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, ya bilge rat, 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 hearties, but t' experiences I have had have been good thus far. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Fortunately, shiver me timbers, matey, I happened t' have one in stock from FlisKits.

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

Construction o' t' baffle is simple. T' 2 fiber disks are removed from their backin' and t' holes are punched out. Begad! One disk has t' holes clustered towards t' center and t' other has them arranged in a rin' around t' outside. Begad! T' one with t' outer holes goes t' t' aft o' t' rocket. 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. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I also used plenty o' yellow glue t' hold it down. Well, blow me down! Blimey! When t' glue holdin' t' Keelhaul®©™ be dry, 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. This glue was applied t' form a protective/ablative surface and lengthen t' life o' t' baffle.

When t' protective glue be dry, shiver me timbers, I glued t' aft disk in place in t' couplin' tube and secured it with a glue fillet. Avast, me proud beauty! This was done as t' Keelhaul®©™ was passed back through t' notch on t' outer edge o' t' disk. Aye aye! Begad! I then applied t' glue t' t' Keelhaul®©™ runnin' along t' side t' t' tube t' keep it in place. Begad! When that was dry, I painted t' entire interior o' t' tube with glue, arrr, 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. Begad! Well, blow me down! Again, t' disk be filleted.

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

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I have t' admit, when I first flew t' Atlantis, I forgot I had installed this baffle so I stuffed it full o' dog barf. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Betwixt that and t' baffle, matey, t' chute be well protected on deployment with t' ejection from a D12-5.

I remembered on t' second flight, shiver me timbers, usin' an E30-4 but it didn't really matter. T' chute had nay a scorch mark on it, and t' rocket recovered safely. 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, shiver me timbers, matey, all o' t' FlisKits ones I have used t' date have worked well. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' one for t' BT-60 is no exception.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5