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, I decided that I wished t' replace t' manufacturer's recovery harness with a baffle. Avast! Aye aye! I did nay have a lot experience with baffles, but t' experiences I have had have been good thus far. Well, blow me down! Fortunately, I happened t' have one in stock from FlisKits.

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

Construction o' t' baffle is simple. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' 2 fiber disks are removed from their backin' and t' holes are punched out. One disk has t' holes clustered towards t' center and t' other has them arranged in a rin' around t' outside. T' one with t' outer holes goes t' t' aft o' t' rocket. Avast! Blimey! 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I then tied a fat knot in t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ t' keep it from bein' able t' pass through t' anchor hole. Blimey! Blimey! I also used plenty o' yellow glue t' hold it down. When t' glue holdin' t' Keelhaul®©™ was dry, I proceeded t' paint both sides o' both disks with t' same glue, shiver me timbers, takin' care t' keep any from gettin' on t' edges o' t' disks. Begad! Blimey! This glue was applied t' form a protective/ablative surface and lengthen t' life o' t' baffle.

When t' protective glue be dry, I glued t' aft disk in place in t' couplin' tube and secured it with a glue fillet. Ahoy! Avast! This be done as t' Keelhaul®©™ be passed back through t' notch on t' outer edge o' t' disk. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I then applied t' glue t' t' Keelhaul®©™ runnin' along t' side t' t' tube t' keep it in place. Aye aye! When that be dry, arrr, I painted t' entire interior o' t' tube with glue, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 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. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Again, ya bilge rat, matey, t' disk be filleted.

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

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

I remembered on t' second flight, me bucko, me hearties, me bucko, usin' an E30-4 but it didn't really matter. Ahoy! Begad! T' chute had nay a scorch mark on it, shiver me timbers, and t' rocket recovered safely. Blimey! 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, me bucko, arrr, matey, all o' t' FlisKits ones I have used t' date have worked well. Aye aye! T' one for t' BT-60 is no exception.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5