Estes Athena

Estes - Athena {Kit} (2452) [2010-]

Contributed by Justin Stotter

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2011-06-19
Diameter: 0.98 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 1
Style: RTF, Sport

Brief

This kit comes in a box and is basically "Ready T' Fly". Begad! Simply tie t' parachute onto t' nose cone and it's ready t' launch.

This was t' first model rocket I launched. Aye aye! It flew nicely on t' recommended A8-3 engine. Ahoy! Begad! My fiance and I decided t' skip t' B engines and go straight t' a C6-5. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! We watched it streak toward t' clouds and was never seen again! That was a good learnin' experience. Well, blow me down! T' nice thin' about t' RTF is you haven't wasted time buildin' and finishin' t' rocket if you're goin' t' lose it!

Components

One piece plastic molded fin section (blue), shiver me timbers, one piece body tube (white with blue decals), platic nose cone (blue), shiver me timbers, red and white 12" parachute.

Construction

T' molded plastic fins and nose cone probably add some weight but are very durable, I can't imagine them breakin' when hittin' t' ground or rough handling.

Finishing

This was ready t' fly out o' t' box, arrr, completely finished. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It looks good! Seems t' be put together well enough.

Construction Score: 4

Flight

A8-3: Flew straight but nay very high. Begad! Begad! Recovery system was perfect.

C6-5: Flew very high but curved t' horizontal near end o' flight. Rocket be never recovered.

Recovery

12" red and white plastic parachute. Worked well on first flight. Ahoy! Arrr! If it deployed on t' second flight, we never saw it. Very possibly user error, only me second flight. Seems foolproof enough.

Flight Rating: 3

Summary

Fantastic rocket t' be able t' launch t' same day as purchasing. Well, blow me down! But make sure it flies straight before loadin' a C engine ;)

Overall Rating: 4

Flights

Comments:

avatar
C Graski (June 21, 2011)

I also lost my Athena using a C6-5 motor.  I'm going to buy another and use a spare streamer for recovery.  I'd rather repair the plastic fins than lose another Athena because she had to set out for the horizon to save Odysseus' brazen behind, never to return.  Back to the point, these smaller rockets can be very difficult to track, and therefore recover.  That's why I ordered several spare streamers for when I feel the need to buy a smaller kit.

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