U.S. Rockets Banshee

U.S. Rockets - Banshee {Kit} (1059, K-59) [1979-]

Contributed by Peter Clay

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: U.S. Rockets

USR BansheeBrief:
Single stage with payload

Construction:
T' Airframe is two 17" tubes with t' separation point at t' center. There are 4 fins, made o' light ply, and slotted into t' MMT. Avast! Aye aye! T' MMT is 29mm x 5.5", me hearties, arrr, with a 24mm adapter included. Aye aye! Recovery utilizes a 5/16" x 6' elastic shock cord. Well, blow me down! T' rocket is topped off with a Balsa ogive nose cone

T' instructions are good, nicely illustrated, me hearties, me hearties, me hearties, but needin' some proofreading. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Two steps are mis-numbered, ya bilge rat, instructions for mountin' shock cord are omitted, and thar are some errors in instructions for cuttin' fin slots. Blimey!

T' construction is sturdy, ya bilge rat, but t' thin tubes may nay be up t' H motors after a flight or two. Begad! Ahoy!

USR is in transition, matey, barely in business at present, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but plenty of inventory exists. Ahoy! Easiest t' access via Jerry Irvine, 01Rocket@GTE.net, matey, ya bilge rat, who accrues orders, me bucko, shiver me timbers, ships about once a month, matey, and will accept an order on ship now, pay later basis in most cases.

Finishing:
T' builder cuts t' fin slots; otherwise construction is very simple and straightforward. Peel and stick decals are included. Aye aye! Blimey! Appearance is clean, simple, shiver me timbers, and sleek.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

USR Banshee Flight:
So far this rocket has only had two flights. Avast! Blimey! I've used an E18-6 and a D12-3, and both flights were nominal. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! T' E18 put up a very nice flight and I expect the Econojet F20 t' be t' ideal motor for this rocket. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I'll post that flight report when available, me hearties, probably in April 2002. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey!

Flight preparation uses waddin' for ejection. Arrr! It uses maskin' tape to retain motor; I added T-nuts t' facilitate motor retention when I use an RMS 29mm motor. Begad!

Flights were straight and as clean as t' design.

USR BansheeRecovery:
Body tube and shock cord are lighter than most HPR people would prefer, me hearties, me hearties, but worked well in these two flights. Slight damage t' coupler and one fin when one section landed on t' other on a packed road in t' second, matey, matey, D12, flight. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Prep and recovery are very standard and simple. Begad! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' biggest advantage and disadvantage are both found in t' lightweight construction. It likely will nay hold up under a large number o' G and H flights, but should be adequate as long as tubes are undamaged. Ahoy! Well, arrr, blow me down!

T' rocket is so light that it might fly on a baby H without so much as a NOTAM. Ya scallywag! Careful preparation would allow an H128 flight at just under one pound.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • U.S. Rockets Banshee By Lance Alligood

    ( Contributed - by Lance Alligood - 07/01/04) Brief: The US Rockets (USR) Banshee is a 4FNC MPR with a 29mm MMT, TTW fin attachment, large payload bay, and streamer recovery. The kit also includes a 29-24mm motor adapter allowing this lightweight design to be flown on motors ranging from a D12 for small fields to H motors by the exceptionally brave. The Banshee would make an ...

  • U.S. Rockets Banshee By Peter Clay

    US Rockets Banshee review is provided courtesy of: I was awarded this kit as a DESCON 7 prize. The owner of USR was on vacation, but promised it would ship the week he came back. It arrived on my doorstep packed well and with all the part contained in closed bag. I first checked to make sure everything was present and then read over the instructions. The instructions were several ...

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