| Construction Rating: |   | | Flight Rating: | | | Overall Rating: | |
Contributed by Justin Stotter
 Brief
This kit comes in a box and is basically "Ready To Fly". Simply tie the parachute onto the nose cone and it's ready to launch.
This was the first model rocket I launched. It flew nicely on the recommended A8-3 engine. My fiance and I decided to skip the B engines and go straight to a C6-5. We watched it streak toward the clouds and was never seen again! That was a good learning experience. The nice thing about the RTF is you haven't wasted time building and finishing the rocket if you're going to lose it!
Components
One piece plastic molded fin section (blue), one piece body tube (white with blue decals), platic nose cone (blue), red and white 12" parachute.
Construction
The molded plastic fins and nose cone probably add some weight but are very durable, I can't imagine them breaking when hitting the ground or rough handling.
Finishing
This was ready to fly out of the box, completely finished. It looks good! Seems to be put together well enough.
Construction Score: 4
Flight
A8-3: Flew straight but not very high. Recovery system was perfect.
C6-5: Flew very high but curved to horizontal near end of flight. Rocket was never recovered.
Recovery
12" red and white plastic parachute. Worked well on first flight. If it deployed on the second flight, we never saw it. Very possibly user error, only my second flight. Seems foolproof enough.
Flight Rating: 3
Summary
Fantastic rocket to be able to launch the same day as purchasing. But make sure it flies straight before loading a C engine ;)
Overall Rating: 4 Flight Log| Date | Rocket Name | Motor(s) | Altitude | Notes |
|---|
| 2003-02-26 | Louis Strongin's Estes Athena | C6-7 | - | DO NOT USE THIS ENGINE ON A WINDY DAY. Rocket hit upwards of 1,000ft., coasted FOREVER, then... | | 2010-01-20 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | First flight. Good boost arcing slightly into what little wind there was. Ejected a bit late (!).... | | 2010-01-20 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Gorgeous high and straight flight with 'chute deploy just before apogee. Estimate 500 foot... | | 2010-02-07 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Nice and straight. Didn't see deploy timing but good 'chute. Very nearby landing. | | 2010-02-07 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Spectacular flight! Eject just before apogee (I think - it was way up there). Good chute and... | | 2010-02-21 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Getting back in saddle after loosing the B.B. Right at dusk flight. Eject a touch early, but good... | | 2010-03-14 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Get back in the saddle flight after loss of Alpha HD. A typical perfect Athena/A8-3 flight... | | 2010-03-14 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Just about perfect boost, ejection, 'chute deploy, landing nearby on field. Nice! | 2010-03-19  | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Another typical just about perfect flight. Good 'chute deploy right at apogee, drift back to very... | | 2010-03-27 | Ken Tsai's Estes Athena | C6-7 | - | Solid flight. Nice small rocket. | | 2010-04-14 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena | A8-3 | - | A little tail wiggle off the rod, but otherwise straight boost. Deploy approximately on time. Good... | | 2010-04-14 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena | B6-4 | - | Great boost and deploy. Deploy just past apogee. Good 'chute and easy landing on the field. Had to... | | 2010-04-16 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A10-3 | - | A10-3T in Wentworth adapter. Good boost, but seemed a bit low. Deployment about 1s past apogee.... | | 2010-04-16 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A10-3 | - | Very similar to prior A10 flight with perhaps a bit more altitude. Otherwise profile the same with... | | 2010-04-16 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Very typical flight for A8-3 - good on all counts. Looked to be a bit higher than the A10-3T... | | 2010-04-18 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena | B6-4 | - | Very nice flight overall - boost, deploy and landing. A little bit of melting on fin can - exhaust? | | 2010-05-01 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Angled launch into wind about 5 degrees. Typical Athena RTF A8-3 flight - just about picture... | | 2010-05-15 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Typical Athena RTF flight. Ejection a bit early (another 10 year old motor). Nice 'chute... | | 2010-05-15 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | C6-5 | - | Arced a bit south and disappeared, then reappeared. Landed near fence line on hillside. 'Chute... | | 2010-07-10 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena | A8-3 | - | Good overall. Arced a bit west. Good deploy near apogee. Good 'chute and very near landing. | | 2010-12-11 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Our one flight this month as rain started to fall. Almost typical Athena RTF flight - good... | | 2011-01-02 | Ken Tsai's Estes Athena | c6-3 | - | Way too early | | 2011-01-29 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Trying new Estes controller. Very straight boost and well timed deployment. A bit of... | | 2011-01-29 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena | B6-4 | - | Payed off to the southeast just off the rod. Otherwise good flight overall. Good 'chute. Landed... | | 2011-02-13 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Zoom! Lost sight going up (blocked by my hat). Spotted again on 'chute. Landed reasonably close.... | | 2011-02-13 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Arced a bit to the north. Deployment fairly late, but no damage or other issues. Quite near... | | 2011-02-13 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Pretty tame....but just about a perfect flight profile all around. | | 2011-02-13 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Older motor. Deployment while still coasting up (delay seemed short) But no damage and nice close... | | 2011-04-03 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | Very nice straight flight. Deploy just after nose pitched over at apogee. Easy on-field landing. | | 2011-04-03 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Beautiful straight boost. Deployment seemed a touch early. Good 'chute and landing on playground. | | 2011-06-12 | Justin Stotter's Athena RTF | A8-3 | - | My first rocket flight. Went pretty straight and deployed the parachute. | | 2011-06-12 | Justin Stotter's Athena RTF | C6-5 | - | Curved toward horizontal and we never saw the parachute deploy. Never found the rocket. | | 2011-06-24 | Bernard Cawley's Estes Athena RTF | B6-4 | - | Demo launch. Good boost - arced up into the breeze over the building, Good deployment and drift... | | 2011-06-27 | Paul Nortness's Athena | C6-5 | 1100 feet | GREAT FLIGHT! launched side by side with my daughters Viking. Took off like a bat outta **** and... | | 2011-07-05 | Paul Nortness's Athena | B6-4 | 600 feet | As I was prepping the rocket, the wind was blowing out of the south so I slightly cocked the... | | 2011-09-13 | Paul Nortness's Athena | C6-5 | 1090 feet | This is actually my second Athena after my last one sailed away. I sent this rocket up first to... |
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C Graski (June 21, 2011)