The tables predict the maximum altitude for a particular rocket and motor class to ensure that a rocket will remain under the waivered altitude and/or cloud deck. The tables do NOT predict the altitude for a specific rocket and motor.

The tables will work for “typical” rockets. The tables may not apply to rockets with a very low coefficient of drag (Cd) such as rockets with boattails. Find the matching motor class and airframe diameter. Rocket weight is with the motor. Example: A rocket with a 25% I motor will have a lower apogee than the same rocket with a 50% I motor, but the table for a 50% I will provide a maximum altitude that the rocket should not exceed with either a 25% or 50% I motor.

Use the 50% I table. According to the table the rocket will go less than 2900’ and can be flown provided other factors are safe (thrust-to-weight ratio). 1/4 pound = 4 ounces 1/2 pound = 8 ounces 3/4 pound = 12 ounces Use at your own risk. Dean A. Roth, the creator of the tables, assumes no liability for use of this data, and recommends that RSOs require a flight simulator for large rockets, large motors and minimum diameter rockets.

100% F 80 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 0.25# 0.5# 0.75# 1# 1.5# 2# 2.5#
1.625” (38mm) 3000 3300 3000 2600 1700 1200 900
2.25” (54mm) 2000 2200 2100 2000 1500 1100 800
2.6 1700 1900 1900 1800 1400 1000  

50% G 120 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 0.25# 0.5# 0.75# 1# 1.5# 2# 2.5# 3#
1.625” (38mm) 3200 4000 4100 3800 2900 2100 1600  
2.25” (54mm) 2500 2900 3000 2900 2400 1900 1400  
2.6   2300 2400 2400 2100 1700 1400  
4       1500 1400 1200 1100 100

100% G 160 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 0.5# 0.75# 1# 1.5# 2# 2.5# 3# 3#
1.625” (38mm) 4700 5000 4800 3900 3000 2300 1800  
2.25” (54mm) 3500 3600 3500 3100 2600 2100 1700  
2.6 3000 3000 3000 2800 2300 1900 1500  
4   1800 1800 1700 1600 1400 1200 100

50% H 240 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 1.5# 2.5# 3.5# 4.5# 5.5# 6.5# 7.5# 8.5#
2.6 3100 2800 2100 1600 1100      
4   1800 1600 1300 1000      
6   1100 1000 900        
7.5                

100% H 320 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 1.75# 2.75# 3.75# 4.75# 5.75# 6.75# 7.75# 8.75# 9.75#
2.6 4000 3900 3300 2600 1900        
4   2400 2200 1900 1600 1300      
6   1500 1400 1300          
7.5                  

50% I 480 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 3# 4# 5# 6# 7# 8# 9# 10# 11# 12#
2.6 5000 4500 3800 3200 2600          
4 3200 2900 2600 2400 2000 1800 1500 1300 1100  
6     1700 1600 1500 1400 1200      
7.5     1400 1300            

100% I 640 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 3.2# 4.2# 5.2# 6.2# 7.2# 8.2# 9.2# 10.2# 11.2# 12.2# 13.2#
2.6 5500 5500 5000 4300 3700            
4   3500 3300 3100 2800 2500 2300 2100 1900    
6     2200 2200 2100 2000 1800 1700 1600 1400  
7.5     1700 1600 1500            

50% J 960 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 4.75# 5.75# 6.75# 7.75# 8.75# 9.75# 10.75# 11.75# 12.75# 13.75#
2.6 7400 6900 6200 5400 4800 4100        
4   4400 4200 3900 3600 3300 2900 2600    
6   2800 2800 2700 2600 2300 2200 2100    
7.5   2200 2200 2100            

100% J 1280 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 5# 6# 7# 8# 9# 10# 11# 12# 13# 14#
2.6 8000 8000 8000 8000 7000 6000        
4 4600 4900 4900 4800 4600 4300 4100 3800 3500 3200
6   3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 2800 2700 2600 2500
7.5   2300 2300 2300 2300 2300 2300 2300 2300 2200

50% K 1920 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 8# 9# 10# 11# 12# 13# 14# 15# 16# 17# 18# 19# 20#
4 6600 6800 6800 6600 6400 6100 5800 5500 5200 4900 4600 4300 4100
6   4300 4300 4300 4300 4100 4000 4000 3800 3600 3500   3200
7.5       3400 3400 3300 3300 3200 3100 3000 2900   2800
9.25                          
11.5                          

100% K 2560 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 9# 11# 13# 15# 17# 19# 21# 23# 25# 27# 29# 31# 20#
4                         4100
6   7000 7000 7000 7000 6000 6000 6000 5000 4000 4000 4000 3200
7.5   5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 4000 4000 4000 4000 3000 3000 2800
9.25       4000 4000 4000 4000 3500 3000 3000 3000 2500  
11.5         3000   3000   2500   2500    

100% L 5120 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 17# 19# 21# 23# 25# 27# 29# 31# 33# 35# 37# 39# 20#
4                         4100
6 7600 7800 8000 8100 8300 8300 8100 8000 7600 7300 7200 6800 3200
7.5 6200 6400 6500 6600 6600 6500 6300 6200 6100 6000 5900 5700 2800
9.25         5600     5400     5000    
11.5         4300     4200     4000    

50% M 7680 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 40# 50# 60# 70# 80# 90# 100# 110# 120#
4 17000 13000     5500   3300   2100
6 13000 10000     5000   3200   2100
7.5 10000 8400     5000   3100   2000
9.25 7700 6900     4200   3000   2000
11.5 6100 5500     3800   2800   1900

100% M 10240 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 40# 50# 60# 70# 80# 90# 100# 110# 120#
4                  
6 14000 14000 13000 11000 10000 8000 7000 6000 5000
7.5 11000 11000 11000 10000 8000 8000 6000 5000 5000
9.25 9000 10000 9000 8000 7000 7000 6000 5000 4000
11.5 8000 8000 7000 7000 6000 6000 5000 5000 4000

100% N 20480 Newton-seconds by Total Launch Weight

Airframe Diameter 70# 90# 110# 130# 150# 170# 190# 110# 120#
6                  
7.5 15000 15000 14000 13000 11000 10000 7000 6000 5000
9.25 11000 12000 12000 11000 10000 9000 7000 5000 5000
11.5 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 8000 7000 5000 4000
11.5 8000 8000 7000 7000 6000 6000 5000 5000 4000

Submitted by: Dean A. Roth

This information is provide for HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY. INFOcentral is neither a reliable reference for current regulations nor a reliable source of legal advice. Do your own research and consult a qualified attorney.

This page was first published on info-central.org which shut down in 2009. It was last updated on 2020-10-25; see the origional version.