RocketReviews.com - Estes - X-Fliers - Review by Michael P. Morley with Alex Morley

Brief:
The Estes X-Flyers is a kit in the “Launchables“ series which contains two easy-to-build pre-decorated model rockets. Alex, age 10 at the time, built both rockets in under ten minutes each without adult assistance.

Construction:
The two rockets are referred to in the kit as “X-Flyer #1” and “X-Flyer #2.” X-Flyer #1 is 15.25” long. It uses a 9.25” BT-20 for the main airframe and has a nose cone composed of a BT-5 nose cone, body tube, and a tube adapter. X-Flyer #2 is 15” long, and uses a BT-20 body tube. Both rockets use plastic 4-fin fin cans and divide the BT-20 into two sections, which are joined by a plastic coupler with an integral shock cord mount and launch lug.

The Estes instructions are clear and easy to follow. For both rockets, the first step is to attach the fin can to the lower section of BT-20. The fin can includes a molded slot to fit around the engine hook. The coupler between the upper and lower sections of BT-20 includes a short launch lug that lines up with another launch lug on the fin can. Inside is a molded plastic anchor for the shock cord, which is a great improvement over the traditional tri-fold paper mount.

On X-Flyer #1, the nose section is a three-piece assembly consisting of a BT-5 nose cone, a 3” length of BT-5, and a tube adapter with a shock cord anchor at the small end. #2 uses a standard plastic BT-20 nose cone.

Both rockets use a pre-assembled 12” parachute which is tied to the shock cord 1” from the nose cone.

They are very easy to build, thanks to mostly easy steps. The only hard part is pulling the shock cord through into the retainer and putting the cap on the retainer.

Finishing:
There really is no finishing to do. All parts are pre-colored and the body tubes have printed graphics. #1 is dark blue and black with yellow graphics, and #2 is yellow with a medium blue nose cone and fins.

Flight:
We flew both rockets on A8-3 motors on clear days with light winds. Both boosted straight to an impressive altitude.

Recovery:
X-Flyer #1’s parachute worked effectively despite a small burn hole, and the rocket was recovered undamaged. On the first flight of X-Flyer #2, the parachute was fused together by the ejection charge, and it never deployed. The damaged chute acted as a streamer, and the rocket was recovered otherwise undamaged. Alex replaced the parachute with a streamer for later flights. On the second try, the streamer worked perfectly.

Given that these are minimum diameter BT-20 rockets, it seems odd that Estes would use a parachute instead of a streamer. Many of Estes’ other kits of similar size, like the Hi-Flier, use a streamer. The sturdy plastic fin cans can certainly stand up to the slightly harder landing, and there is less chance of the rocket drifting away on the wind.

Summary:
The X-Flyers are good beginner rockets that are easy to build yet attractive. They are among Alex's favorites.

Flight Log

Date	Rocket Name	Motor(s)	Altitude	Notes
2001-08-04	Jerry Davis's Estes X-Fliers	C6-5	-	How did we ever expect to find this one again? Went out of sight, to who knows where...
2002-05-15	Ron McFerren's Estes X-Fliers	B6-4	-	First flight for the yellow one. Went up fast and recovered on streamer. No damage. Haven't flown...
2003-03-16	Donald Besaw's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Nice first flight, streamer got rolled up in shock cord, rocket impacted on it's side. No major...
2003-03-30	Donald Besaw's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Nice flight, suffered some rebound damage at top of body
2003-04-11	Colin Chase's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	High flight with small engine! Close recovery, fin broke upon landing, currently being repaired....
2003-05-10	Donald Besaw's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Nice flight. Body tube got banged up some more.
2003-05-25	Donald Besaw's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Wind test. Nice flight.
2003-05-25	Donald Besaw's Estes X-Fliers	B6-4	-	Nice high flight. Landed within 50 feet of a parked school bus, no biggie.
2003-06-22	Colin Chase's Estes X-Fliers	C6-7	-	First flight after wing repair. Large engine, went out of sight. Never saw it land. Found rocket...
2003-07-21	Donald Besaw's Estes X-Fliers	B6-4	-	Nice high flight but not quite out of sight. Long recovery walk. No damage.
2003-08-10	Donald Besaw's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Good flight. Shock cord burned through, both parts recovered OK. No damage.
2004-01-02	Paul Winder's Estes X-Fliers	C6-7	-	Anglesey Rocket Club. Flight was Vertical. Max Altitude Approx 1000ft. Recovery Phase Commenced as...
2004-06-09	Matt Gillard's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Straight flight, parachute failed to open fully, slight crack to fin can.
2004-10-29	Alex Jordan's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	300 feet	Chutes ejected-but never opened...Rockets recovered without damage, great cheap motor for these...
2005-10-13	Matt Gillard's Estes X-Fliers	B4-2	-	Quick lift, straight flight, deployed chute, which failed to open. hardish landing, no damage.
2006-04-22	Ben Johnson's Estes X-Fliers	C6-7	-	it kept on going, though cloud and still kept going, did not see ejection just heard, nose cone...
2006-04-22	Ben Johnson's Estes X-Fliers	B6-4	-	went though the cloud
2006-05-04	Ben Johnson's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	bottom half came detached from the nose cone and took a 2 inch core sample
2006-06-17	Ben Johnson's Estes X-Fliers	B6-6	-	after ejectoin charge the kevlar chord snapped, after which both parts returning to the ground....
2007-03-25	Mal McClenaghan's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Nice flight. Recovery on 100cm x 3cm streamer.
2007-03-25	Mal McClenaghan's Estes X-Fliers	A8-3	-	Another nice flight. Good small field flier.
2007-06-02	Dwayne Shmel's X-Fliers	C6-5	-	Buh-Bye.
2007-06-21	Dwayne Shmel's X-Fliers	B6-4	-	Drag race with the sister x-Flyer that came in the 2 rocket kit. Looked like a tie.
2007-06-21	Dwayne Shmel's X-Fliers	B6-4	-	Drag race with the sister x-Flyer that came in the 2 rocket kit. Looked like a tie.

Estes - X-Fliers

Flight Log

What You Can Do