RocketReviews.com - Estes - Satellite Interceptor (1296) [1978-1982]

Estes - Satellite Interceptor (1296, 3027) [1978-1982,2010-]

Manufacturer: Estes

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Brief:
This is one of the new Estes kits from their Classic series,Crossbow SST is another kit similar in design. They call it Cool and Futuristic. I agree with both descriptions. This is a sleek multi-fined with tubes which made me go wow and some great decals to really make it kind a nasty like it will seek out and destroy. It use a 18 mm engine with parachute recovery.

Construction:
Parts list:

Body tube Bt-50
Wing tip tube Bt-10
Laser cut fins
Dowel
Balsa nose cone
Engine mount kit
Parachute pre made
Screw eye
Launch lug subbed out 1/8 for a 3/16
Gorilla glue

The instructions were very easy to follow read twice so you know where to put your fin two are angled slightly. I assembled mine engine mount let dry then marked body tube and attached fins to body tube some attach at different lengths from the end of the body tube it really helps if you have the Estes tube holder and fin alignment tools. I really like that Estes went back to the balsa nose cone nice touch. I did not use the rubber band shock cord provided I had a piece of Kevlar® and some elastic strip attached it to the motor mount with a dab of glue. Engine mount is one of the final steps

Finishing:
Estes recommended white paint but I used aluminum instead came out ok to me. I used a water glue solution to seal the fins and nose cone

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
I had to see it fly but the wind would not slack off so I used a A8-3 for my first flight.
Then a B6-4 for the other two plus a C6-5. I used a little dog barf and everything came back fine

Recovery:
I used the Kevlar® elastic method and cut a serious hole in my parachute. This rocket is kind a light

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
This is a Cool rocket to build as it comes together it really looks good to the builder

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight Log

Date	Rocket Name	Motor(s)	Altitude	Notes
2001-08-19	Bill Eichelberger's Estes Satellite Interceptor	B6-6	-	Half completed, but I wanted an idea of how it flew and all of the important parts were there....
2002-06-21	Bill Eichelberger's Estes Satellite Interceptor	C6-5	-
2002-06-22	Bill Eichelberger's Estes Satellite Interceptor	B6-4	-	Another eBay refugee. Great flight after extensive repairs. On with the decals!
2004-03-28	Bill Eichelberger's Estes Satellite Interceptor	C6-5	-	Slightly wobbly on the way up, then drifted forever despite the small chute.
2004-06-13	Bill Eichelberger's Estes Satellite Interceptor	B6-4	-	This was a requested flight and was among the most impressive of the day.
2004-08-28	Bill Eichelberger's Estes Satellite Interceptor	C6-7	-	Impressive flight to end the day on as a large storm blew in just after the flight.
2004-09-05	Bill Eichelberger's Estes Satellite Interceptor	B6-4	-	Parachute didn't open, but recovered without damage. Just missed landing on the park shelter's...
2010-09-06	Donald Besaw's Estes Satellite Interceptor	B6-4	-	Excellent first flight, went up quite a bit faster and higher than I anticipated considering all...
2010-10-10	Dale Marshall's Estes Satellite Interceptor	B6-4	-	This is a great-flying rocket and it turned in another perfect flight.
2011-11-20	John Bergsmith's Satellite Interceptor	Estes C6-5	-	First flight, looked great!
2012-02-11	Preston Hoover's Satalite Interceptor	A8-3	350 feet	Rocket flew good for the first launch.
2012-03-17	Preston Hoover's Satalite Interceptor	A8-3	450 feet	Straight up and down awsome flight.
2012-03-17	Preston Hoover's Satalite Interceptor	A8-3	450 feet	Straight up and down awsome flight.
2012-03-17	Preston Hoover's Satalite Interceptor	A8-3	450 feet	Good Flight
2012-03-17	Preston Hoover's Satalite Interceptor	B4-4	700 feet	Rocket went very high nice flying rocket.

Comments:
K.F. (July 8, 2010)
Hooray! My local hobby store finally has these in stock. Can't wait to get it built. I was disappointed by the fact that the kit does not include the display rocket nozzle like the original had, but I can overlook this detail now that I'll have my all-time favorite rocket design back in my fleet. I had many incredible flights with the original Satellite Interceptor back in the eighties and so am already familiar with this kits flight performance. My original was destroyed in rather dramatic fashion when the exhaust from the motor burned a hole through the side of the engine casing and sent the rocket cartwheeling into the ground. I had never had a problem like that before and have yet to see it again. So hopefully this rocket will be in my collection for many years to come.
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