| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2011-06-19 |
| Diameter: | 0.98 inches |
| Manufacturer: | Estes  |
| Skill Level: | 1 |
| Style: | RTF, Sport |
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.
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.
Summary
Fantastic rocket to be able to launch the same day as purchasing. But make sure it flies straight before loading a C engine ;)
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Flights
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C Graski (June 21, 2011)
I also lost my Athena using a C6-5 motor. I'm going to buy another and use a spare streamer for recovery. I'd rather repair the plastic fins than lose another Athena because she had to set out for the horizon to save Odysseus' brazen behind, never to return. Back to the point, these smaller rockets can be very difficult to track, and therefore recover. That's why I ordered several spare streamers for when I feel the need to buy a smaller kit.