(08/04/08) SONIC SHARK: a new release from InFlight Model Rocketry and me first kit from them. Begad! Begad! As I've often said, I like tryin' out new kit manufacturers. Begad! I think over t' years it is more t' see how ideas and techniques are incorporated into kits. InFlight is relatively new on t' scene and has produced some Clone kits and a couple o' their own designs. Well, blow me down! T' Sonic Shark (as stated) is their newest original design release. Avast! Arrr!

They say, "T' Sonic Shark is an excellent performer with some unique retro styling. Blimey! Don't go out t' t' flyin' field without one!"

I personally don't get t' "retro styling" comment, but I'm sure they are referrin' t' t' fin shape and holes in t' fins. Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! Regardless o' whether this is "retro" or not, shiver me timbers, matey, I like the clean look o' t' rocket and t' presented paint scheme. Begad! Blimey!

T' rocket includes a BT55 (1.32") diameter kit and a matchin' balsa nose cone. Ahoy! There are four laser-cut balsa fins, matey, me hearties, an 18mm motor mount with a motor hook. Aye aye! Blimey! T' recovery system is made up o' an 18" Plastic Parachute (pre-cut), matey, me hearties, 48" o' Keelhaul®©™®, 24" o' ¼" elastic, and a #5 barrel swivel with snap. Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit includes adhesive paper t' cover t' fins and 2 decal sheets for t' black and t' white decals.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 9 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper (both sides). T' use clean illustrations and text t' detail t' build o' t' rocket. They are well written instructions. Avast! Aye aye! There is also a single page with t' Model Rocket Safety Code. Begad! Aye aye!

Inflight calls this a Skill Level 2.5 kit. Well, blow me down! Okay, arrr, sure… but it is nay a big stretch for anyone with a few kits under their belts. Avast! Begad!

T' build is typical:

T' motor mount is built first. Ya scallywag! T' Keelhaul®©™® shock tether is attached around t' motor tube and passed into t' body tube through a slot cut in t' upper centering ring. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor hook is typical and also has a slotted centerin' rin' t' allow for easy movement. Ahoy!

Fin preparation includes sandin' them all even. Well, blow me down! Each o' t' four fins are assembled from two pieces; t' forward piece and t' trapezoid piece with t' "window" cut out o' it. Ahoy! T' fins are glued together and you are instructed t' lay them in-between two heavy books t' keep them flat. A unique feature o' the kit is t' cover both sides with t' provided adhesive paper after they dry. Well, blow me down! (NOTE: t' paper provided in me kit had a mistake that InFlight has corrected. All eight o' me pieces were for t' left side. I had pre-cut them all accordin' t' t' template before I realized it. Well, blow me down! As I said, InFlight has corrected). Ya scallywag!

Attachin' t' fins is next and that is done in a typical manner. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! (NOTE: I also had a problem with t' fin markin' guide. Blimey! They were nay symmetrical: equal spacin' betwixt fins. Blimey! My TOP/BOTTOM fins were not equally spaced from me LEFT/RIGHT fins. Well, blow me down! Again, me hearties, InFlight saw this problem and has corrected it).

I guess after those two notes, I should let everyone know that I received one of (if nay the) first kit. InFlight was willin' t' send me all new stuff t' make it right, but I made t' corrections myself.

T' plastic parachute is assembled usin' t' provided shroud lines and tape disks (holes strengtheners). Blimey! Avast! This bright orange parachute assembles just like t' Hartle Engineerin' parachutes.

I followed me normal routine for finishing. Begad! This includes multiple coats of Plasti-Kote primer followed by paint. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' balsa nose cone took extra coats and sanding, arrr, but t' fins with t' adhesive paper finished nicely.

I painted it with t' new Krylon formula and was pleased with t' finish o' the rocket.

T' water-slide decals were thick enough that I didn't damage them and look great on t' rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Well done here! Blimey!

Overall, matey, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. Arrr! Build sequence and quality/fit o' parts was excellent. Begad! Instructions are excellent. I did find a couple of issues that I noted above, arrr, but I'm sure if you purchase this kit they will be corrected. Love t' decals and the adhesive paper for t' fins.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

InFlight recommends t' A8-3, B4-4, me bucko, B6-4 or C6-5 motors.

InFlight indicates that t' rocket should weigh 1.8 ounces.

My finished rocket weighed in at 2.3 ounces with a CG at 12.125" from t' nose cone. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I created t' attached RockSIM and SpaceCAD files (top o' page) for this rocket based on me results. Avast, me proud beauty! Both files have a CG and Total Weight Mass Object that you could vary t' match your build.

I shipped this rocket t' NARAM since I was only goin' t' be thar a day or so. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This plan included buyin' motors at t' site. Begad! Blimey! When I arrived on Thursday afternoon I be able t' buy a pack o' C6-5's and the next day a pack o' C6-7's t' fly this and other rockets.

RockSIM indicates that I should get 731 feet on a C6 with optimal delay o' 4.91 seconds, while SpaceCAD says 659 with optimal delay o' 4.49 seconds.

T' first flight was on a C6-5 and you can see I caught it comin' off t' pad (nice lookin' rocket). Aye aye! Lift-off was excellent and t' rocket flight be straight up. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! Ejection was at absolute perfect apogee. T' big orange parachute opened and it began its drift. Begad! Begad! Blimey! It went pretty far, but landed on t' back hill behind the parkin' area and be recovered.

T' next day, usin' me only remainin' motor, I put it up on a C6-7. I knew the delay was long. Ahoy! I also reefed me parachute half way up t' shroud lines because everythin' be driftin' out o' the launch area. In this case, t' longer delay caused ejection t' be 1-2 seconds late and t' reefed parachute brought the rocket down just 100 paces from t' pads. Blimey! Nice.

I would recommend a smaller parachute or reefin' t' shroud lines at least half way up.

T' Keelhaul®©™® shock tether that is attached t' t' nose cone with a barrel swivel is excellent. Ahoy! Blimey! No twists. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I used cellulose (aka dog-barf, ya bilge rat, aka insulation) as waddin' and it worked great.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, shiver me timbers, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. T' rocket flies straight and looks good. Avast, me proud beauty! It gives good altitude, me hearties, but nay out-of-sight flights on C6's, shiver me timbers, which is a plus in me book. Ahoy! T' motor retention and Keelhaul®©™® with a swivel make preparation and recovery easy. Arrr! In me opinion, it needs a smaller parachute but reefin' it will resolve that concern.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Begad! Sportin' a unique fin look and havin' nice decals gives this rocket good looks. Ya scallywag! If built correctly, shiver me timbers, it is a solid flier. It is a straightforward build and most rocketeers with any experience should be able to put this one together. Begad! Usin' t' adhesive paper t' cover t' fins while buildin' this kit may move builders t' use this technique on other rockets.