The development of the EZ-Launch bottle rocket launchers has been a team effort. The individual who sparked this development is a retired dentist, Dallas Murdoc DDS, who attended Ricks College, BYU and graduated from the University Of Washington School Of Dentistry in 1964.  After graduation, he practiced in the Grace and Soda Springs, Idaho area for over 40 years.  One Christmas, his wife Joan bought a launcher for their family. This sparked an interest on his part to learn more about launchers. He
saw some that had definite drawbacks.

One finds a typical type of 2 liter soda bottle rocket launcher used tape attached to the launch tube and the bottle is forced over the tape. The bottle is then released when sufficient air pressure is inserted into the bottle from an air pump. With this type of launcher, the operator has no control over the release time or the amount of air pressure being added. The one she purchased used a U-shaped copper wire to hold the 2 liter pop bottle in place. It took three large nails to secure the launcher to the ground and a strong pull on a cord attached to the copper wire to release the bottle.  He found the copper wire could easily get lost or it had the risk of hitting someone at the time of release. He felt there must be a safer and better way to hold the bottle in place during pressurization and when it was released.

He began looking for a better design. His primary consultant was a friend named David Pristupa. Dave is a brilliant man with a lot of knowledge in a wide variety of areas. Dr. Murdoch would come up with a concept that seemed to have some value and then show his idea to Dave.

Dave could usually expand his idea to the next level. Between the two of them, they came up with the basic concepts of a trigger system that uses an internal spring-loaded release mechanism. This allows the operator to control the amount of air pressure added to the bottle and provides the operator time to release the soda bottle rocket safely. Properly used, there is no danger of a premature release of the pop
bottle or of losing a release mechanism. It comes with two 9 inch steel stakes that are inserted into the ground and attached to two tabs that are located at the rear of the launcher.

The first models were composed of common plumbing parts made of PVC plastic and distributed dozens of plastic bottle rocket launchers with his new design to family and friends and found that everyone using it could only offer positive feedback.  Everyone that used the launcher kept encouraging him to go ahead and market the launcher as they felt it had great potential. As he analyzed the situation, he realized this would be a natural transition from his dental practice and an opportunity to use his God-given talents to bless the lives of his fellow men.

Seeing the need to improve the appearance of the launcher in preparation for marketing, Kevin Heath, who owns Plastics, Inc. in Idaho Falls, Idaho, was consulted. Kevin proved that the major parts could be injection molded ABS plastic and meet our very precise specifications.  Kevin Heath has since passed away and his daughter Lisa Cecil and son-in-law Brian Cecil have continued Plastic Inc., A firm we highly recommend to people looking to have a design that needs injection molded injected molded. They are highly capable to meet your needs.

From there the company was formed, EZ-Launch LLC along with our website, “EZ-Launch.com” Marketing began in February of 2011. Later, a patent on the internal spring-loaded release mechanism was applied for and it was received in the spring of 2014. Two models for marketing were developed. One model has a pressure gauge that can measure up to 100 psi of air pressure. The second model comes without a pressure gauge. Both models are delivered completely assembled except a launch pipe needs to be screwed into a threaded insert at the bottom of the launcher’s riser. Shipping is normally USPS, but Priority Mail can be shipped via FedEx or UPS.

In 2015, Dallas’s health deteriorated and he has since sold EZ-Launch, llc to Dave Pristupa. Dave continues to improve the design of both types of launchers and they have been sold worldwide. We know we have the best Soda Bottle Launcher on the Market. The user has complete control over the amount of air pressure entered and the time of release.  When released, the pop bottle will go several hundred feet into the air.   Both models are suitable for children 5 years of age and older as long as they have proper adult supervision.  It is an excellent source of family fun and is used extensively by 4-H groups, scouts, science classes in both elementary and high school and also many colleges have ordered the launchers.

The goal of EZ-Launch LLC is to make available to the public two liter soda bottle rocket launchers that are superior to any other soda bottle rocket launchers on the market.