There Just Aren't Enough Pictures of Rockets On This Forum!

[fixnflyguy]

I have 3 friends in the Carolinas with F1 Rockets, my good friend Kevin "Rocketman" is flying wing in our airborne wedding last spring.

[logansc]

Okay! Now we're talking...those are a couple of great looking birds. I like the solid white RV-4 too, I'm kind of partial to solid color paint jobs! As far as I know, there are only three solid color F1's: Jim Winings/solid yellow, Doug Rozendahl/solid red, and mine in dark blue.

I previously owned an RV-4 and enjoyed it very much. What I find interesting about my Rocket is how much it is like and how much it is NOT like, an RV-4.

If you like RV-4's, you'll like (love) Rockets.

Heavier, faster, roomier, and more solid feeling.

Less nimble but faster climb and accelerates harder.

Equal formation performance (accel and decel).

More stable, a better IFR platform, wider speed range, higher top end.

Otherwise, all of the fun and ease of ownership and maintenance of the RV-4.

Rockets are more expensive but they hold their value rather well---probably about the same overall out of pocket, all in.

What's not to like?!!


Lee...

[fixnflyguy]

Lee,
Another good friend of mine, Alex Newsom in Cheraw SC has an all black F1. I'm hoping to put together an RV/Rocket get together here at 8A7 when it warms up, as we have 7 RVS and an F1 here. If all the local Rockets including yourself came, there would be 5 that I know of, including a Harmon that I believe is all yellow.

[gstone]

maybe spring will make me get that done!! Let me know, I'm over in NE TN, quick trip to Winston-Salem!!
Greg

[Palamedes]

Why are these not more popular? And what exactly makes a "rocket" a rocket?

[B Cunningham]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Say Lee,
What is the origin/significance of the letters 'FM' in your N number?

Fast Marine?
"VF" is fixed wing fighter.

[vlittle]

Originally Posted by Palamedes

Why are these not more popular? And what exactly makes a "rocket" a rocket?

In general, take an RV airframe and modify it to accept (and least) an IO-540.
In specific, an RV-4 modified with John Harmon's parts is a Harmon Rocket II. An F1 Rocket is a complete kit from Team Rocket (Mark Frederick) who is not currently producing them.

Then there are versions with both Harmon and Frederick parts, called, appropriately 'the best of both worlds'.

They are not as common because they take more time and money to build (Harmon) or are not available (Team Rocket). (Deleted comment on business strategy).

[Palamedes]

Thanks for the info Vlittle =) Sounds like FUN! Sign me up.

[vfrazier]

[vfrazier]

Vern,

There are parts available for the F1 series again. Mark and I are working to get everything made in the U.S.

Right now, we have gear legs, engine mounts, firewalls, and several other related parts. Cowlings and spinners should be available fairly soon.

It's a slow process, but we plan to have fuselage parts available next. There is no set timetable though. This is a labor of love.

Nonetheless, in the not too distant future, it should be possible to build a brand new F1 or F4 again. It might even be possible to get a jump ahead of the pack by using a few RV parts as has been done in the past by others, if you know what I'm saying.

Wait. What's an F4 you ask? Well, it's almost identical to the F1 except that it will use a 4-cylinder engine. Externally, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference since the prop location remains unchanged. On the inside, you'd find an extended engine mount, and the battery and other items will be moved up from for W&B reasons.

If you're interested, email me at vincefrazier@gmail.com, see us at Oshkosh in blg. D, or follow our blog at http://www.flyboyaccessories.com/category-s/28.htm

Me? I'm building the first pre-production F4 in my shop right now. Hey, Lee Logan.... it's gonna be all BLACK!