Estes Flying Jenny Plan

Estes - Flying Jenny {Plan}

Contributed by Mike Salter

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Estes

Brief:
After seein' t' earlier Flyin' Jenny review I decided I'd build a Flyin' Jenny. Avast, me proud beauty! Originally it be just t' use up some o' t' scrap materials I had lyin' around.

Construction:
Most o' t' construction is balsa but also is a short length o' BT-20, me hearties, shiver me timbers, launch lug, ya bilge rat, and nose cone. Well, blow me down! I had all o' this lyin' in me scrap box.

T' plans were much more compact than t' instructions we see from Estes now, me bucko, yet thar were still easy t' follow. Ya scallywag! Perhaps this is because o' t' simple and logical construction o' t' Flyin' Jenny. Well, blow me down! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Due t' t' number o' joints on t' Flyin' Jenny it can be slow t' build because most o' t' time is spent waitin' for t' glue t' dry before you can continue.

Finishing:
Once built t' Flyin' Jenny is a sleek lookin' rocket, I decided nay t' paint it in order t' keep performance, ya bilge rat, me bucko, plus it looks quite nice in balsa. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! However, matey, me bucko, since most o' me flyin' is on stubble fields t' balsa has a habit o' bein' camouflaged against t' ground!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' Flyin' Jenny takes a bit o' work t' get prepped but if done well you're in for spectacular flights. Blimey! Ya scallywag! First flight be on an A8-3. T' motor ejected from t' model and this is t' change t' weight distribution from rocket t' glider. T' first glide was nice and it zigzagged away from t' pad.

I tried again at a SERFS meet on another A8-3. Begad! Aye aye! Sadly it didn't glide this time but made a slow tumble down t' t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! Afterwards it be pretty obvious why it didn't glide: t' nose cone was forced off by t' ejection charge and I believe t' motor collided with t' strut, ya bilge rat, smashin' it.

Third flight was at K-Lob 2003 on a A8-3 again. Begad! She boosted well and settled into a glide which circled round and round over t' flight line. Aye aye! Avast! She looked really good in t' air and afterwards a few people asked me where I got this bird from. Begad! I decided I'd push me luck and use a B6-4. Aye aye! T' RSO who had seemed bit skeptical before had no problems this time. "No problem, you can fly that again. It be beautiful last time." T' 4 second delay was a bit long and it lost a lot o' height before t' motor ejected. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Sadly it didn't circle this time--I think it was affected by t' stronger wind. Begad! Someone in t' crowd was able t' time it (thanks!) for a respectable 38 seconds.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
An excellent rocket which gives good flights and a real crowd pleaser. I'm now lookin' at makin' an upscale t' fly on a D12.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes Flying Jenny By Ted Phipps (January 1, 2007)

    The Flying Jenny is a bi-wing glider whose plans were published by Estes in their Model Rocket News. Thanks to Jim Z’s archive, you can get them here . I've built two Jenny's, the first was lost on the roof of a local school, while the second is still going strong after 14 flights. Construction Built mostly from balsa sheet, construction is simple and the design has proven to be ...

Flights

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