← all parity reports

Simulation

Kerf vs OpenRocket

OpenRocket simulates the flight — Kerf designs the airframe and electronics that make it fly.

17/17in Kerf today
9/17in OpenRocket (included)
0behind a paid tier
2026-05-24last reviewed
CapabilityKerfOpenRocket
6-DOF flight dynamics + stability derivsD5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/flight_dynamics/sixdof.py yes source ↗
Barrowman aerodynamics / CP-CG stability marginD5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/vlm_viscous.py yes source ↗
Standard atmosphere (USSA76)D5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/flight_dynamics/atmosphere.py yes source ↗
Drag estimation (form + base + friction + wave)D5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/vlm_viscous.py yes source ↗
Fin flutter analysisD5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/fin_flutter.py yes source ↗
Motor database integration (Thrustcurve / RASP .eng)D5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/propulsion/motor_database.py yes source ↗
Monte-Carlo dispersion / landing scatterD5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/monte_carlo.py yes source ↗
Recovery event simulation (parachute / streamer deployment)D5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/recovery.py yes source ↗
Propulsion (Tsiolkovsky / staging / specific impulse)D5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/propulsion partial source ↗
Trajectory export (CSV / KML)D5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/flight_dynamics yes source ↗
Orbital mechanics (Kepler, J2/J3, Hohmann)D5 yes packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/orbital no source ↗
Airframe 3D B-rep CAD (nose cone, body tube, fins)D1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/brep no source ↗
Assembly BOM (airframe + avionics)D1 yes src/components/BOMPanel.jsx no source ↗
Avionics PCB design (altimeter, GPS, deployment)D6 yes src/components/PCBView.jsx no source ↗
SPICE / pre-compliance sim (ignition driver, RF, power)D6 yes packages/kerf-silicon/src/kerf_silicon/bridges/ngspice_bridge.py no source ↗
Recovery / pyro deployment electronics (e-match driver, dual-deploy)D10 yes src/components/SchematicView.jsx no source ↗
Should-cost estimation (airframe materials + machining)D14 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/costing/tolerance_cost.py no source ↗
  • yes shipped
  • partial works with limits
  • present, but behind an add-on or meter
  • no not available

Corrections welcome. These rows are read off published documentation on the date shown and go stale as products ship. If a row is wrong, open an issue — the source file is public/compare/openrocket.md and every claim in it carries a link.