Tampa Bay Rocketry Association

TBRA

When the upper stage motor lit, it immediately ejected the forward closure and the entire upper stage propellent grain was off on it's own. Amazingly, the only damage was a broken fin. The rocket was flown again the next month. 

​Original photos courtesy of Chris Nilsen

Scale Nike-Hercules, with unexpectedly realistic flight and function. ​Scratch-built, based loosely on the Launch Pad Plan-Pak version. ​Larger tubing, battery, LED, safety switch in upper stage.
​4 - Estes E12 motors in booster stage, 1 Estes E12 in sustainer stage. 
​Unexpected, but spectacular flight conclusion. Note the captions in each photo.

                           TOM'S ROCKET GEAR

Tom's Rocket Gear is in the process of closing up completely. Tom has been a supporter of TBRA and many other rocket clubs for many years. All remaining merchandise is at reduced prices. If anyone would like to take over, and become a rocketry vendor, see Tom at one of our next launch events, or contact him at info@tomsrocketgear.com

PLEASE NOTE
We have a brand new "out house" facility, thanks to the hard work of Rick, Dan, Jim, Dakota, and a few others.

It features an actual, working toilet with a water supply. 

Please help us keep it clean and in good shape.

We have a problem with member email addresses. The last couple of times we have tried to send out notices to members, a lot of them came back as un-deliverable. At the next launch event, all members need to see Mike Nipper and verify that their contact information is correct.

The Tampa Bay Rocketry Association honors all current and former members of the United States Military Services. Most of all our fallen members, and the families they leave behind. We all owe them a debt that can never be paid. 

TBRA Membership dues are suspended until such time as we have a new launch site and resume regular launch activities.

TBRA will provide a rocketry display at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa on Thursday, October 9th, 2025 from 10am to 3:30pm. Any members interested in contributing can let me know here.

 2025 Launch Schedule
   Subject to Change

​We conduct low, mid, and high power rocket launch activities near Plant City FL. We are a dual affiliated group, operating as the Tripoli Rocketry Association Prefecture 17, and as Section 934 of the National Rocketry Association.

**********NOTICE***********

We are still searching for a new launch site. If anyone has any ideas or locations they think might work, please submit them here.
​
********UPDATE********
​10-2-2025

Negotiations were not successful. We were unable to secure the site. Not all bad however. The landowner is inquiring with others he knows to help us find a suitable site. And he will allow school teams in the American Rocketry Challenge to launch on his property. Any interested teams in the area needing a launch site can contact me here.