AAA Model Aviation Fuels LaserSonic 1650

AAA Model Aviation Fuels - Lasersonic LS-1650 {Kit} (13) [1987-1992]

Contributed by Moira Jean Whitlock

Diameter: 1.65 inches
Manufacturer: AAA Model Aviation Fuels
Style: Sport
[Picture]
- by Moira Jean Whitlock

[Rocket Pict]Brief:  This single staged forward swept finned rocket is designed t' break mach.  it's also an altitude grabber for sure.  It came with a streamer, but I made it a parachute for t' sake o' visibility. Ya scallywag! I fly it with both 29 and 38mm engines.

Construction:Everythin' was thar and in good shape.  However, the ad had said that t' rocket had through t' wall fin design, shiver me timbers, but it didn't. T' fins are 1/8 inch plywood. Arrr! T' fins are 1/8 inch plywood. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body tube is spiral wound kraft paper. Well, blow me down! Begad! I had t' option o' all-around fiberglass, matey, but for a greater cost, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so I opted for paper. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' launch lug is spiral wound paper with one side diagonally cot t' a bevel, me bucko, t' reduce drag.  T' instructions were simple and clear with good illustrations. Avast! Since t' fins are attached right to the body tube wall, matey, I made t' model sturdier with extra epoxy fillets. I used a rotary sander t' smoothen t' wood and create me airfoil shape on t' fins. I also glassed them with a coat o' epoxy, me bucko, givin' them a shiny, me hearties, hard, shiver me timbers, glasslike feel. Begad! Aye aye!

Finishing:  T' rocket came with nifty red decals, t' kind that slide off when put in water, arrr, and I applied them over an overall orange paint job. Aye aye! My favorite decal o' t' lot says, "Experimental. Aye aye! "  They went on smoothly and look nice. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:I used a 38 t' 29mm motor adapter and flew t' rocket with an Aerotech G80-7T. Ahoy! Preppin' was easy and fast. Aye aye!   Worm bed waddin' was used. T' engine was retained with taping. Begad! Begad!   T' rocket screamed up high and straight. Avast!

Recovery:T' shock cord used is 3 feet o' black, flat, arrr, 1/8 inch wide elastic attached t' t' inner wall o' t' main body tube usin' a folded paper mounting. Begad! A Keelhaul®©™® cord loop I supplied t' attach t' elastic t' t' paper mounting. Begad! T' recovery occurred at apogee, so it was just right. T' chute only partly deployed because o' line entanglement, shiver me timbers, but t' descent was at an acceptable rate. Avast! No damage occurred t' t' rocket. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty!  

My chute is a hemispherical, arrr, 8-gored broadcloth homemade red and orange print o' tomatoes 26 inches in diameter. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:Speedy, loud, and altitude reaching. Speedy, loud, shiver me timbers, and altitude reaching. Ya scallywag! I have no real cons. Has anyone out thar dared t' fly this one with 38mm motors?E-Mail me if anyone would like t' tell me. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

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