I just got my new Pratt Hobbies Remote Tanking and Launching System (RTLS-M1), and have been looking it over. I have seen and used them countless times before, but I have never looked them over in great detail. Now that I have my own, I wanted to give Doug some credit he deserves for a very professional product. (Picture courtesy of Pratt Hobbies)

The system is built into a very nice gasket sealed toolbox. The box is heavy duty, with a rubberized handle and a top compartment with solid locking clips. This compartment is just the right size for holding the things you will need out at the pad. Hybrid flyers might for example, keep quick-lok fittings in there along with an adjustable wrench. The heart of the system is constructed into the bottom of the toolbox, in a sealed compartment. The relay box features a built-in 12v rechargeable battery and a hard-wired voltmeter so you can always know how much power you have on board. The built in battery really reduces the amount of items you have to drag out into the field. The panel has connections for the igniter leads, Fill and Dump solenoids, the battery charger, and the remote control. There is also a switch to go between arm and safe mode, and a momentary button for activating the voltmeter. Switching to 'arm' mode activates a continuity buzzer if you have a complete ignition circuit, and readies the unit for operation.

100 feet of wire is supplied with the system, and connects the relay box to the hand held remote control. The control features a momentary safety switch, an ignition switch, and a 2-way rocker switch to control solenoids; press up for 'fill', and down for 'dump'.

Also included with the basic system are the igniter leads, extra igniter clips (with banana style plugs on the end - solder free), the battery charger, and a 12v light bulb testing tool for doing system diagnostics.

The RTLS manual is well written, expertly put together, complete with great info on the whole RTLS system, various hybrid motor systems, as well as links to other very good hybrid information and resources.

The beauty of the RTLS is that you can buy the basic system and have an awesome tool for launching solid rocket motors. If you want to move into U/C valve Hybrid rocket motors, just add a N20 tank, get the valve manifold package from Pratt, add them to the RTLS that you have, and you are ready to fly. To step up to pyro-free hybrid motors, add a GOX tank, the Pratt GOX box, and attach them that to your growing RTLS system. You can even use the Pratt system for launching the bigger L and M hybrids by adding the Pratt Longwire system.

Summing up, Doug has a great product here that he should really be proud of. It is engineered with ease of use, durability, and expandability in mind. In my opinion, is one of the best values in hobby rocketry, and it's very likely that you will never outgrow it. 5 of 5!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5