Here are a few words about myself and my involvement in sports
and high powered rocketry. I got started at the age of twelve
when I built, flew, and presented the principal of rocketry for my
science fair project. My interest in rocketry lead to many
backyard projects and designs, including the making of black
powder motors. I have been in and out of rocketry five times over
the last fifty two years.
After my science fair project came my children and then later
with my grandson. Flying model rockets with my grandson again
initiated my interest in high power rocketry and I have been
involved for the last nine years.
Over the last few years I have attended many launches. I have
participated as required to keep the launches flowing smoothly. I
have volunteered at launches to work as LCO. RSO, and Pad
supervision. Working the different tasks, I have seen a lot of
rockets some good, some bad, but in the main I have learned a
lot. I have a great deal of respect for the TRA rules and I am
always careful to put safety first.
Over the past five years I have served as a mentor for students
in my area conducting science fair projects involving rocketry at
the middle school level. I also have worked with many Team
America Rocket Challenge teams, getting them through their
qualification sessions; advising them on concept and construction.
As a mentor to Team America Rocket Challenge I have had many
teams qualify. Many have made the trip to Virginia for the fly
off. In addition my shop is always open to the local rocketeers
who wish to work on their certification projects, the advice is free.
I did my certification flight for L-3 at LDRS 22 in Argonia,
Kansas, my TAP members were Pat Gordzelik and Stu Barrett.
The project took four months and it was a great learning
experience. At that time I thought it might be my only “M” flight
but now I love “M” motors, and wish there were more Launch Sites
capable of handling “M” flights.
I am educated as a civil engineer. I had a thirty seven year
career working in the field of engineering and senior management.
I have designed Concrete Block Plants in seventeen countries and
many here in the USA. The last twelve years before retirement,
I served as president and chief operating officer. My duties
included the supervision of thirty seven engineers and a
fabricating facility. We designed and fabricated large crushing
and screening plants, ready mixed concrete plants, and fracsand
equipment.
I love applying science and especially math and physics. I am
capable of calculations and the use formulas relating to the
strength of material. I understand their relationship to the overall
assembly, including rocketry. I enjoy designing and making
parachutes for rocketry. In 1972 I completed a master in the
principals of sail design gaining a great deal of information and
knowledge in the principals of aero dynamics and fluid flow
relationships. In sail design I applied differential equations for a
computer programs to solve the design details of complex sails.
Helping others is a joy for me. I am capable and willing to relate
my knowledge and understanding of rocketry to others. Deadlines
are important and necessary in rocketry especially with the limited
access to good launch sites. It is therefore important to the
growth of the sport to meet deadlines to encourage new members
to advance through the certification process; always with the TRA
HPR rules and safety in mind.
I have interest in both commercial and EX motors. I like the
application of combining chemistry and the principals of physics to
obtain predictable results. I have been designing and flying EX
motors for the three years and have produced many “M” and "N"
class motors that have exhibited good performance.
Raymond (Ray) Kinsel
249 Deer Ridge Drive
La Vernia, Texas 78121
830 779 2310
TRA #9179
NAR #80175
Cert. L-3
and high powered rocketry. I got started at the age of twelve
when I built, flew, and presented the principal of rocketry for my
science fair project. My interest in rocketry lead to many
backyard projects and designs, including the making of black
powder motors. I have been in and out of rocketry five times over
the last fifty two years.
After my science fair project came my children and then later
with my grandson. Flying model rockets with my grandson again
initiated my interest in high power rocketry and I have been
involved for the last nine years.
Over the last few years I have attended many launches. I have
participated as required to keep the launches flowing smoothly. I
have volunteered at launches to work as LCO. RSO, and Pad
supervision. Working the different tasks, I have seen a lot of
rockets some good, some bad, but in the main I have learned a
lot. I have a great deal of respect for the TRA rules and I am
always careful to put safety first.
Over the past five years I have served as a mentor for students
in my area conducting science fair projects involving rocketry at
the middle school level. I also have worked with many Team
America Rocket Challenge teams, getting them through their
qualification sessions; advising them on concept and construction.
As a mentor to Team America Rocket Challenge I have had many
teams qualify. Many have made the trip to Virginia for the fly
off. In addition my shop is always open to the local rocketeers
who wish to work on their certification projects, the advice is free.
I did my certification flight for L-3 at LDRS 22 in Argonia,
Kansas, my TAP members were Pat Gordzelik and Stu Barrett.
The project took four months and it was a great learning
experience. At that time I thought it might be my only “M” flight
but now I love “M” motors, and wish there were more Launch Sites
capable of handling “M” flights.
I am educated as a civil engineer. I had a thirty seven year
career working in the field of engineering and senior management.
I have designed Concrete Block Plants in seventeen countries and
many here in the USA. The last twelve years before retirement,
I served as president and chief operating officer. My duties
included the supervision of thirty seven engineers and a
fabricating facility. We designed and fabricated large crushing
and screening plants, ready mixed concrete plants, and fracsand
equipment.
I love applying science and especially math and physics. I am
capable of calculations and the use formulas relating to the
strength of material. I understand their relationship to the overall
assembly, including rocketry. I enjoy designing and making
parachutes for rocketry. In 1972 I completed a master in the
principals of sail design gaining a great deal of information and
knowledge in the principals of aero dynamics and fluid flow
relationships. In sail design I applied differential equations for a
computer programs to solve the design details of complex sails.
Helping others is a joy for me. I am capable and willing to relate
my knowledge and understanding of rocketry to others. Deadlines
are important and necessary in rocketry especially with the limited
access to good launch sites. It is therefore important to the
growth of the sport to meet deadlines to encourage new members
to advance through the certification process; always with the TRA
HPR rules and safety in mind.
I have interest in both commercial and EX motors. I like the
application of combining chemistry and the principals of physics to
obtain predictable results. I have been designing and flying EX
motors for the three years and have produced many “M” and "N"
class motors that have exhibited good performance.
Raymond (Ray) Kinsel
249 Deer Ridge Drive
La Vernia, Texas 78121
830 779 2310
TRA #9179
NAR #80175
Cert. L-3
Raven Rocketry
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L-3 Cert flight @ Argonia KS
I receive a lot
of
satisfaction
from working
with TARC
teams
of
satisfaction
from working
with TARC
teams
