Kim McVinnie's Middle Earth has been an ever reliable flyer, debuting in Australia in 2019.  Kim used it to certify Level 1, 2 & 3 all in a single weekend, and since then it has made over 30 flights here in New Zealand without so much as a hiccup.  

For NLD, it'll be getting spanked with an Aerotech K1050W to past the speed of sound.  

Flight Specs

• Length: 1.8m

• Diameter: 93mm

• Weight: 6.2kg

• Motor:  Aerotech K1050W - Bright white flame, grey smoke

• Altitude: 11,000 ft

• Velocity: Mach 1.2

• Fliers: Kim McVinnie

Megan recently obtained her level 1 certification with fin and sonic in 2023, and was aiming for L2 but suffered a slight mishap.  After some repairs, Fin & Sonic is back and Megan has decided to go all out for her L2 attempt take #2 - this time,  filling it near to the brim with VTP L1360.  

Not only is this her L2 attempt, she'll also be giving the L record a potential nudge, with it expected to hit nearly 20,000ft and just under Mach 2.  

Flight Specs

• Length: 2.1m

• Diameter: 58mm

• Weight: 4.8kg

• Motor:  VTP L1360SN - Bright white flame, grey smoke

• Altitude: 19,000 ft

• Velocity: Mach 1.8

• Fliers: Megan Spittle

Kim McVinnie's Middle earth - themed Smaug first flew in 2022 with it's maiden flight hitting 22,000ft. A mishap on recovery in 2023 meant it has spent the last 12 months in repair mode, but it will be coming back for NLD 2024.  

These issues have been ironed out, and Kim has her sights set on the "M" class altitude record, and will once again be aiming to hit 22,000ft on a  long burn M915  motor with a 12 second burn time. 

Flight Specs

• Length: 2.9m

• Diameter: 103mm

• Weight: 17kg

• Motor:  M915 "Supernova" - Bright white flame, grey smoke, long burn.  

• Altitude: 21,000 ft

• Velocity: Mach 1.2

• Fliers: Kim McVinnie

Karen will be attempting  her L3 certification on her very aptly named "Pink Penetrator" .  She'll be using a VTP M1746 and hoping for around 13,000ft - along with a successful recovery, and not too much penetrating!  During the flight at least  

Flight Specs

• Length: 2.6m

• Diameter: 103mm

• Weight: 12kg

• Motor:  VTP M1746 "Supernova" - Bright white flame, grey smoke

• Altitude: 13,000 ft

• Velocity: Mach 1.2

• Fliers: Karen Willoughby-Martin

Like his wife Karen, Simon will also be attempting his L3 certification - his on his carbon fiber "Dominator" (or is it Dominatrix?)  He'll be using a VTP M1746 as well, but hopefully outperform Karen by some margin - he's looking at Mach 1.5 and 17,000ft.  

Flight Specs

• Length: 2.3m

• Diameter: 103mm

• Weight: 10kg

• Motor:  VTP M1746 "Supernova" - Bright white flame, grey smoke

• Altitude: 17,000 ft

• Velocity: Mach 1.5

• Fliers: Simon Willoughby-Martin

Evan  More's V2 rocket first graced the Waikato skies before the turn of the century, flying out of our old launch site at Ngatea in the late 1990s.  It continued to fly here in the Waikato until the mid 2000's, and has since been pride of place in Evan's living room, enjoying  a well earned retirement.

However, for 2024, the old bird will be getting dusted off to fly it's biggest motor yet - the legendary K850 dark matter.   Expect a very low, very slow and spectacular lift-off,  with sparks and noise aplenty.  Hopefully the landing will be a bit softer than the real thing., however.  

Flight Specs

• Length: 2.5m

• Diameter: 150mm

• Weight: 17kg

• Motor:  Aerotech K850DM - Bright yellow flame, black smoke, trail of gold sparks.  

• Altitude: 3,000 ft

• Fliers: Evan More

Alan Kosoof's SAAB missile has been collecting dust since 2018, but after a surge of motivation, may be  making a comeback for 2024.  After a diet of small M's and L motors, it'll be getting packed with a VTP M1690 DarkStar.  

Flight Specs

• Length:1.8m

• Diameter: 130mm

• Weight: 18kg

• Motor:  VTP M1690DS - Bright yellow flame, black smoke, trail of gold sparks.  

• Altitude: 8,000 ft

• Fliers: Alan Kosoof

Alex Heffer's Frenzy Massive is a  well travelled rocket, having flown both in Australia at the original "Thunda Down Under" in 2015, and multiple National Launch Days here in New Zealand.  The Frenzy massive is fiberglass 'airframe only' kit. Alex has custom built it to his own specifications and redundant electronic recovery systems.  

 This year, the Frenzy massive will get a real 'kick in the pants' from an M1780 providing a maximum 3,056 newtons of thrust.  Dual redundant recovery electronics. Apogee and main chute deployments via dual redundant systems. Altus Metrum Telemetrum GSP flight computer as primary,  Perfect flight Stratologger as backup.  Main chute is a Rocketman 15ft.

Flight Specs

• Length: 3.1m

• Diameter: 140mm

• Weight: 20kg

• Motor: M1780NT Blue Thunder, Peak 3,056N

• Altitude: 8,157 ft in 17 seconds

• Velocity: Mach 1.40 (1,746 kph)

• Flier: Alex Heffer

Craig Packard's Frenzy Massive is another well travelled rocket, having flown in both Australia and New Zealand.  It has flown multiple times at NZRA National Launch days, and this year will be making  another epic launch on an Aerotech  M1075 Dark Matter - well known in rocketry circles for it's effects  .  

Flight Specs

• Length: 3.1m

• Diameter: 140mm

• Weight: 23kg

• Motor: M1075  "Dark Matter" - Yellow flame, black smoke with gold sparks.  

• Altitude: 5,000ft

• Flier: Craig Packard