Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/896992
things started to happen. Nine pallets of G. Harry Stine's artifacts, archival documents, and library materials detailing the early days of model rocketry were accessioned by the Museum on September 17, 2013. Vern Estes also agreed to add his personal artifacts to the Museum's growing collec- tion, and offered up some leading items for use in a new model rocketry exhibit. Lee and Betty Piester joined the group when they committed to donating their Centuri Engineering collection in May of 2016. I got involved with this whole process shortly after the partnership was finalized, and took point on the Museum side for researching and drafting the content for Inspiring Rockets. The Museum's exhibits and collections teams worked closely with Bill Stine, Vern Estes, and representatives from the National Association of Rocketry throughout the exhibit process. The NAR provided wonderful support in the form of subject matter expertise, fascinating sto- ries and artifacts, video and image content, and even financial backing to help craft an exhibit designed to light a spark in future rocketeers. The exhibit consists of three cases ar- ranged around several themes. The first holds the Shuttle-flown Astron Scout and NAR championship banner mentioned above. The second case offers a snapshot of the evolution of model rocket technol- ogy. Rock-a-chute motors, Camrocs, and an Altiscope sit beside digital altimeters, reloadable engine cartridges and minia- turized video broadcasting systems. The final case focuses on competition rocketry and showcases prizewinning vehicles from Team America Rocketry Challenges and the World Space Modelling Champion- ships. Beyond the cases, the visual anchor- point for the exhibit is a floor-to-ceiling sculptural element called "the Fusillade." The piece is made up of rockets built by modelers selected as part of a contest held during NARAM in 2014. These rockets are supplemented by iconic kits supplied by various model rocket manufacturers. At the base of the sculpture sit the first high- powered sport rocket to reach 100,000 feet, and a local high-power vehicle built by a team from the Northwest Indian Col- lege. The exhibit, and the fusillade in par- ticular, tell the story of model rocketry in the voices of the enthusiasts who have made the hobby part of their lives, and who have felt its influence in their careers. The partnership between the Museum of Flight and the National Association of Rocketry is now evolving into the world's premier collection dedicated to hobby rocketry. The NAR Board assigned the col- lection as the National Collection of Model and Sport Rocketry. Staff and volunteers at the Museum have now processed over half of the artifacts donated as part of the Stine collection, and continue to work with Vern and Gleda Estes and Lee and Betty Piester to help them organize their important con- tributions to this story. These efforts only represent what has been achieved so far. The vision for both the NAR and the mu- seum is to continue to find new ways to tell this important story and to light the spark that inspires rocketeers for generations to come. SPORT ROCKETRY MAY/JUNE 2017 37 www.asp-rocketry.com Aerospace Speciality Products is an Officially! Recommended Vendor for the! Team America Rocketry Challenge! Body tubes, transitions, cones & other components, 'chutes, adhesives & much more! Need TARC stuff? www.erockets.biz