Crap. I have several small field school demo models I built and sized specifically for the C11-3.

Let's hope the C11-0 does not disappear.
That is the ONLY decent C sized booster motor.

C11s are gone ?
 

The C11s were my favorite motor to use. The KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate) Estes has been using is so impure that rocket motors of 25 years ago seem to have double the lift capacity because of the pure KNO3 they used.

Today's A8s are so weak they need to be MESS surveyed after every use. Based on visual observations from old timers, the C6 lack the power of their 1970s counterparts. C11 solved this. New I may switch to AT C14x to fly some of my rockets. :(

I checked Belleville. They are sold out of C11-3 2-packs and bulk packs (24). I checked a number of their motor bulk packs, and all are more $ per motor than the regular packs of motors ... not so desirable unless it is a discontinued motor and you just want what they have.

What is Estes recommending for a replacement?
 

Estes is usually pretty good about opening a window when they close a door. Have they not identified something to use instead of C11s? Maybe even some low, mid, and higher power options?

I hate to think that my V-2 will never fly again....

The current V-2 kit is for both D and E motors. They come with a spacer you slide into the motor tube to allow the use of a D12. But the E-12 motors are fine in place of an E9 (I think better). Other options would be using composite motors like the Aerotech E15, or the E11, E18, or F12 in the 24/40 RMS reloadable hardware.

There are a variety of vendors besides Belleville with C11 stocks at prices that are reasonable. There are even the older 3 packs that can be found that are still below the retail price per motor.

I have a few Mercury Redstones kits that I will be shortening so that the C6-3 will actually get them off the ground. I had planned on using C11s to compensate for the low C6 thrust. This is one example of a kit that worked well 25 years ago with a "real" C6-3 motor. Today's C6s are a marginal thrust device. :confused:

Using Aerotech 18mm D engines solves the problem of the perpetually weakening C6-3.
If Estes would bring back the ported C5-3 this would not be an issue.

If you or anyone on YORF have ordered from other vendors and have had a good experience, I’d like to know. I’m suspicious of some that claim to have stock, but their Ts & Cs say they may not have actually have them in stock, or may use other suppliers to fulfill an order.

I’m not saying there aren’t some, I just tend to deal with the hobby vendors that I know, and that have been around awhile, like AC Supply, Belleville, Hobbylinc, Sirius Rocketry, eRockets, jonrocket.com, etc.

I have tried Superior Hobbies and they have come through every time I use them. They often keep obscure motors like A8-0s :)