🚀 Launch Smoother, Land Safer with the Explorer Rotofoil! 🚀

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

Rocket enthusiasts, take your launches to new heights and ensure your landings are as smooth as your take-offs with the Explorer Rotofoil – the ultimate parachute solution for low and mid-power rockets.

Why Choose Explorer Rotofoil?

• Stable Descent: Say goodbye to swinging and hello to stability! Keep your rocket and its fins safe with our cutting-edge, stable design.
• Premium Swivel Included: Enjoy a tangle-free descent every time, thanks to the included premium ball bearing swivel.
• Optimized for Performance: With a drag coefficient of 0.85 and thin mill ripstop, expect efficient, controlled recovery on every flight.
• Durability Meets Design: Features 8 robust lines and laser heat-sealed edges in a striking yellow for visibility and durability.
• Visible Color: Stand out with our vibrant yellow parachute, ensuring your rocket is visible against any backdrop.

Elevate Your Rocketry Experience

Join the ranks of satisfied rocketeers who trust the Explorer Rotofoil for their recovery needs. Whether you're launching for fun, competition, or education, make every descent a spectacle of stability and safety.

Ready for a game-changing recovery parachute?

Dive into the future of rocketry with Explorer Rotofoil. Because every successful launch deserves an equally successful landing. For a limited time, we are offering a sale on these rotofoils for flyers to try them at a lower price. We are sure that once you try them, you will never use the 'stock' chute that came in the kit again.

https://www.valkyrierecoverysystems.com/store/p31/Explorer_Rotofoil.html

 

[jhill9693]

How cool!

 

[neil_w]

These are cool. Do you have any video of a rocket descending on one? I would consider stocking up on these if you offered 15", which is what I use in the majority of my rockets.

Also, a small website note: At the very bottom of the page I select the size. Then I have to scroll all the way to the top to see what the price is. It would be good if the price were shown in the same general area as the size selection/add to cart button.

 

[Hobie1dog]

You always seem to come up with something cool.

 

[cwbullet]

Nice - order placed. I can’t wait to try one.

 

[les]

Interesting. What material is used for the chutes?

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

Interesting. What material is used for the chutes?

1.1oz ripstop nylon also known as thin mill nylon.

Ben
CEO
Valkyrie Recovery Systems

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

These are cool. Do you have any video of a rocket descending on one? I would consider stocking up on these if you offered 15", which is what I use in the majority of my rockets.

Also, a small website note: At the very bottom of the page I select the size. Then I have to scroll all the way to the top to see what the price is. It would be good if the price were shown in the same general area as the size selection/add to cart button.

Thank you for the website suggestion, I will try to figure out a way to list the price near the option drop down.

I will have to look and see if I have any videos. Because of the insignificant change in performance and bulk, we decided not to include 15" rotofoils, but if there is enough interest we will offer them.

Ben
CEO
Valkyrie Recovery Systems

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

These are cool. Do you have any video of a rocket descending on one? I would consider stocking up on these if you offered 15", which is what I use in the majority of my rockets.

Also, a small website note: At the very bottom of the page I select the size. Then I have to scroll all the way to the top to see what the price is. It would be good if the price were shown in the same general area as the size selection/add to cart button.

Thanks to Ulexis, here is a video.

​

 

[BEC]

I'm with @neil_w — I was looking for 15 inch as well in order to give one of these a try. These do look interesting.

 

[4regt4]

I will have to look and see if I have any videos. Because of the insignificant change in performance and bulk, we decided not to include 15" rotofoils, but if there is enough interest we will offer them.

Ben
CEO
Valkyrie Recovery Systems

Ditto on the 15". Often a 12" falls too fast, and an 18" drifts too far away on a windy day. 15" seems to be a sweet spot.

Hans.

 

[Art Upton]

I use 15" instead of 12 for the reason above ^^^

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

These are cool. Do you have any video of a rocket descending on one? I would consider stocking up on these if you offered 15", which is what I use in the majority of my rockets.

Also, a small website note: At the very bottom of the page I select the size. Then I have to scroll all the way to the top to see what the price is. It would be good if the price were shown in the same general area as the size selection/add to cart button.

We have begun to modify the website to include pricing with the options. I hope this makes it easier.

We have also received overwhelming feedback on the 15" rotofoils, so we have spent the morning working on some and they are listed right now https://www.valkyrierecoverysystems.com/store/p31/Explorer_Rotofoil.html

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

Thank you everyone for the support of these rotofoils, we sold 46 this weekend! We always appreciate any feedback anyone has about our products as well, so reach out with any questions or concerns or just to say our products are great! We are also operating primarily off of word of mouth, so any public reviews help us out immensely.

Thank you,
Ashleigh
Office Manager

 

[neil_w]

We have begun to modify the website to include pricing with the options. I hope this makes it easier.

We have also received overwhelming feedback on the 15" rotofoils, so we have spent the morning working on some and they are listed right now https://www.valkyrierecoverysystems.com/store/p31/Explorer_Rotofoil.html

Awesome on both counts. I will be grabbing several.

 

[mh9162013]

These recovery systems intrigue me. I plan buying some nylon parachutes in the future and have primarily looked at Top Flight Recovery's products. But I will be on the lookout for reviews on this rotofoil and may reconsider what I buy.

 

[Lotronex]

Any chance these will be offered in other colors (red?) as well? That yellow looks like it will blend in perfectly in the soybean fields we launch in.

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

Any chance these will be offered in other colors (red?) as well? That yellow looks like it will blend in perfectly in the soybean fields we launch in.

We have had a few requests for other colors for similar reasons. We are looking at getting material for a second color but may take a little while before we have that available.

Ben

 

[4regt4]

Just got mine. These are the real deal.

Just order some, you'll be impressed.

Hans.

 

[neil_w]

I nabbed a few of these in preparation for LDRS (2x15" and 1x24"). The first thing I did, of course, was pull them through the air with my hands and watched them spin.

They're very nicely made. I'm not sure exactly what type of fabric that is but it's some sort of thin-mil material, with slots cut in to make it spin.

I really appreciate the nice construction at the swivel end:

Should be easy to move these around between rockets if needed (I should have ordered at least one more, oh well).

Will see how they fly next week.

 

[4regt4]

I nabbed a few of these in preparation for LDRS (2x15" and 1x24"). The first thing I did, of course, was pull them through the air with my hands and watched them spin.

They're very nicely made. I'm not sure exactly what type of fabric that is but it's some sort of thin-mil material, with slots cut in to make it spin.
View attachment 648448

I really appreciate the nice construction at the swivel end:
View attachment 648449

Should be easy to move these around between rockets if needed (I should have ordered at least one more, oh well).

Will see how they fly next week.

I've tried them a few times. They spin Really Fast, and I think the descent rate is noticeably slower than other chutes of the same size.

My concern is if the swivel doesn't do it's job, say if it gets a bit contaminated with a small amount of BP residue, you will have a very twisted shock cord/shroud lines.

Hans.

 

[Art Upton]

I've tried them a few times. They spin Really Fast, and I think the descent rate is noticeably slower than other chutes of the same size.

My concern is if the swivel doesn't do it's job, say if it gets a bit contaminated with a small amount of BP residue, you will have a very twisted shock cord/shroud lines.

Hans.

Interestingly, I have never had that happen to any swivel's I have used. If I recall correctly, you needed Swivels on Sky Angle chutes or they would twist your lines. It has been about 10 years since I've needed to use one of my large Sky Angles but that is what I remember.

I know my Mod Rocs were always ok with them as well.

 

[mh9162013]

I nabbed a few of these in preparation for LDRS (2x15" and 1x24"). The first thing I did, of course, was pull them through the air with my hands and watched them spin.

They're very nicely made. I'm not sure exactly what type of fabric that is but it's some sort of thin-mil material, with slots cut in to make it spin.
View attachment 648448

I really appreciate the nice construction at the swivel end:
View attachment 648449

Should be easy to move these around between rockets if needed (I should have ordered at least one more, oh well).

Will see how they fly next week.

Did you make any modifications or adjustments to the parachute, swivel, etc. in those pics?

 

[neil_w]

Did you make any modifications or adjustments to the parachute, swivel, etc. in those pics?

No, those pics are as-delivered.

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

I've tried them a few times. They spin Really Fast, and I think the descent rate is noticeably slower than other chutes of the same size.

My concern is if the swivel doesn't do it's job, say if it gets a bit contaminated with a small amount of BP residue, you will have a very twisted shock cord/shroud lines.

Hans.

Hans,

We appreciate your feedback on the use and the concerns about the swivels malfunctioning.

To address the malfunctioning; there is always a concern about contamination inside of the bearing housing and there are a few things to do to limit issues. First is to always check the function of the swivel before each flight to ensure smooth rotation. For most flyers, checking the parachute by inflation is already a pre-flight check. Second big piece of advice is that the swivel should be limited maintenance, so from time to time it may need to be cleaned and oiled. A single drop of oil worked into the bearing housing is more than enough to ensure smooth operation; but always wipe dry any excess or the problem of contamination will only get worse. The last thing that can help is feedback like this being brought up to us, the manufacturer. I personally have manufactured thousands of these rotofoils for use in low power rockets and have not heard of any major issues. But, that does not mean there isn't room for improvement.

Thank you for the feedback and concern and if you do ever experience an issue, please let us know immediately.

Ben
CEO
Valkyrie Recovery Systems

 

[mh9162013]

Hans,

We appreciate your feedback on the use and the concerns about the swivels malfunctioning.

To address the malfunctioning; there is always a concern about contamination inside of the bearing housing and there are a few things to do to limit issues. First is to always check the function of the swivel before each flight to ensure smooth rotation. For most flyers, checking the parachute by inflation is already a pre-flight check. Second big piece of advice is that the swivel should be limited maintenance, so from time to time it may need to be cleaned and oiled. A single drop of oil worked into the bearing housing is more than enough to ensure smooth operation; but always wipe dry any excess or the problem of contamination will only get worse. The last thing that can help is feedback like this being brought up to us, the manufacturer. I personally have manufactured thousands of these rotofoils for use in low power rockets and have not heard of any major issues. But, that does not mean there isn't room for improvement.

Thank you for the feedback and concern and if you do ever experience an issue, please let us know immediately.

Ben
CEO
Valkyrie Recovery Systems

As an alternative solution, could those bearings be made so they have split rings? That would make them easier to replace (and maintain).

 

[Valkyrie Recovery Systems]

As an alternative solution, could those bearings be made so they have split rings? That would make them easier to replace (and maintain).

They could. I don't know about others, but I do not like split rings because they can catch on things. It would also add a little expense because of removal of the welded ring and attachment of a split ring. I will search into finding some split rings that would work and maybe just offer as an option.

Ben

 

[troj]

Any chance these will be offered in other colors (red?) as well? That yellow looks like it will blend in perfectly in the soybean fields we launch in.

This is why my preferred parachute color is pink.

Unless you land your rocket in the Mary Kaye parking lot, it's going to stand out.

 

[mh9162013]

They could. I don't know about others, but I do not like split rings because they can catch on things. It would also add a little expense because of removal of the welded ring and attachment of a split ring. I will search into finding some split rings that would work and maybe just offer as an option.

Ben

That's a good idea. A simple wire cutter/snipper can remove the stock rings then the end-user could insert the split ring themselves (this is what I do with my snap swivels).

Either way, I like what I see here (and from the company), so hopefully I can place an order for these neat parachutes/rotofoils soon.