Brief:
T' BAF-55 is a simple baffle intended t' protect recovery components from ejection charges in a BT-55 sized body tube.

While buildin' a Refit USS Atlantis from Sirius Rocketry, matey, I decided that I wished t' replace t' manufacturer's recovery harness with a baffle. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I did nay have a lot experience with baffles, but t' experiences I have had have been good thus far. Begad! Arrr! Fortunately, me bucko, I happened t' have one in stock from FlisKits.

Construction:
T' baffle kit came with instructions, a length o' Keelhaul®©™, shiver me timbers, arrr, two perforated disk that actually form t' baffles and a BT-55 sized couplin' tube.

Construction o' t' baffle is simple. Avast, me proud beauty! T' 2 fiber disks are removed from their backin' and t' holes are punched out. Begad! One disk has t' holes clustered towards t' center and t' other has them arranged in a rin' around t' outside. Well, blow me down! T' one with t' outer holes goes t' t' aft o' t' rocket. Avast! Both disks had a notch along t' outside edge through which t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™® thread and t' aft disk had a hole intended as an anchor point.

I used an embroidery needle t' clear t' hole and passed t' Keelhaul®©™ through. Avast! I then tied a fat knot in t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ t' keep it from bein' able t' pass through t' anchor hole. Arrr! I also used plenty o' yellow glue t' hold it down. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! When t' glue holdin' t' Keelhaul®©™ was dry, ya bilge rat, I proceeded t' paint both sides o' both disks with t' same glue, takin' care t' keep any from gettin' on t' edges o' t' disks. This glue was applied t' form a protective/ablative surface and lengthen t' life o' t' baffle.

When t' protective glue be dry, me hearties, I glued t' aft disk in place in t' couplin' tube and secured it with a glue fillet. This was done as t' Keelhaul®©™ was passed back through t' notch on t' outer edge o' t' disk. Avast! I then applied t' glue t' t' Keelhaul®©™ runnin' along t' side t' t' tube t' keep it in place. Arrr! When that be dry, I painted t' entire interior o' t' tube with glue, again for protective purposes.

T' last step o' t' actual baffle assembly was t' fit t' Keelhaul®©™ through t' notch in t' upper disk and then seat that disk in t' tube. Begad! Again, t' disk was filleted.

PROs: Well designed, me hearties, easy t' make and use.

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I have t' admit, when I first flew t' Atlantis, me bucko, I forgot I had installed this baffle so I stuffed it full o' dog barf. Aye aye! Betwixt that and t' baffle, me bucko, t' chute was well protected on deployment with t' ejection from a D12-5.

I remembered on t' second flight, usin' an E30-4 but it didn't really matter. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' chute had nay a scorch mark on it, and t' rocket recovered safely. Well, blow me down! T' thin' works and works well.

PROs: It works well.

CONs: I forget about it.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
If you want t' use a baffle, all o' t' FlisKits ones I have used t' date have worked well. Well, blow me down! T' one for t' BT-60 is no exception.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5