For those of you who would like to find out more about what is involved in loading and flying these motors, download a quick start guide by clicking on the button below:
MY COLLECTION OF DETAILED SMALL HYBRID PAPERS
For those of you with further interest in the technical details of propellant formulation, loading, operating, testing and flying these kinds of cartridge-based hybrids, I recommend obtaining my more detailed manuals. Since 2011 I have been researching, manufacturing and flying these fascinating little motors. Over the years I have assembled three volumes comprised of notes to myself, instructions for my motor customers, useful tips for owners of any manufacturer's cartridge-based hybrid and some of my research results pertinent to flying rockets with these motors. Previously I offered these publications for sale in a series of three PDF manuals (over 400 pages). I am now making these manuals available free of charge for anyone who has an interest. Hopefully they will help you answer your questions about entering the small cartridge-based hybrid motor arena.
Dexter Labs Micro and Mini-hybrid User's Manual - 198 pages - current version 9/16/25
This PDF covers the background development, motor types and features, assembly instructions, static testing, motor specifications, performance of various fuels, previous lessons learned, success and failure description and quantification, references and extensive resources. This is followed by over a dozen detailed how-to appendices.
Dexter Labs Micro and Mini-hybrid Rocket Construction Manual - 201 pages - current version 9/13/25
This PDF covers construction of airframes suitable for use with micro and mini-hybrid rocket motors. It is broken into three major sections; 1) details of specific airframe components, 2) examples of over a dozen commercial kits modifications and scratch-builds to fly with these motors, and 3) detailed instructions for two prototype kits I have designed specifically for these motors.
Dexter Labs Test Stand Paper - 40 pages - current version - 10/25/25
This PDF covers the construction of an electronic static test stand useful for micro and mini-hybrid rocket motors and also useful for commercial and experimental solid fueled motors as well. This test stand is capable of monitoring and recording both thrust and chamber pressure.
NOTE: These manuals are updated often. I would recommend requesting new updated manuals every few months.
For the time being I am making these manuals available by direct e-mail request. To obtain these manuals please e-mail me at:
[email protected]
and I will attach them to reply e-mails.
MAKING A HIGH-POWER VERSION OF THESE CARTRIDGE-BASED HYBRIDS
From the early 1990s through the late 2000s the ATF pressure against the sport rocketry use of APCP propellants encouraged many high power rocketeers to turn toward hybrid technology to avoid stiff regulations on the shipping, storage and use of rocket propellants. AeroTech was a leader in those efforts on the commercial front. In 1995 they introduced "J" through "M" class versions of a hybrid motor that used pre-pressurized flight tanks and avoided complicated GSE at the launch pad (very similar in operation to the micro and mini-hybrid motors).
Unfortunately these superbly made motors were sold only a few years until 2001. In 2022 Patrick Carroll started working on a way to revive this motor using mostly off the shelf parts. I am providing persons interested in this approach with an outline of how to put together one of these motors based on Patrick's excellent work. Note that this is an advanced experimental motor project requiring level 2 or 3 certification to fly at Tripoli Rocketry Association sponsored research launches.
The buttons below will directly access: 1) the main guide to assembling one of these motors, 2) detailed procedures for modifying the pin valve for this motor, 3) detailed procedures for making an injector plate for this motor, and finally 4) details of the maiden flight for my version of this motor.
NOTE: EVEN IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS QUICK GUIDE, BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE MOST RECENT VERSION TO SEE HOW TO SAVE AS MUCH AS 64% OVER TRADITIONAL J-CLASS APCP FLIGHTS USING THESE MOTORS! (SEE APPENDIX F FOR DETAILS)