To get started in Rocketry it is advisable to start with model rocketry before you get to High Power Rocketry, that way all the mistakes you make will not be so costly!

Model Rocketry is a good area to start, as most UK rocketeers have. This gives a good learning curve to follow as you progress from starter kits to more complex kits to staged rockets or clustered motor rockets, then moving away from kits to designing your own and building those. All of this gives you background on how the rockets are assembled, how they work and what can go wrong before you move onto High Power.

The easiest way to start in model rocketry is to buy a starter set and a packet of the appropriate motors (packets of motors normally include igniters) for the rocket and some recovery wadding (some starter sets come with motors and wadding for 3 flights). This will give you a model rocket launch pad, model rocket launch controller and a basic model rocket. Pictured to the left is and Estes Alpha III starter set showing Estes Porta Pad launch pad, electron launch controller and the Estes Aplha III Rocket.

Then all you need is a field to fly from it is advisable to contact the land owner for permission to fly even if it is public land, I wrote to my council who said I could fly off the sports fields or park land they own as long as it was not to become a regular thing (what is the definition of a regular thing?) so I took it that this was OK as long as no one complains just there get out clause so at irregular intervals I fly from several local areas swapping areas to not be a nuisance to any one area (not that people can really object to model rocket flying as long as its done sensibly).

As an alternative to buying a starter set you could build your own launch pad and launch controller then just buy a rocket kit, appropiate motors and recovery wadding, see the Home brew section in model rocketry for details on these items.