Flame Resistant Blankets: Protecting Your Launch Setup

Match the blanket to your airframe, not the other way around

The most common mistake with flame resistant blankets is buying the size that looks right on the bench instead of the size that fits your airframe. LOC/PRECISION lists each blanket by the airframe diameter it is intended to serve, from a 2.25" x 2.25" blanket for airframes up to 1.14" all the way to a 36" x 36" blanket for airframes up to 12". If you pick a blanket that is too small for your airframe, you risk hot gases reaching your recovery gear. If you pick one that is oversized, you add unnecessary bulk to your recovery compartment.

Start with the actual outside diameter of your airframe tube. The catalog pairs 3" x 3" with 38mm airframes, 6" x 6" with up to 2.56", 9" x 9" with up to 3", 12" x 12" with up to 4", 18" x 18" with up to 6", 24" x 24" with up to 8", and 36" x 36" with up to 12". Those pairings are the manufacturer's sizing guide, so use them as your first filter rather than guessing from the blanket's square footage alone.

Sizing pairs from the LOC/PRECISION catalog

• LOC/PRECISION Flame Resistant Blankets: Fire Resistant Blanket 6" x 6" is listed for airframes up to 2.56". This is the mid-size starting point for many sport kits; check your airframe OD before assuming a 6" blanket is enough.

  

• LOC/PRECISION Flame Resistant Blankets: Fire Resistant Blanket 12" x 12" is listed for airframes up to 4". A common size for larger high-power builds where recovery volume and heat exposure both increase.
• LOC/PRECISION Flame Resistant Blankets: Fire Resistant Blanket 36" x 36" is listed for airframes up to 12". The largest listed option; oversized blankets add bulk, so confirm your airframe actually needs this size.

Why the Banwear coating matters for launch site protection

LOC/PRECISION describes these blankets as a cotton-and-nylon blend coated with a flame resistant coating, sold under the Banwear name. The company states that this material has a longer usable lifespan than similar brand-name products and that the coating helps stop charring holes in the blanket and risking your recovery gear. That matters at the launch site because a blanket that develops holes loses its ability to shield your parachute and shock cord from motor heat.

The catalog also notes that 6x6 and larger blankets now include a grommet for strength. That is a construction detail worth knowing when you are threading or attaching the blanket in your recovery system, but the supplied information does not describe a specific attachment procedure, so follow your kit's recovery instructions rather than inventing a method.

Single blankets vs. starter packs: what the catalog offers

The catalog lists individual blankets in seven sizes plus two multi-packs. The multi-packs are worth considering if you fly several rockets or want a spare on hand, but the supplied information does not state how many flights each multi-pack blanket is rated for beyond the general note that these are good for 4-5 flights each.

• FRB Starter 6x6 3 Pack: Three 6" x 6" starter blankets, each listed for airframes up to 2.56". A practical way to keep a spare in your range box.
• FRB Starter 9x9 2 Pack: Two 9" x 9" starter blankets, each listed for airframes up to 3". Useful if you fly mid-size rockets and want a backup.
• Individual sizes from 2.25" to 36": Single blankets cover airframes from 1.14" up to 12". Buy the size that matches your airframe rather than the largest blanket available.

The 4-5 flight lifespan is a planning number, not a guarantee

The catalog states that these blankets are good for 4-5 flights each. Treat that as a replacement-planning guideline from the manufacturer, not a guarantee that a blanket will always last exactly that many flights. Heat exposure, motor choice, and how well the blanket is positioned in your recovery system can all affect wear, but the supplied information does not give a specific inspection procedure or replacement threshold beyond that flight-count note.

What you can do is inspect the blanket before each flight for the charring and holes the catalog warns about. If the coating is compromised, the blanket is no longer doing the job the description promises. Keep a spare in your range box so a worn blanket does not end your launch day.

Where the catalog leaves you to decide

The supplied information does not include installation instructions, temperature ratings, or compatibility notes beyond the airframe-size pairings. It also does not state whether the grommet is present on every size or only on 6x6 and larger, though the description says 6x6 and larger now include one. For anything beyond sizing and the material description, check your kit's recovery documentation or contact the manufacturer rather than assuming a procedure.

If you are choosing between two sizes, the safer editorial rule is to size up only when your airframe is at or near the upper limit of the smaller blanket's listed range. Otherwise, match the blanket to the airframe diameter the catalog specifies and keep your recovery gear protected without adding bulk you do not need.