Copyright © 1964-2025 Tripoli Pittsburgh, Tripoli Rocketry Association, Inc.
TRIPOLI Pittsburgh
Launch Report
October 5, 2025
Page 12
Flyers: 18
Flights: 50
The biggest rocket with the biggest motor to fly in October was John Haught's Honest John.
The launch photos below belie the size of this monster.
Standing nearly 10 feet tall, with a 7.5" main airframe diameter and a weight of just over 50 lbs empty, the Honest John is a handfull just to haul to the field.
Honest John Haught
John's Honest John lifts off on a 3 grain, 76mm, L-999 motor made with Dark Horse propellant.
John makes all of his own motors which makes this flight doubly impressive.
John's son helps him load up the Honest John.
Perfect flying conditions and top notch construction make birds such as John Haught's Honest John fly straight and true.
John likes to rig his bigger rockets with separate parachutes for the nose and booster.
The booster wins the race to the ground but it was the nose that John was able to locate after his first trip behind the trees.
A drone flight located the booster along the cut farther back.
The drone simply confirmed the number one rule of recovery: It is always farther out than it seems.
John's casual attatude conceals the substantial amount of effort that goes into flying a big rocket like the Honest John.
Thanks for the effort John! And the exciting flight!
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