Reviews : Estes Alpha III E2X Model Rocket Kit

The Estes Alpha III is ideal for situations where you want to get in the air as quickly as possible, thanks to its simple design and plastic fin can. One thing of note about this kit is the nose cone. Specifically, you can't find it anywhere else, as I'm not aware of any currently produced Estes kit that use it. Another neat feature about this nose cone (besides its shape) is that its shoulder is wide open, with the shock cord attacking to a small eyelet that screws into the side of the nose cone. This makes it convenient location for a payload, like an altimeter. Another thing of note is the bottom of the fins. A few descents onto a hard surface may lead to some bent tips.

I've flown an Alpha III every year throughout the decades that my family has been rocketeers. After numerous flight, some of the alpha's components become weak and brittle. The one this purchase is replacing is about 20 years old. We've swapped out the parachute for a streamer recovery which is likely why we haven't lost it with the C6-5's. I'll probably upgrade to a better shock cord and a length of kevlar cord glued into the motor mount to prevent nose cone and recovery system detachment from the fins and tube. For those who are more about flying rockets than building them, this is where you start.

Very easy to assemble, as advertised. Flies very well, and can achieve very high altitudes with the right engines. Of course, be aware that winds at ground level may not reflect the winds at high altitude- have a big launch area with a good feel for the wind with any B engine or higher. Very sturdy. I had a parachute failure due to the parachute getting stuck in the cone section (from user error, I admit), and the entire assembly fell to earth WITHOUT DAMAGE.

While not quite RTF, the Alpha III is a kit that can easily be built the night before a launch and perform like a champ the next day. Looks good on the pad and builds surprisingly rugged. Be sure to add extra shock cord or Kevlar because it's one area where Estes continues to be lacking.

Easy to assemble rocket of the classic Alpha, this rocket will please even seasoned rocketeers. You can fly these in a small to medium field on A's and B's saving the C's for larger fields. Very popular rocket in the Estes fleet for good reason. Very versatile with great performance!

I helped my 5-year old son build this one. It was his 1st rocket and it took us 30 minutes to assemble it. We launched it 3 times and had a blast. He is looking forward to build some other rockets.