The 'new' FSI was present at NARAM-56.

I purchased two of the kits they had for sale, the Spirit and Nova. These kits were produced from leftover parts from the original company. As such some of the parts needed work to fit correctly. At least the fins were all the same size.

I finished both models in time for the SCRA NAR section launch in Los Angeles this past Saturday.

It was time to fly.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

First up was the Nova.

It had a weight/mass of 2.0 oz w/o motor. The kit has a 24mm motor mount but I wanted to keep the power level down for the first flight. Using one of the Estes 24mm-18mm motor adaptors I readied the Nova with an A8-3 motor.

It turned out to be an 'exciting' flight.

The model boosted fine but I doubt it reached 100 feet in altitude. The Nova started to tailslide with the ejection charge deploying the parachut around 20-30 feet above the ground. The model landed safely and undamaged three feet from the launch rack.

Whew!

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

More Nova/A8-3 flight pictures...

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

Final Nova pictures.

(Hmmm...The pictures are now in reverse order. )

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

Next up was my FSI Sprint model.

The Sprint had a slightly higher weight/mass than the Nova at 2.1 oz.

This time I used a B6-4 motor in the kit's 18mm motor mount.

The flight went well and the model was recovered without damage.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

Very nice looking and flying.
FSI models were always heavy for their size.
A 13mm A3-2T in an adapter or an old 18mm A5-2 would probably be a much better choice for that Sprint than an A8-3 due to this, if you have to fly them on an A.

I really used to like the old A5-2 and A5-4 motors as those delays worked out better for many models than the A8-3 and A8-5.
I believe the last year the old thick-walled A5 motors were produced was around 1973.

Due to the fact that no 2 second delay 18mm motor now exists, only the 18mm 1/2A6-2 and B4-2 are suitable for boost gliders. Of course one can use a dummy or used 18mm casing to adapt the 13mm A3-2T.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

The Estes A8-3 delay averages 2.25 seconds.

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I love sanding.

Nice rockets, that last photo of the Sprint going up is a great shot. Always liked the 'Raytown Rockets', built a lot years ago..looking forward to putting up some of the new ones.