Brief:
This kit right here, I now have to thank, for getting me super re-addicted to rocketry. My last launches back in the early 80's saw D's as being high power. After getting very interested again a few months ago, I bought about 50 different kits and of them all, this one was my favorite, and I picked it for my first mid-power, and flew it today on an F50-6T. Truly amazing. I built it stock just as per the instructions. It has excellent through-the-wall snap in fins, pre-slotted body tube, nice baffle system so no wadding is required, very nice quality chute. In fact, I have enjoyed this one so much, I am now finishing a G-Force, and have ordered (4) more Aerotech kits.

Construction:
I used nothing but CA to put this together in about 2 hours while watching a movie at the same time. I will bet that you can build one of these and use NO GLUE at all on anything but the launch lugs, and fire it off on a G and recover it in one piece. That is how well all the parts fit. The first hour of construction was how long it took me to just get the adapter rings onto the motor tube. They fit so tight that I actually had to hammer them on. The way the fins snap in (and they are very tight) is excellent. The recovery system is excellent and the only thing I added were a few snap swivels so I could change out the chute quickly in the future. Building this did take a little effort, because everything fits together so tightly, but the end result is one tough rocket with awesome performance.

Finishing:
I skipped the primer. My mistake. The paint rubbed off a little from the nose cone and body while it was in the car on the way home from the launch. I will use primer next time on my next completion of an Aerotech, because I can see that these are built to stay in your collection and keep flying again and again. The decals are self stick, and I would prefer water slide, but that's just a personal preference. I give it a 5/5.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
While attending the first high power launch I have ever been to, today 11/24/2002, which was the Crossroads of Texas 2002 at the Hearne Texas Airport, I got the guts up to go ahead and do it, using the launch equipment of my local NASA/Houston club. I picked an Aerotech single use F50 with a 6 second delay. Wind was gusting so a longer delay may have been even better. Wind was at least 10-15 MPH or more. My Cheetah passed the safety inspection, my club members helped me with the copperhead ignitor, and my 1st mid power rocket left on it's 1st flight from pad #1. This thing went up so clean and straight and perfect that I did get a little worried when it went out of sight. I didn't want to lose it. And then there it was. Perfect recovery deployment. I did not time it, but I believe it was in the air for possibly as long as 5 minutes.

Recovery:
The shock cord method looks perfect to me. And the cord it came with was about 6 feet long. Since I launched in pretty gusty wind, it did drift at least 300 yards and then tried to hide itself in soft grass about a foot tall. It took over half an hour to find it. But when I finally saw it's nice bright yellow chute, it was laying there without a scratch or flaw, just picture perfect. Here again, I give it a 5/5.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
I am massively impressed by this CHEETAH. I can not think of anything but praise in any area. It most certainly drew attention. I believe it must have hit mach speed and it got real positive comments by everyone. People commented in ways like it "snapped off the pad", it "must have broke mach", "that was killer!", "straight up!", it "honked up there ", and and even just plain "Wow!". When I got back into town from the launch, I did go to Aerotech's website, sorta with this feeling of awe in the way of "what in the world was that?". Hahah Aerotech says that this is their fastest and highest flying rocket. I didn't realize that, but I sure know now. I'm just glad I didn't use a G in it. Because it's nice and safe at home, and it's got a bunch more work to do now, as the best rocket I have ever built, now my favorite. Get one. Give yourself a few hours and build it slow and right, with the great instructions and nothing but CA. The Aerotech Cheetah is in my opinion, simply awesome.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5