Brief:The Ultra Performer is a large, shiver me timbers, clustered HPR rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Construction:T' tubes are flexible phenolic with a fiberglass nose cone. Arrr! Blimey! T' kit came with one parachute but I added a second for a drogue. Aye aye! Blimey! The main is a little smaller than I'd like . Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! . Ahoy! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! . Ya scallywag! Blimey! it is 70" and I think 80+" would be better. Begad! Blimey! T' shoulder on t' nose cone is a little smaller than I'd like, me hearties, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, too, but isn't a big problem. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey!

T' instructions were clear for anyone who has built an HPR before. Arrr!   They are basically just a picture showin' t' steps as well as basic instruction rather than a detailed step by step "manual". T' rocket kit as a whole is very well put together and flies great on a K550 up t' 3000'.   I haven't tried a cluster yet but plan on it. Avast! T' kit is available with a choice o' engine mounts , ya bilge rat, one 54mm, one 75mm, one 98mm or one 54mm and three 29mm. Well, blow me down! Altogether a great kit! Blimey!

T' body comes in three tubes, two main tubes plus t' payload bay. T' fins and centerin' rings are 3/8 " plywood and t' launch lugs are 1/2" brass. Begad! T' payload bay is very large and is easy t' add electronics to. Ahoy! This was me first dual-deployment rocket and addin' t' altimeter was no problem. Without t' altimeter I think deployment would be fine but I'd still like a larger parachute. Begad!

T' rocket weighs more than I thought it would when I was finished building it. Well, blow me down! This may be due t' t' fact I glassed t' bottom 1/3 o' t' lower tube. Well, blow me down! The only parts I added were plastic rivets t' secure t' payload bay and a second parachute. Arrr! As far as fillin' in spirals and paintin' . Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! . Ahoy! . Avast! I don't do it. Ya scallywag! I paint them primer red and don't really finish them. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:I like t' K550 for it. Avast, me proud beauty! I like t' K550 for it. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I used dual-deployment with an Adept altimeter. Begad! Begad! T' rocket needs a lot o' wadding since t' tubes are so big. Well, blow me down!

Recovery:T' rocket could use a bigger chute. Arrr! Blimey! On the second flight t' main didn't eject and it came down on just t' drogue. Well, blow me down! Blimey! The top 6" o' t' tube was destroyed, shiver me timbers, as well as, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' nose cone shoulder. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

When I ordered t' rocket I said I be goin' t' modify it for dual deployment so they added au-bolt t' t' middle bulkhead for t' drogue 'chute.   T' parachutes are attached with quick links. Avast!

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:PRO's: strong components, shiver me timbers, nice shock cord and easy t' build. CON's : parachute size a bit too small for me liking. Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5