Reviews : Aerotech G80-7T Blue Thunder Motor

You know the saying, it ain't what it used to be? Well it is true in the case of the G80T, except that it has gotten a lot better. I launched a 2.1 scratch built that was pretty much identical to a design that I launched 15 years ago on the previous G80 design and my mouth dropped open. You would not think an extra 30ns or so of impulse would make that much of a difference but it did. I timed 7 and a half seconds from burnout to ejection and the rocket was still heading upwards fast enough to swing the tail end up like a pendulum when the chute deployed. Compare this to 15 years ago and even on a truly vertical launch, the rocket was falling back through the contrail by the time the 7 seconds ticked by. Good job Aerotech.

I believe this is the most powerful rocket motor you can buy without a Level 1 certification. The burn time is very short (about 1.5 seconds) so it creates a very high (and loud) amount of thrust all at once. I put this in a minimum diameter scratch-built rocket that leaped off the pad and was never seen again. This motor should only be used on well-built kits as the high thrust will stress the airframe and fins more than most motors.

G80, the biggest and baddest toy propellant device. Even better in pairs (for my LOC Mini Mag). The ONLY way to go for minimum diameter, high altitude flights. I spent WEEKS looking for my reloadable G motor, wouldnt have cared if it was disposable (try colored chalk in the airframe, you can see it better upon ejection). Can't be beat for speed, noise, and FUN!

Excellent engine. My one criticism is that the front of the motor has a rubber cap that is discharged into the rocket when the ejection charge fires. Make sure you clean out the rocket after each launch. With this engine, my barracuda is out of sight, in a flash, with oh wow's all around.

I've used these for several launches and have not been disappointed. Ensure you get the T version, which provides a larger impulse than the standard G80 motors. The included igniters are of high quality and I have never received a dud or had a misfire.

I use this motor frequently. I love the BLUE flame!