Brief:This is a small, phenolic toughly made rocket designed to break the sound barrier and is able to do so on 24 mm engines, namely Aerotech's F72 and G55.

Construction:All the parts were there, and were strong. My only difficulty was the tight fit of the nose cone to the body tube. I sanded the nose cone to loosen the fit, as I was unsure that the engine could build sufficient pressure to pop it. The instructions were clear, and the order logical. The chute is a good material, but is white. For me, I'd prefer something brighter, as this model goes very far up. The shock cord has no stretch. Since it comes with rings to attach along its length, I figure that force then travels in nodes much like in a musical string. Still, I would be more comfortable with bungee.

Finishing:It was easy to finish, and the decals look sharp. The instructions were simple and clear. However, I recommend painting it light and bright so that not only do the decals show, but for ease of location!

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight: Its only flight so far was with an Aerotech F72-10. Since it was one in a mass launch for G Harry Stine, I did not hear the pop as it broke mach, but I did see it go straight up and loudly. I think it did go to projected altitude of 4000 feet, as the manufacturer said. I used tracking powder to aid in sighting. With its Nomex parachute protector, I did not need wadding, which was nice. The long delay motor was good, because of the speed and altitude the rocket reached.

Recovery:The Nomex parachute protector worked well. The chute held up and inflated well, but I would choose another color than the white provided. As mentioned, I would prefer bungee shock cord, or something with stretch. Assembling the system was not too tough, but the attachment of the shock cord to the hollow nose cone was tricky, as it required sliding a tightly fitting bar into holes in the nose cone and sanding off excess that stuck out so that the nose cone could fit into the body tube.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:It was fun and different, and a real mover. On a G55, which will be my next flight, it will really book. I really don't mind the extra sanding here and there, but some modelers might.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5