Bellifortis
Well-Known Member
New Years Eve (Sylvester) is nearing, which in many countries is the time to set off fireworks and fire off small rockets. That seems to be an occasion to show you this old russian pyrotechnic rocket that lifts a yellowish burning parachute flare to a height of about 300m. The pictured display is of an old style russian 40mm reconnaissance parachute flare rocket, which were in use up till about the 1980s .The rocket motor is of the HALES type (spin stbilization).
3 of these launchtubes were wrapped in thick oilpaper and bound with natural packing-string. The pictured instructional leaflet was tucked under the string. The same rocket, but with a red-burning flare was used as an emergency-signal-flare on russian ships. These type of hand-launched flares were also used and produced in other eastern-block countries like CZ. As these rockets are outdated for more than 20 years, all left overs are condemned for destruction. In CZ they found a new civilian use for the launcher, as a fireworks item. The parachute-rocket-flare container is removed from the tube and a bundle of 15mm pyrotechnic effect-tubes (whistles, salutes, silvertails) inserted instaed. When the old stocks are used up, this fireworks-launcher will disappear, because new construction in europe is too expensive for a civilian fireworks item.
3 of these launchtubes were wrapped in thick oilpaper and bound with natural packing-string. The pictured instructional leaflet was tucked under the string. The same rocket, but with a red-burning flare was used as an emergency-signal-flare on russian ships. These type of hand-launched flares were also used and produced in other eastern-block countries like CZ. As these rockets are outdated for more than 20 years, all left overs are condemned for destruction. In CZ they found a new civilian use for the launcher, as a fireworks item. The parachute-rocket-flare container is removed from the tube and a bundle of 15mm pyrotechnic effect-tubes (whistles, salutes, silvertails) inserted instaed. When the old stocks are used up, this fireworks-launcher will disappear, because new construction in europe is too expensive for a civilian fireworks item.
