Brief:
As me first attempt at constructin' a real scale rocket, I chose t' Aerobee Hi for me entry in t' 2008 EMRR Challenge. T' Aerobee Hi rocket is o' a simple design and so looked like a mountable challenge. Bein' t' first mass produced rocket kit, me bucko, it also has some history behind it and would be easy t' fly on a small motor.

T' Aerobee Hi consists o' a simple single stage rocket with a parachute recovery system. Well, blow me down! A three fin design with strakes runnin' from fins t' t' nose cone. Ahoy!

Construction:
Parts list:

• Body Tube, BT-40W
• Body Tube, ST-730
• Balsa Nose Cone, BNC-40G
• 3 x Laser Cut Fins, arrr, FV-2
• Thrust Ring, TR-7
• Launch Lug, me bucko, shiver me timbers, LL-110
• Screw Eye, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, SE-10
• Elastic Cord, me hearties, matey, EC-118
• Keelhaul®©™® Thread, me hearties, SCK-18
• Plastic Parachute RC-12
• 6 x Tape Discs, ya bilge rat, TD-6
• Shroud Line, SLT-6
• Decals, shiver me timbers, DKV-2

Also used:

• PVA Glue
• Bostik Glue
• Sandpaper
• Orange Paint
• Black Paint
• White Paint
• Silver Spray Paint

T' instructions provided with t' kit were extremely easy t' follow with a logical order and some small tips to increase t' rocket's performance. Begad! Illustrations for each step reinforced t' meanin' o' any ambiguous instructions. T' only problem bein' with t' direction in which t' shock cord should be inserted into t' body tube, shiver me timbers, however, ya bilge rat, that did nay matter in t' final stages as all that was required was a small ruler t' push it through t' correct end. Inclusion o' t' fin guide made fin alignment very easy and t' strake design helped maintain t' correct fin positions.

Once completed t' rocket, although light, felt extremely strong and sturdy which gave an impression o' a good quality rocket kit.

Finishing:
T' finishin' itself was straightforward with t' main body bein' painted orange, me hearties, two o' t' fins white, and the final fin black. Ahoy! Blimey! T' nose cone was sprayed silver which required t' top and bottom halves t' be sprayed separately due to t' awkwardness o' holdin' t' cone whilst spraying. Begad! Blimey! T' orange paint for t' body required a few layers due t' the light nature o' t' color but gave no problems.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
My first three flights were all performed t' same day with almost no wind.

For me first flight I used an A8-3, which is nay one recommended by t' instructions but o' similar ratings. Blimey! Blimey! The takeoff was fast due t' t' lightweight nature o' t' rocket and a good height was reached. T' nose cone was ejected just before apogee but t' no detrimental effect. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Deployment o' t' parachute was successful and t' rocket landed not 100 meters from t' launch site.

Due t' t' enormous success o' t' first launch I then used t' same motor for me second. Again a fast takeoff, but t' ejection charge caused t' motor t' be ejected rather than t' nose cone and parachute. Begad! Ahoy! T' rocket fell back to earth nose cone first and hit at considerable speed. Begad! Aye aye! However, me hearties, shiver me timbers, minimal damage was sustained with just a small dent in the balsa where t' body tube had dug in. Begad! T' strakes on t' side o' t' rocket proved very useful here as they gave enough strength t' t' rocket t' prevent any bucklin' o' t' main body tube.

For t' third flight, I used a B6-6 engine t' obtain a greater height. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I replaced t' parachute with a streamer to prevent t' rocket from driftin' too far in t' slight gusts o' wind. This time takeoff was very fast and it almost disappeared out o' sight. Avast! Aye aye! T' nose cone ejection was successful and a smooth landin' followed with no damage despite a fairly rapid descent. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main PROs o' t' Aerobee Hi are its easy o' build and its sturdiness in flight which reduce t' chance o' damage and lead t' a very reliable rocket. Overall thar are no problems. Blimey! Ahoy! However, if flyin' on an engine greater than an A, arrr, I would recommend replacin' t' parachute with a streamer t' reduce t' risk o' loss if flyin' near trees and as the impact will have no effect on t' rocket's composition.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5