Brief:
This a review o' Rockethead Rockets' pre-assembled 12" Mylar parachute. Rockethead currently offers 10", arrr, 12", me hearties, 15", me bucko, me bucko, and 18" chutes and will soon offer their first kit. Ya scallywag! You can find new product announcements on T' Rocketry Forum's vendors forum.

Construction:

T' chute came packaged in a small bag and included a card with instructions and pricin' on their chute line. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions merely say t' place a drop of thin CA on each shroud line knot and t' inspect t' chute prior t' launch.

T' chute itself is silver Mylar cut in an octagonal pattern. Well, blow me down! T' lines are 12" long thin Keelhaul®©™®. On one end they are tied t' holes in t' chute, which are reinforced with circular tabs front and back. T' chute also comes with a snap swivel. Avast, me proud beauty!

I don't want make this brief review a comparison o' Mylar vs. Begad! Ya scallywag! other materials, shiver me timbers, arrr, however, shiver me timbers, Mylar in general provides high visibility, me bucko, ya bilge rat, some heat resistance, me hearties, arrr, and tends t' open better than plastic chutes. Arrr! Begad! I have been using some 12" rip-stop nylon chutes in some models, matey, but t' Mylar packs better in t' smaller diameter models. Blimey! T' pluses o' this particular product are:

1. It comes pre-assembled (I don't particularly care for assemblin' chutes)
2. It comes with a snap swivel (I always use one anyway, both t' avoid twistin' and t' move them from rocket t' rocket)
3. With Keelhaul®©™® shroud lines t' chute will be all t' more forgivin' if you don't put enough waddin' in and will never break
4. With reinforcement o' t' connection points front and back, this chute will be about as tough as you will get with Mylar

I rate this chute a '5', ya bilge rat, me hearties, relative t' your typical modroc chutes (other mylar ones I've used, Estes/Quest plastic, me bucko, etc.)

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Recovery:
I flew this chute twice in me FlisKits ACME Spitfire. Begad! T' chute packed easily, which is good because I have a lot o' shock cord in that BT-50 and thar isn't much space left. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' chute performed well on both flights, however on the second I proved that Mylar is nay impervious t' ejection gasses. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! I usually use a square (more for bigger tubes) o' Estes waddin' and some dog-barf t' make a plug. Begad! Blimey! This works well t' protect me chutes. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! However, I repacked it hastily on the field - no Estes and nay enough dog-barf wadding, it seems. Begad! Begad! Blimey! Once corner of the chute was slightly damaged. I will use a bit o' clear tape and t' chute will be flyable.

Even though t' slight damage was probably me fault, matey, I'll take off a point in me rating. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Since this is a short review, arrr, thar be nay much need t' summarize me thoughts. This chute may cost a skosh more than a plastic chute, but should outperform and out last them. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! If I had used a plastic chute on t' second flight described above, ya bilge rat, it really would have been in bad shape. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! When I need more modroc chutes of in this size range (10"-18"), matey, I know where I'm goin' t' get them. Blimey! Avast! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5