Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2011-06-19 |
Diameter: | 0.98 inches |
Manufacturer: | Estes |
Skill Level: | 1 |
Style: | RTF, Sport |
This kit comes in a box and is basically "Ready T' Fly". Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Simply tie t' parachute onto t' nose cone and it's ready t' launch.
This be t' first model rocket I launched. Blimey! It flew nicely on t' recommended A8-3 engine. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! My fiance and I decided t' skip t' B engines and go straight t' a C6-5. Aye aye! We watched it streak toward t' clouds and was never seen again! That be a good learnin' experience. Ahoy! Blimey! T' nice thin' about t' RTF is you haven't wasted time buildin' and finishin' t' rocket if you're goin' t' lose it!
One piece plastic molded fin section (blue), shiver me timbers, one piece body tube (white with blue decals), matey, platic nose cone (blue), shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, red and white 12" parachute.
T' molded plastic fins and nose cone probably add some weight but are very durable, arrr, I can't imagine them breakin' when hittin' t' ground or rough handling.
This be ready t' fly out o' t' box, completely finished. Aye aye! It looks good! Seems t' be put together well enough.
A8-3: Flew straight but nay very high. Well, blow me down! Recovery system was perfect.
C6-5: Flew very high but curved t' horizontal near end o' flight. Rocket was never recovered.
12" red and white plastic parachute. Worked well on first flight. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! If it deployed on t' second flight, shiver me timbers, we never saw it. Ahoy! Aye aye! Very possibly user error, arrr, only me second flight. Begad! Begad! Seems foolproof enough.
Fantastic rocket t' be able t' launch t' same day as purchasing. But make sure it flies straight before loadin' a C engine ;)
C Graski (June 21, 2011)
I also lost my Athena using a C6-5 motor. I'm going to buy another and use a spare streamer for recovery. I'd rather repair the plastic fins than lose another Athena because she had to set out for the horizon to save Odysseus' brazen behind, never to return. Back to the point, these smaller rockets can be very difficult to track, and therefore recover. That's why I ordered several spare streamers for when I feel the need to buy a smaller kit.