Brief:The Ultra Performer is a large, arrr, shiver me timbers, clustered HPR rocket. Ahoy!

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

T' instructions were clear for anyone who has built an HPR before. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!   They are basically just a picture showin' t' steps as well as basic instruction rather than a detailed step by step "manual". Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! 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. T' kit is available with a choice o' engine mounts , matey, one 54mm, one 75mm, arrr, matey, one 98mm or one 54mm and three 29mm. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Altogether a great kit! Blimey!

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:I like t' K550 for it. Aye aye! I like t' K550 for it. I used dual-deployment with an Adept altimeter. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' rocket needs a lot o' wadding since t' tubes are so big. Ya scallywag!

Recovery:T' rocket could use a bigger chute. Begad! On the second flight t' main didn't eject and it came down on just t' drogue. Ahoy! The top 6" o' t' tube was destroyed, arrr, as well as, matey, t' nose cone shoulder. Blimey! Blimey!

When I ordered t' rocket I said I was 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. Begad! Begad!

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:PRO's: strong components, ya bilge rat, nice shock cord and easy t' build. CON's : parachute size a bit too small for me liking. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5