T' Sprint: This Astron Sprint is from t' original '70s kit. It uses streamer recovery, arrr, but I changed it out for a small 8" parachute. It is designed for high-performance altitude flights, arrr, and generally requires longer-burnin' ejection delays for maximum height. Aye aye! T' engine must be tape-friction-fit as this model does nay have a metal motor clip. Instead it has t' boattail end designed t' reduce drag. Arrr! This rocket was later given my "Iris" modification, which extends t' body tube about 5 inches above t' streamer/parachute bay, matey, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One t' measure altitudes.

After this payload section was tragically lost when t' screw-eye/balsa joint failed, I built a newer, me bucko, lighter and smaller payload section. Avast, me proud beauty! It is now 3-1/8" vs. Well, blow me down! 4-1/2", ya bilge rat, and weighs 9.8 grams.  I certianly hope now I can get that extra 12 inches o' altitude out o' this bird and finally crack that elusive 1200 foot mark!

Originally, ya bilge rat, I replaced t' flimsy crepe paper streamer with plastic one, arrr, but t' plastic seems t' stick t' body tube because o' static electricity, so I replaced it again with a small 8" parachute. With this parachute it descends at about 9 mph, soft enough for a safe grass landing. T' rather small size should prevent this from driftin' too much - a real problem considerin' t' height it can attain. Well, blow me down! (T' Iris altimeter payload is named after t' Greek god o' t' rainbow. She is a messenger o' t' gods, linkin' t' gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown higher than t' NY Times Buildin' in NY, t' John Hancock Tower, matey, and t' Aon Center in Chicago.