Rocket kit HV Arcas - Aerotech

Fantastic flights with F engines.

The HV Arcas is one of the most appreciated kit in the Aerotech line. Maybe it is for his elegant and streamlined design, or perhaps because of its proportions, or maybe for its particularly apt size. A diameter of 66 mm is not small, but the HV Arcas it's still a rocket easy to carry around, that doesn't force you to use only powerful engines.

It shares the same thoroughness and the same attention to detail than the other rockets in the Aerotech line, so also the HV Arcas has the sturdy plastic fins already shaped, which do not require sanding to be finished, and mounted with a system that locks them in perfectly aligned position; it has the parachute protection system permanently installed, and a metal, screw-on motor retainer that no other manufacturer put in their kits.

The real sounding rocket was designed to be launched after a nuclear test (we are speaking about the late 50's ...) to measure radioactive fallout, but in fact it has never been used for that purpose. It came in handy instead to make peaceful and useful atmospheric research. Its unique feature was the fact of being really small, as big as our high-power rockets, and required only a couple of people to use it. Another notable feature was the burntime of its engine: a full 30 seconds! This enabled him to achieve very high altitudes, in its standard version. But to get data from the highest layers of the atmosphere a more powerful boosted version has been produced, using a surplus Sparrow rocket motor, called HV Arcas, where “HV” stands for "High Velocity". This is the version chosen by Aerotech for his kit.

As many Aerotech kit, also the HV Arcas has a large payload section. You can use it to bring your experiments aloft, or for breathtaking flight videos.

The motor mount is 29 mm, as usual. The ideal engines for this model are those of F-class, both single-use and reloadable. We have seen many launches of this rocket with Aerotech F40 reloads for the RMS 29/40-120 motor, which seems an engine made specifically for this model, but you can fly it with great results with single-use F20W, F27R, F42T or Cesaroni Pro29 reloads. And of course you are not limited to F engines, you can also use G to even higher flights.

Aerotech included an adapter to use 24 mm engines. Also in this case F engines are ideal, both single-use and reloadable.

The kit is completed by the nylon parachute, and the self-adhesive decals. The real rocket had an aluminum plate on the fuselage, with the serial numbers and other indications engraved. Aerotech has reproduced this plaque in real self-adhesive aluminum with the same writings of the real one, made in a very realistic way.

• Sturdy plastic nosecone 5:1
• Cardboard body tubes with precut fins slots
• Payload section
• Molded plastic fins
• Fins locking system which ensures a perfect alignment and spacing
• Integrated parachute protection system
• Adapter for 24 mm engines included
• Screw-om motor retainer included
• 55 cm Nylon parachute included
• Self-adhesive decals

A launch pad with 6 mm rod is required, such as the Aerotech Mantis or the Estes PS II. For motor ignition you need a 12-volt launch controller such as the Aerotech Interlock Controller or the Estes PS II.

Aerotech kits features – Why are they so good?

Aerotech kits have a complete set of solutions and construction details that brings them one step beyond all other mid-power kits of the same size. For this reason, and for the great care with which they are made, they appear to cost more than others, but being so complete does not require the purchase of additional parts, and to finish them you need only adhesive and colors.

Opening the box of one of these kits you will immediately notice the quantity and quality of the parts. The tubes are made of strong kraft cardboard, with pre-cut fins slots. The nose cone is tough plastic, with a length to diameter ratio of about 5: 1.

But certainly the most striking particular is the motor mount assembly and the fins. These are made of rigid and molded plastic. You do not need to sand or give them an aerodynamic profile. They fit into two grooved plastic rings that keep them perfectly aligned and blocked at the same time. No more crooked and misaligned fins! In addition, the motor mount tube has a pencil line traced on it that acts as a reference for mounting.

Another unique feature of the Aerotech kit products is their parachute protection system, made with a steel mesh which filters and cools the ejection gases, preventing them to damage your parachute. Before reaching the parachute the gases are forced through the holes of a plastic closure which also acts as an anchor for the shock cord. This way you do not need to add any protective wadding or similar materials, and the rocket can be prepared to fly very quickly.

Even the motor retainer is worthy of note. Initially, these kits were equipped with a steel engine hook, similar to those present in Estes kits but bigger and stronger. Now Aerotech has made a screw-on motor locking system that is included in all their kits.

If you add the cost of such a retainer and a parachute Nomex protection to the price of other kits comparable in size, you easily see that the Aerotech kits are very competitive.

A nylon parachute of appropriate size, a self-adhesive decals sheet of excellent quality, and launch guides for 6 mm rods are included as well.

The shock cord is made of fabric covered elastic. This is perhaps the only detail that we would improve. Although abundant in length, elastic is not the ideal material because it can break in the long run. As it is tied to the motor mount, it will be difficult to replace it. For this reason, we would add some 3 or 6 mm Kevlar tubular, at least until you get beyond the opening of the fuselage, in order to untie the elastic band if it should break, and replace it with a new one.