Vern Estes Motor Patent (2011-06-28)

Here's a patent illustration for the Estes model rocket motor. There has been an argument regarding whether it should be called a engine or a motor. On this patent it is called a "Toy Rocket Motor". ... [Read More]

Vern Estes Presentation - from NSL 2013 (2013-09-27)

Here's a YORF thread I missed the first time around from the 2013 National Sport Launch. Vern Estes gave a talk about his fourth chilld - Mabel, the rocket engine making machine. You'll find the ... [Read More]

Vern Estes Original Big Bertha (2014-08-08)

From a 2005 post by "A Fish Named Wallyum" on YORF - Here's some background on Vern Estes and the original Big Bertha. "Vern built this rocket to use at demonstration launches. It proved to be so ... [Read More]

Letter From Vern Estes - 1970 (2014-09-03)

I thought I'd misplaced this one! Here's a letter I received from Mr. Estes dated February 19, 1970. I had hand written a letter to Estes (not directly to Mr. Estes) explaining my troubles ... [Read More]

Vern & Gleda Estes Interview (2015-01-02)

Gary Byrum posted this link on TRF -  A video interview with Vern and Gleda Estes at the Seattle Museum of Flight. It was recorded July 5, 2014. This was posted on YouTube in August, but I ... [Read More]

NARAM 60 Saturday, August 4, Rocketeer Reunion (2018-08-05)

The first day of launches at the NARRAM field was a sport launch. A few were testing their boost gliders and streamer duration models. I was very surprised to see Brian Urban from Tampa, TTRA and ... [Read More]

Vern Estes Birthday Blast (2019-12-31)

Estes is having a big Birthday Blast celebrating Vern Estes' 90th Birthday! Birthday Wishes and rocketry photos are being collected for the party. CLICK HERE Here's the picture I sent - The first ... [Read More]

Vern Estes 90th Birthday Party! (2020-01-13)

  From the Estes Facebook page -  Here's Vern Estes reading the BIG Birthday card with all the submitted Rocketeer wishes. From left to right - Ellis Langford, Mary Roberts, ... [Read More]

Estes Orange Bullet #7295, Finished (2020-05-02)

    Here you go - the Vern Estes designed prototype for the Astron Scout. It turned out well, nice to see a balsa nose cone in an Estes kit again. If you are into Model Rocket ... [Read More]

Estes History Video (2021-01-26)

On YORF, Scott Hansen posted: "Here's a great video that was just released on 01/25/21 that gives a nice history of the company. There are a number of photos and videos I've never seen before in ... [Read More]

Sky Hook Entry Story for TRF (2010-08-06)

Carl from Semroc said there was one more Bill Simon autographed Sky Hook kit left from NARAM . He asked for Sky Hook stories. Here's mine: Back in the spring of '72, Estes mailed Model Rocket News ... [Read More]

Old Estes Plan - The Orange Bullet (2011-03-24)

I came across this plan on the Shasta Plan site and on a publication for sale on Ebay . You can follow the Ebay auction of the 1960 Estes publication: "Model Rocketry" HERE You can see the entire ... [Read More]

Greg's Rocket Page Website (2014-09-05)

I found Greg Elder's website the other day. CLICK HERE He has some interesting links to: Real Rocket Photos Air Defense Artillery Museum White Sands Missile Garden New Mexico Space ... [Read More]

The Rocketry Show Podcasts (2014-10-15)

CG and Gheem have started rocketry podcasts available for download at: www.therocketryshow.com   I listened to the second podcast and sent this email:   Hi  CG and ... [Read More]

Old Estes Building (2015-07-09)

On TRF, Steven asked: I always wondered what happened to the building you saw in many of the catalogs.  For those TRF posts, CLICK HERE From the 1971 Estes catalog: "The Estes plant now ... [Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 2 (2016-02-25)

Here's a picture of the first time I saw Vern Estes in person. This goes back to 1975 at NARAM 17 in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Estes walked into the room and you could hear the whispering: "Hey look, ... [Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 5 (2016-03-17)

Here's another shot from NARAM 17 in 1975. That's Vern Estes test firing an engine in a thrust measuring device. He designed it, the company was under Gleda's name. Putting it under his wife's name ... [Read More]

Estes Orange Bullet #7295, Background (2020-04-24)

In March of 2011, I did a post about finding the plans for the Estes Orange Bullet. Here's the post from 2011 -  CLICK HERE Estes is releasing a new kit version of the Orange Bullet under the ... [Read More]