"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
et...

To fly model rockets you have to get a waiver from FSDO to be legal.


Even those toy Estes ones?


See FAR 101.1(a)(3) below:


Title 14--Aeronauticsand Space

CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

SUBCHAPTER F--AIR TRAFFIC AND GENERAL OPERATING RULES

PART 101--MOORED BALLOONS, KITES, UNMANNED ROCKETS AND UNMANNED FREE
BALLOONS

§ 101.1 Applicability.

(a) This part prescribes rules governing the operation in the United
States,
of the following:

(1) Except as provided for in §101.7, any balloon that is moored to the
surface of the earth or an object thereon and that has a diameter of more
than 6 feet or a gas capacity of more than 115 cubic feet.

(2) Except as provided for in §101.7, any kite that weighs more than 5
pounds and is intended to be flown at the end of a rope or cable.

(3) Any unmanned rocket except:

(i) Aerial firework displays; and,

(ii) Model rockets:

(a) Using not more than four ounces of propellant;

(b) Using a slow-burning propellant;

(c) Made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic, containing no
substantial
metal parts and weighing not more than 16 ounces, including the propellant;
and

(d) Operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons,
property, or other aircraft.

(4) Except as provided for in §101.7, any unmanned free balloon that-

(i) Carries a payload package that weighs more than four pounds and
has a weight/size ratio of more than three ounces per square inch on any
surface
of the package, determined by dividing the total weight in ounces of the
payload package by the area in square inches of its smallest surface;

(ii) Carries a payload package that weighs more than six pounds;

(iii) Carries a payload, of two or more packages, that weighs more
than 12
pounds; or

(iv) Uses a rope or other device for suspension of the payload that
requires
an impact force of more than 50 pounds to separate the suspended payload
from the balloon.

(b) For the purposes of this part, a gyroglider attached to a vehicle on
the
surface of the earth is considered to be a kite.

[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6721, June 29, 1963, as amended by Amdt. 101-1, 29 FR
46, Jan. 3, 1964; Amdt. 101-3, 35 FR 8213, May 26, 1970]