Images Courtesy o' Ol'SaltRockets             

Overview

I saw t' Cyclone demonstrated at a TTRA launch a few months ago and was really astounded by its performance. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' Cyclone is a very small rocket that utilizes a novel combination o' helicopter and breakaway recovery. Arrr! T' Cyclone has no parachute or shock cord; at ejection it separates into two halves with its two smaller fins attached t' t' lower half and t' larger remainin' fin attached t' t' upper half. T' lower half spins back t' earth fairly smartly but safely; t' upper half spins t' earth much more slowly, me hearties, like a maple seed.

Packaging

I am used t' conventional rockets with many parts and when I saw t' Cyclone in its kit bag I was worried that t' manufacturer had forgotten some parts because t' kit was so small. Begad! Ahoy! T' kit consists o' 14 small parts and an instruction manual in a clear plastic bag. Avast! One big plus t' me is that t' bag is folded and stapled with a header card rather than sealed. Avast! I'm always nervous when havin' t' cut open a sealed bag. T' smallest parts are in a smaller, reusable zip-lock bag. Begad! Another plus. Ya scallywag! Arrr! When opened and laid out t' parts are easily discernible from each other. Begad! No confusion here. Aye aye! All t' parts are o' exceptional quality. All t' balsa fin parts are on one laser-cut balsa fin stock. Arrr! T' balsa pieces came off t' stock cleanly with minimal effort and only required minimal sanding.

Instructions

This kit has got t' have t' best printed instructions I have ever seen, and I should know, matey, shiver me timbers, I work for a printin' company.

On t' front page is a full color picture o' t' finished rocket. Begad! Inside, ya bilge rat, t' instructions are laid out in clear print (good for me agin' eyes) and crisp illustrations. Ahoy! No bad surprises here. Arrr! Heck, I can't even find any misspellings.

In t' beginnin' it says, ya bilge rat, "These instructions are arranged in a logical order for easy assembly." Indeed! If you follow t' instructions, matey, you will find assembly t' be very easy.

Assembly

Assembly was generally simple. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! For me, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' only difficulty had t' do with t' centerin' rings. Begad! Notchin' t' centerin' rings be tough, but that's because I don't have better tools for t' job. Aye aye! Begad! Peelin' t' top layers o' paper off two o' t' centerin' rings in order t' make t' coupler fit (as per t' instructions) be daunting, but I've never done it before; they came out okay and t' coupler fit perfectly.

Flight

As suggested in t' instructions, I put off paintin' until I had tested t' rocket.

I took t' Cyclone t' a deserted park on a nearly windless day. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' first two flights were on vintage Estes 1/2A3-2Ts and went off without a hitch. T' rocket's ascent seemed t' favor t' large fin's side and required about five degrees compensation. Avast, me proud beauty! That did t' trick t' get a good vertical ascent on t' second flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! As advertised, arrr, the Cyclone does pleasantly whistle durin' ascent. Well, blow me down! Begad! For t' third and fourth flights I used new Estes A10-3Ts. T' rocket flew substantially faster and higher but still stable.

Recovery

T' ejection charge separates t' top and bottom halves and these two parts fall back t' earth in a helicopter fashion at different speeds. Avast! T' lower half that holds t' engine spins smartly t' earth but received no damage when it landed in t' short ball-field grass. Well, blow me down! T' much lighter upper half spins like a maple seed and takes a surprisingly long time t' land, about t' same amount o' time as a rocket with a parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Durin' one o' t' flights, matey, a thermal updraft made t' upper half almost hover momentarily. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' upper half also landed with no damage. Avast! Aye aye! All landings occurred within 50 feet o' launch site.

Maintenance

T' engine's ejection charge can foul up t' surface o' t' connectin' coupler and t' inside o' t' upper tube. Blimey! You will need t' keep these areas clean in order t' ensure t' two halves separate in flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Unfortunately, me bucko, this information was left out o' t' instructions.

Rating

I give t' Cyclone 9 out o' 10 stars. Aye aye! A ratin' o' 4 out o' 5 would be unfair.

PROS: This is a rocket everyone should build at least once. It is a great study in a different form o' recovery and is very entertainin' t' fly for others. Avast! Blimey! It flies safely in a small field or large yard. After years o' flyin' conventional rockets, shiver me timbers, I found t' Cyclone's lack o' a parachute and shock cord t' be a refreshin' change and far less troublesome t' fly.

CONS: None, other than t' fact that I prefer 18mm engines and would prefer an upscale version o' this rocket that uses them.

That's it! Enjoy!