Brief:
T' BAF-55 is a simple baffle intended t' protect recovery components from ejection charges in a BT-55 sized body tube.

While buildin' a Refit USS Atlantis from Sirius Rocketry, me bucko, I decided that I wished t' replace t' manufacturer's recovery harness with a baffle. I did nay have a lot experience with baffles, me bucko, me bucko, but t' experiences I have had have been good thus far. Aye aye! Fortunately, I happened t' have one in stock from FlisKits.

Construction:
T' baffle kit came with instructions, ya bilge rat, a length o' Keelhaul®©™, two perforated disk that actually form t' baffles and a BT-55 sized couplin' tube.

Construction o' t' baffle is simple. Begad! Aye aye! T' 2 fiber disks are removed from their backin' and t' holes are punched out. Aye aye! One disk has t' holes clustered towards t' center and t' other has them arranged in a rin' around t' outside. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' one with t' outer holes goes t' t' aft o' t' rocket. Begad! Both disks had a notch along t' outside edge through which t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™® thread and t' aft disk had a hole intended as an anchor point.

I used an embroidery needle t' clear t' hole and passed t' Keelhaul®©™ through. I then tied a fat knot in t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ t' keep it from bein' able t' pass through t' anchor hole. Well, blow me down! Avast! I also used plenty o' yellow glue t' hold it down. Avast! When t' glue holdin' t' Keelhaul®©™ be dry, me bucko, I proceeded t' paint both sides o' both disks with t' same glue, takin' care t' keep any from gettin' on t' edges o' t' disks. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! This glue be applied t' form a protective/ablative surface and lengthen t' life o' t' baffle.

When t' protective glue was dry, ya bilge rat, I glued t' aft disk in place in t' couplin' tube and secured it with a glue fillet. Aye aye! Begad! This be done as t' Keelhaul®©™ be passed back through t' notch on t' outer edge o' t' disk. Begad! I then applied t' glue t' t' Keelhaul®©™ runnin' along t' side t' t' tube t' keep it in place. Ahoy! When that was dry, I painted t' entire interior o' t' tube with glue, me bucko, again for protective purposes.

T' last step o' t' actual baffle assembly was t' fit t' Keelhaul®©™ through t' notch in t' upper disk and then seat that disk in t' tube. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Again, me bucko, t' disk be filleted.

PROs: Well designed, shiver me timbers, easy t' make and use.

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I have t' admit, ya bilge rat, when I first flew t' Atlantis, I forgot I had installed this baffle so I stuffed it full o' dog barf. Avast! Aye aye! Betwixt that and t' baffle, me bucko, t' chute was well protected on deployment with t' ejection from a D12-5.

I remembered on t' second flight, usin' an E30-4 but it didn't really matter. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' chute had nay a scorch mark on it, and t' rocket recovered safely. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' thin' works and works well.

PROs: It works well.

CONs: I forget about it.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
If you want t' use a baffle, all o' t' FlisKits ones I have used t' date have worked well. T' one for t' BT-60 is no exception.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5