EMRR's Model Rocket Review: Quest Aerospace

8 Guests On

REV 2.4 - Sun Nov 28 00:03:29 2010

Quest
Astra 1

PO Box 2409
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147-2409
(970) 264-4050

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SPECS:

13" x 1" - 0.81 oz

ROCKSIM FILE:

Right Click to Download

SpaceCAD FILE:

MISSING - please submit here

REC'D MOTORS:

A6-4, B6-4, C6-3, C6-5

The following excerpt is from "Sport Rocketry". The intention is to allow guests to get a basic feeling about a kit. We strongly suggest that you get a copy of the referenced Sport Rocketry and read the entire article. Inside you will find many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. For more information, use the two links above.

(Sport Rocketry - Mar/Apr 1995 - page 25 - by Joe Warnock)

[Picture] "The Astra 1 is a very straightforward level 1 sport flyer that makes up into an attractive model."
"Quality of the materials in the kit was high, with the exception of liberal flash around the tip and base of the plastic nose cone."
"Quest uses color coding on parts for the engine mount. I like the idea, especially since this kit is intended for beginners."
"I also like the Kevlar® shock cord mounting system."
"The shroud lines are pre-cut to size!"
". . . the only instructions for assembling the parachute are printed in the margins of the parachute sheet."
"The Astra 1 uses die cut balsa fins."
"Astra 1 comes with self stick "decals" that are printed on paper."
"Overall, I'd recommend this kit for an experienced beginner, one who's built a couple of kits already, or a novice builder with some dedicated, experienced help."

The entire article gives the impression is that this kit is a basic model for beginners/novice modelers.

GUEST's OPINION:
11/03 - "It's nice and all, but it looks almost exactly like the Estes Alpha." (J.R.)

GUEST's OPINION:
"The Quest Astra was one of the first kits I built this time around. I found the grippers to be a nuisance due to the friction they cause inside the body tube. I cut off the overhanging ends and punched holes through the remaining gripper material with a paper punch, it now deploys better. I also built mine without attaching the Kevlar® to the motor mount, instead it was used to make an anchor loop near the top of the body tube. Built this way, I have found it to be an excellent flyer that performs on a par with the Estes Alpha (which it pretty much is a clone of) with the added bonus that has no glued in shock cord to twist around and snap off. Nice bird that is a pleasure to build and fly." (D.S.)

SPECIFIC ROCKET TIP:
06/07 - "I exchanged the stock parachute for a 1" x 36" streamer, which works just as well. It's almost too light for a parachute." (M.P.M. )

SPECIFIC ROCKET TIP:
06/07 - "I exchanged the stock parachute for a 1" x 36" streamer, which works just as well. It's almost too light for a parac the clips on the OUTSIDE of that tube, not the inside. Installing on the inside creates so much friction that there will be no spin, negating the benefit of rotating hub. Also, go easy on the tension wrapping the thread around these to bond them. Too much tension constricts the tube, more friction, less spin. I peel away a layer of paper from inside the TT-20 and frm the outside of the BT-20 main tube, coat with thin CA, then sand smooth. I then sprinkle graphite dust (look in LHS under Cub Scout/Pinewood Derby section) before sliding the TT into place." (CS )

Date	Name	Motor	Ejection/ Altitude	Wind	Notes
09-18-2004	William Beggs	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - Perfect	Calm	Event: Bear Creek Lake Park, Lakewood, CO - Great flight and recovery.
09-18-2005	William Beggs	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - Perfect	Calm	- Good flight and recovery.
04-16-2007	William Beggs	Est SU B6-4	Apogee - Perfect	Calm	Event: Mile-High Mayhem - Perfect flight and recovery.
11-17-2007	William Beggs	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - Perfect	5-10 mph winds	Event: Antelope Flats, NM - Great flight and recovery.
04-30-2006	Tom+Maggie Brogan	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - Perfect	10+ mph winds	- Very fast off the pad, quick rocket. Got some decent alt. off the A8, still drifted 100yds on a streamer! No damage, might use this for mag's SD rocket.
04-06-2002	Tim Burger	Est SU A8-3	Didn't Record	10+ mph winds	- SLRA Launch. A parachute duration flight; about 38S.
04-06-2002	Tim Burger	Est SU A8-3	Didn't Record	10+ mph winds	- SLRA launch. Second A parachute duration flight. Didn't get the time.
05-27-2002	Tim Burger	Est SU B6-4	Didn't See	0-5 mph winds	- Today's sounding flight, nice high straight boost. Some drift.
09-07-2002	Tim Burger	Est SU B6-4	Just Before	5-10 mph winds	- Pre-demo sounding flight to verify wind direction and recovery area. Right on!
05-31-2003	Tim Burger	Est SU A8-3	Didn't Record	Gusty	- Good!
05-31-2003	Tim Burger	Est SU B6-4	Didn't Record	10+ mph winds	- Good!
09-27-2003	Tim Burger	Est SU A8-5	Apogee - Perfect	10+ mph winds	- Very good; some drift.
10-25-2003	Tim Burger	Est SU B6-4	Didn't Record	0-5 mph winds	- Nominal
04-23-2001	David Caspers	Est SU C6-7	Didn't See	Calm	Mischa II - Parachute didn't fill with air.........
10-25-2009	Bernard Cawley	Qst SU A8-3	Apogee - NC Up	0-5 mph winds	Event: Camelot Elementary - (15th flight) Another good straight boost. Deploy about right (early). Near landing. Lots of soot on body tube.
01-09-2010	Bernard Cawley	Qst SU A6-4	Very Late	0-5 mph winds	Event: club flying site - (flight 19) Hooked over and very late ejection. 'Chute did deploy OK and recovered fine. Don't know why this one doesn't seem to boost straight anymore - engine hook tab in the exhaust??
01-17-2010	Bernard Cawley	Qst SU A6-4	Late (2-3sec)	0-5 mph winds	Event: Holy Family playfield - Hooked east. Late eject. Landed on playground OK. Hooked even though I modded motor hook to get out of the exhaust. Why?
04-18-2010	Bernard Cawley	Qst SU B6-4	Apogee - NC Up	5-10 mph winds	Event: Tillamook Apr. 2010 - (German-made Quest motor) Wow! Good flight all around but BIG drift. Went almost to east fence (about 1200 feet away). Some dragging-on-ground damage.
05-16-2010	Bernard Cawley	Qst SU A6-4	Didn't Record	5-10 mph winds	- Up and out with lots of roll on the way uphill. Good 'chute. Landed behind us. No damage.
08-27-2010	Bernard Cawley	Est SU A8-3	Just Before (218 ft)	0-5 mph winds	Event: Pasture Blaster 1 Astra (II) - Good boost and deploy but doggone Quest 'chute didn't open. I guess I need a Semroc 'chute as in my other Astra. Slight top of BT dent from landing. AltimeterOne aboard.
10-03-2010	Bernard Cawley	Est SU A8-3	Just Before (197 ft)	Calm	Event: Camelot School playfield Astra (II) - Good boost and deployment but again Quest 'chute refused to open. OK - landed in thick grass. 'Chute now replaced with one from Semroc!
06-16-2004	Paul Gray	Est SU C6-5	Just Past (1-2sec)	0-5 mph winds	- Very nice flight but very high. Good recovery and fun to fly.
04-19-2008	Keith Hamel	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - NC Up	5-10 mph winds	- Nice straight boost and flight.
08-17-2010	Keith Hamel	Est SU B6-4	Apogee - Perfect	10+ mph winds	Event: Section Launch - Another nice flight for this rocket! One of the first rockets we built.
05-05-2003	Michael Majeski	2x Est SU B6-4	Apogee - Perfect	Calm	- Lept off of the launch pad and went straight up. Chute deployed perfectly and there was little to no drifting. Came down for a nice soft landing about 20 feet from the launch pad. Perfect!
05-05-2003	Michael Majeski	2x Est SU C6-7	Apogee - Perfect	0-5 mph winds	- Screamed off of the launch pad and went out of sight. I am pretty sure the ejection was perfect. Started coming down but caught some wind and drifted into a tree. Never recovered. Status: Lost
09-15-2002	MikeyR	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - Perfect	0-5 mph winds	- Nice flight. The field will work for the cubs. Lots of them
04-28-1999	Eric Miller	Est SU B6-2	Didn't See	Calm	- Not the most interesting rocket but a great performer, everything by the book for this little guy.
01-02-2000	Eric Miller	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - Perfect	0-5 mph winds	- Boring rocket design, but always delivers a nice flight. . . dang cheap balled chutes!! Recovered. . . no damage.
05-27-2007	Mike Morley	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - NC Down	0-5 mph winds	- Very nice high flight -- recovered on streamer instead of stock parachute.
11-21-2007	Charlaine+Cadence Nordin	Est SU A8-3	Apogee - Perfect	0-5 mph winds	- fisrt flight for this rocket. never flew quest before. quite a flight fast takeoff and slow recovery. will add a spill hole.
11-21-2007	Charlaine+Cadence Nordin	Est SU C6-7	Didn't See	0-5 mph winds	- changed to a streamer and loader her with power ( insert grunt hear) screamed off pad and out of sight came down fast but safe.
03-28-2009	Howard Smart	Qst SU B6-4	Apogee - NC Up	Light winds	Event: Local Meet 09-1 - 34 sec. Predicted 40 sec. 4th place in Predicted Duration.
02-06-2006	Tim Tyler	Est SU B6-4	Apogee - Perfect (500ish ft)	0-5 mph winds	- This thing likes low winds, it always weathercocks unless I angle the rod DOWNwind. This is about the 6th flight and the first perfect straight boost. Replaced oversized parachute with a streamer.