This formerly Blackhawk R&D rocket is now fully owned and produced by Aardvark Rockets

The SA-8 Gecko is a Russian surface-to-air missile that is used by Eastern European countries and also by India. It is launched from multiple launchers mounted on a wheeled amphibious vehicle which also has tracking radar and guidance.

INSTRUCTIONS: 5 Stars
These were complete and included lots of technical specs. These should be useful for people building this to scale. One minor omission: the instructions do not contain the Blackhawk R&D website or phone number, which would be useful.

EASE OF BUILD: 5 Stars
Although this is a larger mid-power scale model, it was easy to build. Everything went together well, the rings for the baffle assembly and the motor mount assembly fit well. Die-cut fins would have been nice, but the 3/16 balsa was easy to cut and finish. I would recommend recessing the baffle tube more than the 6" in the instructions, as that isn't enough room for the heavy-gauge nylon chute. I also skipped putting in the engine block, as I use reloads with a retainer ring and don't need a forward thrust ring.

QUALITY: 4 Stars
I was surprised to find surface mount balsa fins (no slotted tube) on a medium-power rocket with a 29mm motor mount. I was skeptical about their ability to handle more powerful motors. This turned out to be unfounded, as the fins worked well during launch. I was disappointed that a 3/16" launch lug was provided. My rule of thumb for launch lugs is 1/8" for 18mm motor mount rockets, 3/16" for 24mm motor mount rockets, and 1/4" for 29mm motor mount rockets. So, I put the inadequate launch lug in my parts bin and glued a more substantial 1/4" lug on instead. The kit did not come with any engine retaining hardware, so you can put in whatever works for you. I would not rely on tape to hold mid-power engines in. The kit comes with excellent decals which add to the appearance.

The centering rings are also plywood. What makes Blackhawk say their models are tougher? Probably the thicker body tube, it is a lot sturdier than an Estes BT-80. It is a thicker type commonly used in high-power rockets.

Overall quality of this rocket is quite good. It would make an excellent addition to any rocket enthusiast's collection.

FLYING: 4 ½ Stars
It comes with a 24" red nylon chute, a good sturdy one. The baffle is two plywood rings with 1/8' holes drilled in them. They are glued on both sides of a coupler. A screw eye is attached to one of the rings for the shock cord and the entire assembly is then glued into the body tube. The shock-cord material is 1/2" regular nylon shock cord.

I have only flown it once so far, on a F-52 reload. It flew straight, but landed a bit hard (I had some bad luck with the reloads last week) It really is sturdy! I've fixed up some minor damage and should have it ready to go again next weekend.

This rocket flies straight and true. It is well-balanced and would fly well on reloads as well as single-use motors. The balsa nose cone is a slight drawback, as it dings easily. (I prefer plastic ones)

UPDATED 6/99:
I took the Blackhawk R&D SA-8 Gecko out again, this time on a North Coast F-52 Dark Star. These are good motors (better than their kits) but they are not worth $15 a piece, so I've been buying them up at $12. Anyway, the Gecko flew like a startled lizard. The black smoke propellant helped make it a crowd-pleasing flight.

RATING: 4 ½ Stars
The Blackhawk R&D SA-8 Gecko is an excellent mid-power scale model and a good one for your first 29mm motor rocket, particularly if you want something more than 3-fins-and-a-nose-cone. It is not difficult to build and it flies very well.