(08/04/08) SONIC SHARK: a new release from InFlight Model Rocketry and me first kit from them. As I've often said, arrr, I like tryin' out new kit manufacturers. Arrr! I think over t' years it is more t' see how ideas and techniques are incorporated into kits. Avast, me proud beauty! InFlight is relatively new on t' scene and has produced some Clone kits and a couple o' their own designs. Begad! T' Sonic Shark (as stated) is their newest original design release. Avast! Ya scallywag!

They say, "T' Sonic Shark is an excellent performer with some unique retro styling. Begad! Don't go out t' t' flyin' field without one!"

I personally don't get t' "retro styling" comment, arrr, but I'm sure they are referrin' t' t' fin shape and holes in t' fins. Ahoy! Regardless o' whether this is "retro" or not, matey, me hearties, I like the clean look o' t' rocket and t' presented paint scheme. Well, blow me down!

T' rocket includes a BT55 (1.32") diameter kit and a matchin' balsa nose cone. Avast! There are four laser-cut balsa fins, an 18mm motor mount with a motor hook. Aye aye! T' recovery system is made up o' an 18" Plastic Parachute (pre-cut), matey, arrr, 48" o' Keelhaul®©™®, 24" o' ¼" elastic, and a #5 barrel swivel with snap. Well, blow me down! T' kit includes adhesive paper t' cover t' fins and 2 decal sheets for t' black and t' white decals. Ahoy!

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 9 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper (both sides). T' use clean illustrations and text t' detail t' build o' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! They are well written instructions. Begad! There is also a single page with t' Model Rocket Safety Code. Aye aye!

Inflight calls this a Skill Level 2.5 kit. Begad! Aye aye! Okay, sure… but it is nay a big stretch for anyone with a few kits under their belts. Ya scallywag!

T' build is typical:

T' motor mount is built first. Begad! T' Keelhaul®©™® shock tether is attached around t' motor tube and passed into t' body tube through a slot cut in t' upper centering ring. T' motor hook is typical and also has a slotted centerin' rin' t' allow for easy movement. Blimey!

Fin preparation includes sandin' them all even. Aye aye! Each o' t' four fins are assembled from two pieces; t' forward piece and t' trapezoid piece with t' "window" cut out o' it. Well, blow me down! T' fins are glued together and you are instructed t' lay them in-between two heavy books t' keep them flat. Avast! A unique feature o' the kit is t' cover both sides with t' provided adhesive paper after they dry. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! (NOTE: t' paper provided in me kit had a mistake that InFlight has corrected. Ahoy! All eight o' me pieces were for t' left side. Ya scallywag! I had pre-cut them all accordin' t' t' template before I realized it. Begad! Begad! As I said, ya bilge rat, me hearties, InFlight has corrected).

Attachin' t' fins is next and that is done in a typical manner. Ya scallywag! (NOTE: I also had a problem with t' fin markin' guide. Ahoy! Begad! They were nay symmetrical: equal spacin' betwixt fins. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! My TOP/BOTTOM fins were not equally spaced from me LEFT/RIGHT fins. Ahoy! Again, shiver me timbers, InFlight saw this problem and has corrected it). Ya scallywag!

I guess after those two notes, I should let everyone know that I received one of (if nay the) first kit. Begad! InFlight was willin' t' send me all new stuff t' make it right, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but I made t' corrections myself. Ya scallywag!

T' plastic parachute is assembled usin' t' provided shroud lines and tape disks (holes strengtheners). Avast! Arrr! This bright orange parachute assembles just like t' Hartle Engineerin' parachutes.

I followed me normal routine for finishing. Arrr! This includes multiple coats of Plasti-Kote primer followed by paint. T' balsa nose cone took extra coats and sanding, but t' fins with t' adhesive paper finished nicely. Ahoy! Arrr!

I painted it with t' new Krylon formula and was pleased with t' finish o' the rocket. Ahoy!

T' water-slide decals were thick enough that I didn't damage them and look great on t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Well done here!

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. Avast, me proud beauty! Build sequence and quality/fit o' parts was excellent. Ya scallywag! Instructions are excellent. Ahoy! Begad! I did find a couple of issues that I noted above, but I'm sure if you purchase this kit they will be corrected. Love t' decals and the adhesive paper for t' fins.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

InFlight recommends t' A8-3, me bucko, B4-4, arrr, matey, B6-4 or C6-5 motors.

InFlight indicates that t' rocket should weigh 1.8 ounces.

My finished rocket weighed in at 2.3 ounces with a CG at 12.125" from t' nose cone. Begad! I created t' attached RockSIM and SpaceCAD files (top o' page) for this rocket based on me results. Arrr! Both files have a CG and Total Weight Mass Object that you could vary t' match your build.

I shipped this rocket t' NARAM since I was only goin' t' be thar a day or so. This plan included buyin' motors at t' site. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! When I arrived on Thursday afternoon I be able t' buy a pack o' C6-5's and the next day a pack o' C6-7's t' fly this and other rockets.

RockSIM indicates that I should get 731 feet on a C6 with optimal delay o' 4.91 seconds, me bucko, while SpaceCAD says 659 with optimal delay o' 4.49 seconds.

T' first flight be on a C6-5 and you can see I caught it comin' off t' pad (nice lookin' rocket). Avast! Lift-off was excellent and t' rocket flight was straight up. Well, blow me down! Ejection be at absolute perfect apogee. T' big orange parachute opened and it began its drift. Avast! Blimey! It went pretty far, shiver me timbers, but landed on t' back hill behind the parkin' area and was recovered.

T' next day, usin' me only remainin' motor, I put it up on a C6-7. Arrr! I knew the delay be long. I also reefed me parachute half way up t' shroud lines because everythin' be driftin' out o' the launch area. Aye aye! Ahoy! In this case, t' longer delay caused ejection t' be 1-2 seconds late and t' reefed parachute brought the rocket down just 100 paces from t' pads. Arrr! Nice.

I would recommend a smaller parachute or reefin' t' shroud lines at least half way up.

T' Keelhaul®©™® shock tether that is attached t' t' nose cone with a barrel swivel is excellent. Ahoy! No twists. Ahoy! Blimey! I used cellulose (aka dog-barf, shiver me timbers, aka insulation) as waddin' and it worked great.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, shiver me timbers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. T' rocket flies straight and looks good. Avast! It gives good altitude, but nay out-of-sight flights on C6's, which is a plus in me book. Blimey! Begad! T' motor retention and Keelhaul®©™® with a swivel make preparation and recovery easy. Arrr! In me opinion, it needs a smaller parachute but reefin' it will resolve that concern.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! Sportin' a unique fin look and havin' nice decals gives this rocket good looks. Well, blow me down! Blimey! If built correctly, it is a solid flier. It is a straightforward build and most rocketeers with any experience should be able to put this one together. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Usin' t' adhesive paper t' cover t' fins while buildin' this kit may move builders t' use this technique on other rockets.