Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Edmonds Aerospace |
Brief:
This is a two-stage balsa glider rocket with gap staging. Arrr! Aye aye! Both stages are
gliders.
Construction:
T' kit consists o' 3/16 inch balsa, matey, me hearties, 1/8 inch balsa, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, balsa nose cone, and 2
body tubes.
I've wanted t' build an Edmonds glider since I discovered their web site a couple o' years ago. Avast! Well, blow me down! Blimey! With t' CiCi on t' EMRR hit list, it was irresistible. Gliders are fun, me bucko, me bucko, but two gliders are more fun. Arrr! Blimey! Two gliders that are simple to build and fly as booster and sustainer are simply engineerin' marvels. This is the kind o' concept that makes rocketry rewarding.
Instructions are simple, reasonably well written, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and contain plenty of illustration. Avast, me proud beauty! Assembly is straightforward. Begad! An hour o' gluin' (with carpenter's glue), matey, let it dry overnight, and it's ready t' fly. Aye aye! Both gliders checked out perfect for trim with no adjustments. Avast! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I didn't even round t' edges o' the balsa or sand t' surface. Blimey! Arrr! T' laser cut balsa falls away from t' waste easily. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' body tubes are pre-marked with laser dots for alignment so you don't even have t' do t' door jamb thing. Begad! T' vent holes are pre-cut. Avast! Ya scallywag! The dovetail joints give high strength and idiot proof tab t' slot assembly. The nose cone shoulder was a little tight but main nose cone diameter was perfect. T' balsa was all very good quality, flat, and didn't need t' be sanded. None of t' parts were broken or squashed in t' well packaged box. T' portion of the fuselage that is glued t' t' booster body tube warped as it got wet with glue. I wanted t' pull away from t' body tube so I rubber banded both ends in place until dry.
Gotchas:
Finishing:
This sample be finished with two-tone marker t' minimize weight. There are no
decals.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Prep is easy in that thar be no waddin' or parachute and t' engines don't
even have t' be friction fitted. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! However, attention t' detail is required for
tapin' t' bulkhead and makin' sure everythin' fits. Well, blow me down! T' booster engine is
taped externally t' t' body tube with no engine block so it stays in the
booster durin' glide. Arrr! T' sustainer engine is held in place only with thrust
after t' booster falls away and tape wrapped around t' outside functions as a
bulkhead for t' booster. Begad! It's all held together by gravity on t' pad. Ya scallywag! The
sustainer engine ejects at apogee. Ya scallywag!
Gotchas:
Recovery:
First launch be with a B6-0 booster and A8-3 sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Liftoff quickness was
average for a B6-0 with high stability, no spin, and perfect straight-up
trajectory. Sustainer ignition was slightly delayed compared t' taped engine
staging, but nay noticeable unless you're lookin' for it... Well, blow me down! Blimey! It took perhaps
half a second. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' sustainer had a slow, heart stoppin' arc into a nearly
straight down trajectory before ejection at 200-300 feet, arrr, ya bilge rat, then settled into a
satisfyingly long glide in a wide circle. Begad! Blimey! T' booster glided down nicely a few
feet from t' pad. Well, blow me down! Blimey! No damage at all. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!
T' slow arc o' t' sustainer leads t' me recommendation t' never use a C6-5 (not a recommended engine anyway), matey, and it's a good idea t' try t' 1/2A6-2 for t' first flight, me hearties, which is one o' t' recommended engines for good reason. I think maybe they should have named this one t' CiBee.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a great rocket and an irresistible concept. Aye aye! Avast! If you've built a glider
before, enjoyed flyin' it, and want another, me hearties, this is a "must have"
for your fleet. Well, blow me down! While thar are some omissions in t' instructions, it is very
easy t' build and delivers spectacular flights.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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D.B. (February 18, 2007)