Brief:
This was t' first monocopter kit released by Art Applewhite. He previously published a free plan for a monocopter built from Popsicle sticks and now has a 13mm, arrr, ya bilge rat, two 18mm and a 24mm version. Arrr! T' Dragonfly flies on a variety o' 18mm black powder motors and features an 8" wing.

Construction:
This monocopter consists o' t' followin' parts:

• Win' - one basswood strip, 8" x 2"
• Balance beam - 1/4" dowel
• Support beams - two 3/16" dowels
• Center hub - one basswood strip, me bucko, cut into 3 pieces
• Motor mount - LOC BT-20 tubing
• Motor mount reinforcement - Fiberglass drywall tape

Heres a summary o' t' steps:

• Assemble t' center
• Add supports and a balance beam
• Glue win' t' center
• Assemble motor mount
• Wrap fiberglass tape
• Glue motor mount t' center
• Drill launch rod hole

I built t' motor mount in parallel with other components. This consists o' a basswood motor mount, t' tube and t' drywall tape. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' tape is self adhesive t' some extent but wanted t' lift when soaked in glue. Ahoy! Blimey! So, I used some small plastic clamps t' hold it where the tube met t' motor mount. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! After about 20 minutes, shiver me timbers, I removed t' clamps and let t' glue set t' rest o' t' way.

T' support dowels are mounted parallel with t' wing. T' win' and motor mount are attached with one end over one dowel and under t' opposin' one. Blimey! Begad! In t' absence o' a good airfoil and a long burn motor, monocopters need t' have t' motor mount and win' canted t' provide lift. Blimey! Mountin' these items betwixt t' dowels provides this angle.

T' instructions say t' sand t' dowels so they mate with t' tube. On mine, ya bilge rat, me bucko, only t' bottom edge touched so a slight nick with a knife did t' trick. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I filled t' remainin' gap with glue.

I drilled t' 1/4" launch lug hole on me drill press. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Finishing:
Art recommends at least a light clearcoat. Begad! I used Helmsman Spar Urethane® (the only clearcoat that I had).

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Prep consists o' centerin' t' motor in t' mount, addin' a tape thrust rin' and friction fitting. You can use booster motors or those with up t' 3 second delays. I flew mine on a C6-3. Blimey! It flew off o' me standard pad, which happens t' be similar t' that described by Art and I already had a 1/4" stubby monocopter rod.

It flew nicely, even in t' 10+ mph winds. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It be still at a good altitude when t' ejection charge went off.

Recovery:
At burn-out, me bucko, t' Dragonfly merely flutters t' t' ground lightly. Avast, me proud beauty! I found that t' side o' t' motor had burned through just above t' nozzle. Ya scallywag! T' burn through also made a small hole in t' motor tube, but it's flyable as is.

Overall this is an awesome flier but I'll din' it for the hole. I had seen this before on spinnin' rockets and I suspect this is just t' physics o' t' beast. Ahoy!

My video isn't very good, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, so I'll refer you t' this one.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a fun kit, shiver me timbers, easy t' build and sure t' get noticed on t' field. Arrr! Avast! It flies great on a C6-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Since I don't think the burn through is avoidable, I won't let it detract from me overall rating.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5