Ever since the Compressed Air Rocket project debuted on the pages of Make: magazine in 2008, it’s been wildly popular, and the kit has been a bestseller in the Maker Shed. Now, the next generation of launcher and the first-of-its-kind Air Rocket Glider have been released. Kits for both are available for a very limited time on Kickstarter (Launch Something! – Air Rocket Toys from Air Rocket Works!), shipping in mid to late summer. With flights well over 200′, this is a fun, easy, low-cost, and educational way to learn about rocketry and other things that fly.
Both the Air Rocket Launcher v2.0 (now made of industrial steel and wood, which builds with just a wrench in 30 minutes) and Air Rocket Glider were well received at Maker Faire this year, with over 2000 rockets made and launched in the South Lot “Fly Zone.” It’s been an award winner the past six years at Maker Faires in New York, Detroit, and the Bay Area, and this year was no exception, winning the Best in Class Award!
The Air Rocket Glider project is featured in the latest issue of Make: magazine. Last weekend, I spoke at Maker Faire Bay Area on the Make: Live Stage about the history of both projects and my collaboration with maker Keith Violette.
Keith is a mechanical engineer from the East Coast and I’m a middle school teacher and writer for Make: in California. We’re both maker dads and we’ve formed an online partnership based on our love of tinkering and things that fly. Together, we’re actively building a collaborative air rocket community at our new website, Air Rocket Works, and we hope you’ll join us!
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