Brief:
I want t' share me experiences with Performance Rocketry's 54mm (2.250” OD) carbon fiber tubing. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! Last winter I wanted t' construct a high performance minimum diameter 54mm rocket, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and I did nay want t' hand lay t' tubes. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I wanted this rocket t' be as light as possible, high performance, swallow a 28” 54mm motor, me hearties, 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, matey, arrr, me initial reaction t' t' carbon fiber order was a big smile on me face! T' 48” 54mm carbon fiber tube was awesome looking, extremely strong, arrr, and only weighed 14.0 ounces. Ya scallywag! T' ends o' t' airframe were cut very square and required no modification. Ahoy! I cut t' airframe into a 36” piece for t' lower airframe, ya bilge rat, and 12” for t' upper airframe. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! A Delta chop saw made quick work o' cuttin' t' airframe. Ahoy! Aye aye! I was a little surprised to see that t' carbon seemed t' easier on t' chop saw that fiberglass tubin' does! Don't get me wrong, PR fiberglass airframes cut great on a chop saw. Avast, me proud beauty! T' carbon is just that much better. Begad! Ahoy! Scuffin' t' carbon fiber airframe for surface mounted fins is straightforward with 60 or 80 grit sandpaper. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' fins bonded easily t' t' airframe, shiver me timbers, 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! OK, 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. Aye aye! Clear coated carbon fiber looks fantastic! I haven't fully developed t' composite aesthetic finesse skills when it comes t' carbon fin tip-to-tip laminations. Begad! I wasn't plannin' on clear coatin' over t' reinforcement areas. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' rocket affectionately named “Pull the Trigger” finished beautifully. Ahoy! Unfortunately after three flights, me hearties, 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, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, you can get very respectable altitude out of mid-range "K" motors. Arrr! I flew this rocket on a K-550 at achieved 14,400' and change. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Put simply, arrr, Performance Rocketry carbon tubin' is fantastic. With a product o' this caliber, shiver me timbers, arrr, understand that it comes at a price (all be it a reasonable one). Aye aye! Currently, ya bilge rat, 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! Ahoy! When I completed Pull t' Trigger this year, shiver me timbers, 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, shiver me timbers, carbon tubin' be t' way t' go!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5