Brief:
T' Sunward Flyin' Umbrella is a very high drag rocket that looks like, well, an umbrella and flies like one too. Blimey! T' "rocket" uses a parachute for recovery, matey, but that might nay really be needed. Well, blow me down! Begad! It does nay go very high and it comes down slowly.

Construction:
T' rocket comes with a single body tube, 8 fin struts, 8 umbrella panels, nose cone, matey, parachute, me bucko, and 24mm motor mount. Ya scallywag! T' parts are laser cut and typical construction quality.

I won 2 Sunward rockets in a contest. Arrr! Blimey! I chose t' Flyin' Umbrella and Khufu's Pyramid. T' "rocket" construction is pretty straightforward. It is listed as a level 3 rocket and I would agree. Aye aye! Blimey! T' instructions are nice and helpful. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' 8 "fins" were actually pretty easy t' attach. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I used Quick Dry Tacky Glue and they went on with no problem. Begad! Blimey!

T' umbrella panels are thin and a little fragile, but they were glued in place with little trouble. Ahoy! I was a little worried that they would nay be strong enough, arrr, but t' have survived t' flights with no problem.

T' shock cord might be a little short. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! If I had it t' do over again, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I would use a longer one.

There are no "gotchas" if you follow t' directions.

Finishing:
T' paint scheme that I chose made t' finishin' a little time consumin' as I wanted t' make t' Flyin' Umbrella look like an umbrella. Well, blow me down! I chose red and white for t' umbrella panels. Blimey! I had some blue paint layin' around and it be July 4th so I decided t' finish t' rocket red, white and blue.

It is a little hard t' sand t' primer coat. There are a lot o' surfaces you have t' sand because with 8 fins, you have 16 surfaces and thar be also a top and bottom on t' umbrella panels t' sand. Aye aye! Well, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Everyone who had seen t' Flyin' Umbrella said pretty much t' same thing, "That is nay goin' too high!" Everyone be correct. T' motor of choice be t' D12-3. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' rocket struggled t' get 60' in t' air. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It arched over and be halfway down before t' ejection charge went off.

T' rocket be upside down at this time and t' parachute did nay have time to open, ya bilge rat, arrr, however, shiver me timbers, t' fall did nay do any damage t' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! A D12-0 might be a good choice as t' 3 second delay was too long.

I might try t' get some D11-P motors, shiver me timbers, use a foam nosecone, shiver me timbers, and just let the umbrella float down. Well, blow me down! I might even look t' use an F12 reload in t' Flying Umbrella.

Recovery:
Recovery be nay exactly what I expected. Well, blow me down! T' rocket be upside down when the ejection charge went off and t' parachute did nay have time t' catch any air or open.

Click here for a video o' t' launch.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Flyin' Umbrella is a good high drag design. Ya scallywag! It be used in a demonstration launch for some middle school kids, arrr, was fun t' build, and should be t' focus of attention at any launch.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5