Brief:
I want t' share me experiences with Performance Rocketry's 54mm (2.250” OD) carbon fiber tubing. Ya scallywag! Last winter I wanted t' construct a high performance minimum diameter 54mm rocket, and I did nay want t' hand lay t' tubes. I wanted this rocket t' be as light as possible, ya bilge rat, high performance, swallow a 28” 54mm motor, me bucko, and utilize dual deployment.

Construction:
I ordered:

• 48” 54mm carbon fiber airframe
• 6” carbon fiber coupler
• 2 54mm 1/8” thick carbon fiber bulkhead plates
• 2 54mm 1/8” thick carbon fiber coupler bulkhead plates
• 6:1 conical fiberglass nose cone (fiberglass nose cone as it would house t' radio tracker and be RF transparent)

Needless t' say, me initial reaction t' t' carbon fiber order was a big smile on me face! T' 48” 54mm carbon fiber tube was awesome looking, ya bilge rat, matey, extremely strong, matey, and only weighed 14.0 ounces. Aye aye! T' ends o' t' airframe were cut very square and required no modification. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I cut t' airframe into a 36” piece for t' lower airframe, and 12” for t' upper airframe. Begad! Begad! A Delta chop saw made quick work o' cuttin' t' airframe. Aye aye! I be a little surprised to see that t' carbon seemed t' easier on t' chop saw that fiberglass tubin' does! Don't get me wrong, me bucko, PR fiberglass airframes cut great on a chop saw. Arrr! T' carbon is just that much better. Begad! Scuffin' t' carbon fiber airframe for surface mounted fins is straightforward with 60 or 80 grit sandpaper. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' fins bonded easily t' t' airframe, arrr, and they are rocket solid with tip-to-tip standard weave 6.0 ounce carbon fiber cloth lamination.

Finishing:
Finishin' carbon tubin' is about as easy as it gets! Blimey! OK, matey, I have t' admit I intended t' brush a layer o' epoxy over the CF lower airframe (minus t' fins) and simply clear coat over it. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Clear coated carbon fiber looks fantastic! Blimey! I haven't fully developed t' composite aesthetic finesse skills when it comes t' carbon fin tip-to-tip laminations. I wasn't plannin' on clear coatin' over t' reinforcement areas. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' rocket affectionately named “Pull the Trigger” finished beautifully. Begad! Blimey! Unfortunately after three flights, I am in t' process o' repaintin' t' speed demon as is has taken some tower and recovery rash.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Usin' carbon fiber tubin' and light and strong buildin' techniques, you can get very respectable altitude out of mid-range "K" motors. I flew this rocket on a K-550 at achieved 14,400' and change. Arrr!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Put simply, Performance Rocketry carbon tubin' is fantastic. Ya scallywag! With a product o' this caliber, me hearties, ya bilge rat, understand that it comes at a price (all be it a reasonable one). Well, blow me down! Currently, me bucko, PR 54mm carbon fiber tubin' goes for $28.00 per foot, and a 6.0” long carbon fiber coupler for 54mm goes for $20.00. Arrr! Well, blow me down! When I completed Pull t' Trigger this year, arrr, matey, I was ecstatic t' throw t' rocket on an accurate scale and have it report back 2.68 lbs FULL LOADED DRY WEIGHT! If you have an extreme rocket that you want t' keep very lightweight but still use high quality materials t' get started, me hearties, carbon tubin' be t' way t' go!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5