Mean Machine Rocket

A Mean Machine weighs about 7 ounces fully built. An average of 8 A8 allegedly Newtons of thrust - that's what the 8 in number. But look at the curve of thrust on the link below - it is really only 3.18 newtons average thrust. 3.18 newtons is about 0.69 pounds of thrust - Call IT 11 oz.

Thus, the A8 has just as much thrust as the machine weighs average - not enough to accelerate at all. You normally want at least five times more thrust than the rocket weighed to ensure that the rocket reaches the end of the guide rod with sufficient speed to fly straight.


Of course, the kit manufacturers recommend always running engines - a quick search on Google for "Mean Machine recommend Estes engines", you will get several useful links. They do not recommend flying Mean Machine on nothing less than an engine D.