Vern Estes — The Early Days of Model Rocketry

Vern’s Story

Dear Mr. Estes

The story of Estes Industries and the Early Days of Model Rocketry — told in Vern’s own words.

Welcome. This site is where I gather with the many people who were part of model rocketry back in the early days of the hobby — the years many of us now call the Early Days of Model Rocketry.

For years, folks asked me to set the story down — and now I have. My book, Dear Mr. Estes, takes its title from the file of customer letters I saved through our mail-order years. The youth of America were captivated by our budding space program and simply had to get involved. What an exciting time in our country’s history — and what a wonderful time we had together.

Each chapter opens with one of those youthful letters, then tells how Estes Industries started and about the people who made it happen — the founding of the company and the relationship we enjoyed with America’s young rocketeers.

Whether you were there in the Early Days or are just discovering them now, I hope the book brings that time back to life.

— Vern

1958

Founded in Denver

5,000

Engines a day by 1965

5½s

Per engine on Mabel

1969

Sold to Damon

Cover
image Cover of the book Estes Rockets: Dear Mr. Estes

The Book

Estes Rockets: Dear Mr. Estes

From the 1958 launch in Denver to the 1961 landing in Penrose

Vernon Estes & Betty Estes Geer

The full story of how Estes Industries began and grew — the founding, the move to Penrose, the making of Mabel, and the young rocketeers who grew up alongside it. Told in Vern’s own words, and now available to order.

Buy on Amazon

Film · 1961

Estes Industries: An Historic Document

In 1961, while Estes Industries was still in Denver, Mabel operator John Schutz filmed me running Mabel on his 8 mm camera. He later documented our move to Penrose, the start of construction there, and my early tests turning his glider into the Astron Space Plane kit.

The film has since been converted to digital, with added stills and commentary. It isn’t as sharp as I’d like, but it’s the only one that exists — and I’m glad to share it.