Brief:
This is a boost glider rocket with streamer recovery for t' booster.

Construction:
T' Quest Flat Cat boost glider includes an 18mm body tube for t' booster as well as an engine mount kit. There are die cut balsa wings and fins. Also included in t' kit is a 24" plastic recovery streamer, shock cord, matey, plastic nose cone and decals.

T' instructions were easy t' follow with good illustrations. This is an easy kit t' build. Well, blow me down! You have t' prop one win' tip up in order t' get t' correct dihedral angle.

T' Glider is delicate but it has t' be light in order t' fly well and it does fly very well. Blimey! T' wings, tail and fuselage stick were given minimal sanding, me hearties, me hearties, just roundin' off t' rough edges and smoothin' out t' balsa a little. Begad! There are no special tool needed. Arrr! T' only "gotcha" issue would be the glider t' booster attachment hook.

T' glider is meant t' be towed t' altitude by t' booster, arrr, shiver me timbers, then t' shock o' t' ejection charge knocks it loose so it can start gliding. Begad! Blimey! If t' hook on t' booster mount is too tight t' glider will nay release! Blimey! When all t' glue and paint is dry, take t' glider and assemble it t' t' booster. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Now take t' "stack" and give it a vertical shake. T' glider should jump right off o' t' hook. If not, take some light sand paper t' t' booster hook t' make it smooth. Ahoy! Blimey! This works t' same as t' Edmonds Deltie boost glider kits.

Finishing:
T' main problem with any boost glider is that you would like t' paint it but paint adds unnecessary weight. Arrr! Blimey! It will still fly with some paint but overall flight times will probably be reduced. Begad! Blimey! I added a little day-glo orange paint to one win' o' me Flat Cat in order t' aid in trackin' and recovery spotting. Avast! Blimey! By paintin' just one win' t' glider tends to circle in a predictable flight pattern, matey, keepin' it in t' field and out o' t' trees. Blimey! Blimey!

T' booster be given an overall coat o' Testors red spray enamel and a little Day Glo orange on t' top. Avast! Ya scallywag! Be sure to give your booster a bright color t' help find it down range. Also it is a good idea t' have one member o' your trackin' team concentrate on t' booster and one designated "glider tracker", shiver me timbers, BEFORE launch.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommeneded motors are B6-4, ya bilge rat, C6-3 and C6-5. Our first flight be on a B4-4 which worked fine. Begad! Begad! I be a little aprehensive about puttin' a C6 in t' booster due t' t' light construction o' t' glider but we did and it flew fine. T' C6 motors produce an extended glide time! T' kit includeds sticky backed aluminum foil type decals for t' wings and tail. Blimey! I used this t' help deflect t' engine exhaust on t' wings only. Arrr! It works.

To prepare for flight install two sheets o' recovery waddin' in t' booster, roll t' streamer and then install the motor. Avast! Ahoy! Hook t' glider t' t' booster and then slide t' "stack" down on t' launch wire. Well, blow me down! You must use a stop o' some sort t' hold t' bottom o' t' booster. If you set t' glider's tail on t' pad t' booster will drop down and disconnect t' stack. Ya scallywag! I use either a piece o' tape or a clothes pin.

Next make sure that t' glider is free t' slide all t' way up t' launch wire with out hittin' t' clothes pin. Connect your ignition wirin' and then check t' see that it does nay entangle t' glider's vertical or horzontal fin. Sounds complicated but once you've done it, thar's nothin' t' it.

On launch expect t' see an arch perhaps even a loop. Avast! This is typical o' most boost gliders. Ya scallywag! Less loop is better. On ejection firin' t' glider seperates away and glide in a large graceful circle. Lots o' fun!

Recovery:
T' booster's yellow streamer that was supplied with t' kit disappeared on t' first fligtht! All that was left was a shred o' yellow plastic attached t' t' shock cord.

Watch your glider closely if it is undulatin' up and then droppin' repeatedly, add a couple o' 1/8 inch balls of clay t' t' nose. Ahoy! If it dives steeply in, me hearties, pinch off a little clay from t' nose. If it flies straight away, shiver me timbers, add a little paint or clay t' one win' tip for a wide circle.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great boost glider. Ya scallywag! Make a good first rocket glider or in t' hands o' an expert it could be very competitive.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other:
It is fun t' build two and have "fly off's" with someone timin' t' flight usin' a stop watch. Blimey! Blimey! Rubber band airplane model builders have "postal" flight contests where they record their flight times and then send them in t' one person t' "judge" t' winners. Might be a good idea for EMRR t' sponser a glider endurance "postal" contest?