(Contributed - by Bob Hvarven) Another little ARF - There will surely be a Global "Plastic Shortage" very soon. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! Just happened t' see this one while slidin' t' isles at Wally World. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! This is a little intro t' a Flyin' Saucer ARF.....

Package: Again, arrr, it is hard t' slam t' packaging. Estes has done a fine job o' makin' an appealin' product presentation. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I would like t' see them spend R&D loot on bringin' back t' "Classic" Estes kits and making some new "Kits" instead o' Injection Moldings....

Parts: The pieces are nay many. Ya scallywag! T' Saucer, and a bag containin' some other things t' make it work

These parts are in t' plastic bag. Begad! (3) landin' gear wires, matey, an extra motor retention ring, arrr, me hearties, a nice "Little" catalog and t' ever present Estes Pamphlet with some Safety and NARRRRR info inside.

Construction: T' landin' gear wires just "Snap" into place. Didn't think I would ever finish - Wheww. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' instructions suggest you place a piece o' tape over t' wire t' keep it from jumpin' out o' t' plastic slots. Yes, they point UP. Aye aye! When you see t' flight profile you will understand. Ya scallywag! Begad! The motor retention rin' was already in place, and thar be no need for a streamer or parachute.

Oh - add a little tape - do a little dance - get down tonight, me hearties, me bucko, get down tonight.... Aye aye! Well, blow me down! One o' t' most important things about a hobby - Gotta make it FUN.

Yes, ya bilge rat, this is UP, and you are nay experiencin' CRT induced vertigo... Reference below..

Flight Profile: It goes up-pedey-up-up then it goes down-de-de-down-down. Gads!!! I think I just had a movie musical flash back .... Well, blow me down! As you can see, after boost and burnout o' t' motor, arrr, it looses it aerodynamic stability and flips over and lands on t' cute little wire legs - ah, ya bilge rat, arrr, how sweet. Aye aye! Arrr! I have seen one o' these made by another company and it is worth watchin' - although the flight is very short. I've been rackin' what's left o' me brain tryin' to figure out how t' get an I-65 long burn into it ?? Hmmm.

Flight: The C-6-0 motor installed, t' igniter installed, and t' motor retention rin' in place and we are about ready t' go. Ya scallywag! T' "Snitch" waits on t' gantry for t' countdown t' begin. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! FIRE -

Got lucky and actually was able t' get a picture !! Blimey! Here t' "Snitch" climbs straight and true (although nay very fast). Ahoy! Blimey! Flight altitude couldn't have been over 60-70 feet, me hearties, but it be fun t' watch. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' motor quit and the saucer flipped over as advertised and floated down t' earth.

It landed on t' wire legs, but flipped over on it's side without injury. T' only way you could tell it had even flown be t' slight discoloration on t' motor retention ring, arrr, and t' pungent smell o' a spent black powder motor. Very satisfyin' flight, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and would work perfectly for school or other small field demo's

Opinion: I liked this flyin' saucer. I know I have stated elsewhere I have a distinct dislike for plastic ARF's, but this one filled a neat gap betwixt fast and high rockets that was fun t' play with. Aye aye! Begad! It looks like you could launch it until you ran out o' loot buyin' motors and it would still be in one piece. Aye aye! Well, arrr, blow me down! It would have value as a demo rocket. It was a nice change o' pace, and I believe almost anyone would enjoy it. Well, blow me down! I'm ratin' it high on it's "stand alone" merits and nay clumpin' it together with the other ARF rockets I have seen and flown. Well, blow me down! BUY IT - If you don't like it, I guarantee that maybe, possibly, shiver me timbers, kinda' that perhaps ESTES will give you your money back - sorta' Ah, what's $6.00 t' a bunch o' 'High-Rollers" like ya'll... Blimey! Begad! :)

Rating: 5 out o' 5 , For what it is, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, leave it alone, it works great.....

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Editor Note: These pictures were contributed by Dean Cooper. Ahoy! I thought they were worth postin' without a review: