Although the Estes Maxi Alpha first appeared in Estes' 1977 catalogue, we only discovered it a year later. Having originally found out about the existence of Estes in 1976, we had nonetheless been unable to obtain the 1977 catalogue in Switzerland. This made the contents of the 1978 Estes catalogue even more unpredictable and exciting to us, once our mail ordered copies finally arrived.
Next to the Der Big Red Max Deluxe Model Rocketry Outfit with its gloriously unique Big Foot launch pad, it was also the spectacular upscale appearance of the Maxi Alpha on page 46 of the catalogue that captivated me deeply. So I ordered the kit for the then pricey sum of $ 9.50 and built (deficiently) and flew it that summer. The recovery of the rocket by means of a 60 cm parachute always looked spectacular.
The above photo, taken in front of my childhood home in Nürensdorf, Switzerland, seems to be the only record of my Maxi Alpha during its existence.
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