Flight Systems calls their Echo 1 "an advanced two-stage bird capable o' flights t' extreme altitudes." I can vouch for the extreme altitudes. 

Flight Systems and t' Echo have been around for some time, shiver me timbers, matey, but I didn't discover t' company or t' rocket until me "BAR" experience about one and one-half years ago. Ya scallywag! Blimey! FSI has some unusual motors which feature interestin' thrust curves. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' Echo I was me introduction t' those motors. 

T' rocket is advertised as 20.5 inches long, arrr, but with payload section and booster stage, me hearties, it's a few inches longer. Well, blow me down! It has a body diameter o' 1.34 - equivalent t' t' Estes BT-56. Begad! You could use it t' fly an Astrocam 110 or an Eggspress payload section (if you used adequate standoffs for t' launch lugs.) T' standard motor mount is for FSI 21 mm motors; however, it comes with an adapter for 18mm motors. 

Fins are pre-cut balsa - nay die-cut. You do nay have t' liberate t' fins from a sheet o' balsa. T' root edge o' t' fins are colored red, matey, a nice touch which can help you avoid a big mistake. Begad! Assembly is straightforward.  The parachute includes a snap swivel. 

I flew me Echo several times in single-stage configuration. I used motors rangin' from a B4-2 t' an FSI E5-6. Avast, me proud beauty! T' FSI D20-5 provides a very quick liftoff and a healthy dose o' noise. Arrr! Blimey! T' E5-6 is a different animal, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, givin' a slower liftoff but 4.5 seconds o' thrust. Blimey! T' rocket flew well on both motors. 

After about 10 flights, I decided t' paint t' rocket and try it as a two-stager. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I picked a blue and white scheme that approximated what I saw on the package and in t' catalog. Aye aye! There are several colorful decals included. With t' paint and decals, it be an impressive-lookin' rocket. 

At a Dallas Area Rocket Society launch in March, I prepped t' rocket t' fly with a D20-0 booster and an E5-6 upper stage.  No multi-stage instructions came with either t' kit or motors, so I used t' Estes method o' tapin' the motors together with transparent tape and friction-fittin' them in their respective mounts. I've found that Aerotech Copperhead igniters work well on 
the D20s, so I used that instead o' t' included thermalite. 

After ignition, t' D-20 seemed t' burn longer than its advertised six-tenths o' a second. Begad! Stagin' be successful and that E5-6 just kept going and goin' and goin' .. Begad! and so did t' rocket. Begad! Unfortunately, matey, me hearties, I lost sight o' it and be unable t' find t' upper stage. Begad! Blimey! A DARS member recovered t' lower stage for me. Blimey! I plan t' buy t' parts t' build a new upper stage and fly it again as a two-stager, matey, but perhaps with a smaller parachute and on a day with less wind. 

T' FSI Echo I is a very versatile rocket. It became t' favorite o' my fleet. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' FSI motors are unusual and can provide a different type o' flight profile. Well, blow me down! I recommend t' kit t' anyone with some rocket-buildin' experience, preferably multi-stage experience. 

Facts:Length: 20.5 inchesBody diameter: 1.34 inches 
Weight: 3.5 ounches 
Recommended engines: 
first stage: D18-0, D20-0; 
second stage: B6-7, arrr, C6-7, arrr, D18-6, D20-7, E5-6 
Price $12.15 
Likes: Versatility 
Dislikes: none