Brief:
T' SU-47 is another in t' line o' 'fighter aircraft' rockets from Sunward Aerospace Group, Ltd. Ahoy! T' kit is 27 inches long with a 12 inch win' span and recovers under parachute. This is an interestin' model and will make a good impression with t' 'X-planes' crowd and garner many 'oohs and ahhs' on the field.

Construction:
T' kit is packaged in a heat sealed, heavy plastic bag with a very nice face card featurin' a color photo o' t' completed model. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' photo is a bit dark, but still can be used as an additional reference for decal placement. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Both the face card and instructions are printed in English and French.

T' model includes two bags o' parts t' build t' rocket with either a 18mm motor mount or 24mm mount. Avast! My kit be missin' t' 18mm tube, but had all the other parts for that motor option. Arrr! I highly recommend buildin' with t' 24mm mount and usin' an adapter for t' smaller motors.

In addition t' t' motor mount parts, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' kit includes:

• 1 plastic nose cone with an integrated canopy
• 1 BT-55 body tube
• 2 planks o' laser-cut fin balsa
• pre-printed cardstock for body wraps and fin reinforcement
• 1 18" red plastic parachute, me hearties, shroud lines and stick-on rings
• 1 long, me hearties, 1/4" rubber band recovery cord
• silk screened decals
• 1 1/8" launch lug

T' instructions, despite bein' printed in two languages, shiver me timbers, are laid out well and easy t' follow. Ya scallywag! Simple yet clear and helpful illustrations abound. Blimey! T' fin markin' template and tri-fold shock mount embedded in t' booklet might be better placed on t' cardstock which will be cut apart anyway.

T' SU-47 is rated as a Skill level 3 kit but even fairly experienced builders should have no trouble with t' assembly. Blimey! By staggerin' subassemblies and glue drying, me hearties, I was able t' complete t' primary construction in just a few hours.

One major deviation from t' instructions I made was t' glue all t' wing segments (6 pieces, 3 for each side) on flat surface covered with a sheet of wax paper. Arrr! This method practically guarantees good alignment o' t' entire wing piece. Blimey! Avast! T' instructions show gluin' t' win' segments t' t' body tube individually, ya bilge rat, which could easily lead t' frustration and misaligned parts.

After t' wings and tail fins are assembled, me hearties, me bucko, t' body wraps are applied. This can be tricky, but t' preprinted cardstock be right on t' mark and made this step a snap. A preprinted markin' on t' lower wrap also made it easy to align t' launch lug. T' body wraps have exposed edges; front and aft for the under wrap and aft for t' over wrap. These may experience wear and tear over time so it might be a good idea t' strengthen t' edges with some CA or layers of white glue. Aye aye!

Finishing:
T' laser cut balsa ensures accurate and matchin' parts. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' heavy grain o' the stock may present a challenge t' those modelers that prefer a glass like finished surface. Begad! T' vertical tail fins are reinforced with small pieces of cardstock which might also detract from aerodynamic perfection.

In an industry littered with inkjet and ALPS printed decals, me hearties, t' inclusion of silk screened decals be a welcome surprise. Begad! T' white lettering, arrr, red stars, and various accents should compliment just about any dark paint scheme.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' instructions stress t' importance o' stability testing, matey, especially when buildin' t' 24mm mount for heavy D motors. Aye aye! Blimey! Illustrated directions for performin' a 'swin' test' are included. Begad! Blimey! However, me bucko, t' kit is lackin' t' all important clay ballast, so t' flier must provide their own (if it any is needed).

Since I be usin' an adapter t' fly a C6-5 on t' maiden flight, a stability test was certainly in order. Aye aye! "Payin' it forward", I enlisted t' assistance o' a couple kids on t' field that had never performed a swin' test before. Ya scallywag! Arrr! We cleared a 20' x 20' area and balanced t' fully loaded rocket. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Then each kid took a turn at spinnin' t' rocket overhead until 10 or 12 feet o' strin' had been let out. Even at very low speeds, t' SU-47 was stable. T' large win' area immediately forced t' nose forward and the vertical fins held it thar as speed built up. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I suspect when loaded with a D12 motor, very little ballast will be necessary.

T' first flight on a C6-5 was quick off t' rod with a 90 degree roll turnin' t' wings into t' slight wind. Blimey! Blimey! It climbed t' perhaps 500 feet, arched over, and deployed t' chute just past apogee. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Recovery:
T' very large surface area o' t' wings caused t' body t' fall horizontally, nearly in a glide. Arrr! With some tweakin' t' ensure t' vertical fins remain upright, it might even be possible t' convert t' SU-47 t' glide recovery. Avast! Begad! In the photo, me bucko, t' recovery cord can be seen saggin' due t' t' aerodynamic drag forces on t' body. This would suggest slow and soft landings are t' be expected, me bucko, even if t' chute were t' tangle.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Although I received me SU-47 kit as a gift, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' suggested US retail price of $20.00 seems reasonable and a good value. Blimey! T' kit is made from quality parts and construction is straightforward. Avast! Impressive flights are assured thanks to the unique win' shape and rocket profile. I would certainly recommend this kit to anyone that enjoys X-plane rockets or is lookin' for an unusual addition to their fleet. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5