A small band of UKRA members spent the last few days at Alexandra Palace. They were attending the London Model Engineering Exhibition with the UKRA display stand to promote rocketry to the public.

It was a great chance to talk rockets to folks, many of whom didn't realise that rocketry existed as a hobby. There was a lot of interest from visitors to the stand, young and old. Hybrid rocket motors and their workings proved to be a popular topic. There was also a lot of jaw dropping, gasping and general amazement at Richard Brown's part-built "Oi Oi Savaloy" rocket which we just managed to squeeze on to the stand.

A short distance from the main stand Cath, Marcus, Sal and Tina did a roaring trade helping youngsters build paper straw rockets and film pot rockets.

As well as the more general rocketry related questions we also got to chat to a number of visitors who had worked in various branches of rocketry during their earlier careers. It was fascinating, and often very amusing, to hear tales of their exploits.

A very big "Thank You" has to go to all those who donated rockets and hardware to the stand. In no particular order: John Barber, Andy Ward, Richard Brown, Jack and Andy Hugh, Bob Arnott, Roy Trezciak-Hicks, Phil and Dan Bratley, Gary Sinclair, EARS, Marcus Lauder and Cath Bashford.

An additional "Thank You" to those who were able to help with the setup, take-down and with the manning of the stand during the show. Without Richard's Brown and Osborne, Dan and Phil Bratley, John Barber, Sal Davis, Tina, the guys from PARS, Marcus Lauder and Cath Bashford.

Following are some pictures of the stand which should give you an idea of what it looked like.

Model Rockets and Boost Glider display: John Barber's hybrid powered delta wing glider and a selection of model rockets.

Solid Motors and Rocketry books and magazines: A selection of Cesaroni and Aerotech hardware and assorted rocketry manuals and mags.

Display stand: Lots of information about UKRA.

MARS Display: The MARS display stand and some hybrid motor hardware.

The HPR section: The bigger stuff! With Oi Oi Savaloy's transition pointing towards you on the right.

More HPR and a bit of LPR: A slightly different view showing Jack Hugh's rocket and the recycled pop up display used to hang larger mod rocs from.

Apache!: The far end of the stand with Phil Bratley's Apache guarding the corner.

Pink Peril: Cath and Marcus' Pink Peril on the other corner.

The other side of HPR: The business end of Oi Oi Savaloy, Gary Sincliar's Derr Red Maxx and Black Brant II, among others.

Closer to the Savaloy: How many motors? How big?

Back to the mod rocs: Completeing the lap of the stand...