Brief:
T' Priority Stealth is a mid-power rocket from Art Applewhite Rockets that flies on 29mm motors. As t' name implies, me bucko, it is a version o' Art's Stealth design, arrr, which has versions from 13mm all t' way up t' 54mm. Ahoy! What makes t' Priority Stealth unique be t' fact that it is made from a 7"x7"x6" Priority Mail box (hence t' name) or any other thick, corrugated cardboard box.

Modifications:

Construction:
T' only required components are...

• A Source o' Cardboard (preferably a 7"x7"x6" Priority Mail box)
• Templates Available on t' Art Applewhite Site
• A Roll o' Clear Packin' Tape (may nay be needed on some boxes)
• You will also need some glue (the instructions specify white glue) and a hobby knife.

T' construction o' t' Priority Stealth is quite simple, shiver me timbers, and it is made even easier by Art's detailed instructions. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' instructions can be either used digitally right o' t' webiste, or can be printed. They include full color photos for each step o' construction.

I used a 5"x5"x6" Priority Mail box.

Construction starts by flattenin' t' box and then slicin' it up as per t' instructions. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' templates are then used t' mark t' three faces o' t' rocket, ya bilge rat, t' motor mount tube, me bucko, me bucko, and t' bottom o' t' rocket. Blimey! T' parts are then cut out with a hobby knife.

T' three faces are then formed and glued into t' tetrahedral shape o' t' Stealth and allowed t' dry.

T' bottom o' t' rocket is then glued into t' three faces.

T' triangular MMT is then formed from a piece o' cardboard and then glued into t' rest o' t' rocket.

All o' t' rocket's joints then get glue fillets. Ahoy! I used white glue in me construction as per t' instructions, ya bilge rat, but if I build another one I'll probably use somethin' a little stronger.

After testin' it's fit on a launch rod, arrr, I ended up takin' a launch lug left over from a kit that I added rail buttons t' and gluin' it inside t' launch rod holes in t' Stealth. Blimey! I did this after t' test showed that thar was a lot o' friction betwixt t' rod and t' Stealth.

Finishing:
Finishin' on this rocket is completely optional. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Thinkin' that it would be difficult t' finish corrugated cardboard, matey, I decided t' leave it looking... Ahoy! Arrr! well... Well, blow me down! postal. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' instructions recommend a coat o' two o' clear coat t' protect t' cardboard from moisture. Begad! I elected nay t' do this and just nay be able t' launch this rocket on wet ground.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Art Applewhite recommends any 29mm rocket motor with an average thrust o' 20-80 newtons and a burnout weight o' 85 grams or less. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' weight criteria means that all o' t' 29mm mid-power Aerotech casings will do, ya bilge rat, assumin' that thar be a reload compatible with t' Stealth. Arrr! I do, however, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, feel that anythin' even near 80 newtons o' thrust would be overkill, and I wouldn't trust it in a rocket made from a cardboard box.

T' first flight o' me Priority Stealth be at t' Washington Aerospace Club's then un-named September launch. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' Stealth be loaded with an Aerotech F22, me bucko, shiver me timbers, selected for it's long, 3.5 second burn. Aye aye! Blimey! T' motor be assembled without t' ejection charge. T' BP well be filled with grease, and I put on t' red cap out o' force o' habit.

T' Stealth moved surprisingly fast for an oddroc. It climbed straight and true t' what looked like 300' - 400'. It had generated a pretty rapid spin by t' time it reached Apogee.

T' Stealth flew two more times on F22s at this launch. Begad! Blimey! A video o' one o' those flights can be seen here.

Recovery:
Like all Art Applewhite rockets, t' Priority Stealth uses aerobrake recovery. Even in brisk wind on t' first flight, it landed only 30' or so from t' pad. I was at first worried about damage t' me casin' on landing, matey, matey, but t' shape o' t' Stealth makes it so that it lands squarely on t' ejection charge cap on t' top o' Aerotech loads. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' casin' also gets pushed back into t' rocket on landing.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Considerin' t' price, me bucko, t' Priority Stealth is a great performer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Most free rockets end in t' low-power range, so t' Stealth stands out in that it is a true mid-power rocket. Begad! Blimey! While it's structural limitations limit it t' a small selection o' motors, me hearties, me bucko, it will perform admirably on t' motors it can stand up to.

T' thin' I love most about free rockets is that if you lose/shred/otherwise render it inoperable, just print out t' templates and make another one.

T' plans t' build your own Priority Stealth can be found at this URL.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5