Quest Q-Jet E35-8W Launch Pack: Delay and Flight FAQ
By Quest Q-jet | Published: 2026-11-02
Category: Product Reviews
Get clear answers on the Quest Q-Jet E35-8W 2-motor pack: delay timing, White Lightning flight traits, and practical prep tips for your next launch.
Quick answer
The Quest Q-Jet E35-8W is a 24mm composite motor with an 8-second delay, best suited to lighter rockets or flights where you want extra coast time before the parachute opens. Treat the 2-motor pack as a chance to fly the same delay twice and compare how your rocket behaves.
Why the 8-second delay changes your rocket choice
Delay timing is not a universal setting; it depends on how quickly your rocket decelerates after burnout. An 8-second delay gives a longer coast phase than shorter-delay Q-Jet motors, so it tends to work better in rockets that are light for their size or that you want to observe at apogee. If your rocket is heavy or draggy, the same delay can carry it past apogee and into a faster descent before ejection.
The practical trade-off is altitude versus safety margin. A longer delay can produce a more visible, slower-looking deployment in the right rocket, but it leaves less room for error if the rocket is heavier than expected. Check your rocket’s estimated apogee and descent profile before committing to the E35-8W.
What White Lightning means for flight behavior
White Lightning is Quest’s composite propellant family, and the E35-8W uses that formulation. In practice, composite motors like this tend to produce a different thrust curve and sound than black-powder motors, and they are often chosen when you want more total impulse from a similar motor size. The catalog describes Q-Jets as having 14.8% more total impulse than D12 black-powder motors and weighing 85.4% as much, which can matter if your rocket is already near a weight or performance limit.
Do not assume that “White Lightning” means a specific visual flame color or a particular delay feel; those details are not supplied for this motor. Instead, focus on the known delay and the composite propellant family when deciding whether this pack fits your launch plan.
When the 2-motor pack is a smart buy — and when it isn’t
A two-motor pack makes sense if you already have a rocket that flies well on 24mm composite motors and you want to test the 8-second delay under similar conditions twice. It also helps if you are comparing delay timing against a shorter-delay Q-Jet you already own. The pack is less useful if you are still tuning motor retention, ignition, or recovery for the first time, because two identical motors do not give you a range of delay options.
If your rocket is marginal on stability or you have not flown it on an E-class motor before, start with a shorter delay or a smaller motor rather than using the E35-8W as a first test. The pack is a convenience, not a substitute for a stability check.
E35-8W flight questions answered
- What does the “8” in E35-8W mean?
- The 8 is the delay time in seconds after motor burnout before the ejection charge fires. It is not a total flight time or a fixed altitude. Use it as a starting point and compare it with your rocket’s estimated apogee. If your rocket reaches apogee well before 8 seconds, this delay is likely too long.
- Is the E35-8W a good first composite motor?
- Only if your rocket is already proven on 24mm composite motors and you have checked stability and recovery. The 8-second delay is less forgiving in heavy or draggy rockets, so a shorter-delay motor is a safer first step. Fly a known motor first, then move to the E35-8W once you know your rocket’s apogee timing.
- How should I prep the 2-motor pack for a launch?
- Inspect both motors for damage, install the igniter according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and check that your launch lug and recovery system are secure. Keep the second motor in its packaging until you are ready to fly it, and do not modify the delay or nozzle. Treat each motor as a separate flight: recheck retention and recovery before the second launch.
- What rocket weight suits the E35-8W?
- No specific weight range is supplied for this motor, so use your rocket’s stability and estimated apogee as the guide. A lighter rocket for its size will generally coast longer and may suit the 8-second delay better than a heavy, high-drag build. If you cannot estimate apogee, choose a shorter delay rather than guessing.
- Can I use the E35-8W in any 24mm rocket?
- It fits 24mm motor mounts, but motor length, retention, and ejection-charge volume vary by rocket. Check your kit’s motor mount and recovery setup before flight. The catalog does not list a complete compatibility chart, so verify against your rocket’s instructions. Confirm motor length and retention before you load the motor.
Product facts
- Quest Q-Jet™ E35-8W White Lightning Complete 2-Motor Launch Pack - Q6152: Quest Q-Jets are described as 24mm composite motors with 14.8% more total impulse than D12 black-powder motors and 85.4% of the D12’s weight. That combination can give you more performance headroom in a lighter package, which is relevant when choosing a rocket for the E35-8W’s 8-second delay.
Quest Q-Jet™ E35-8W White Lightning Complete 2-Motor Launch Pack - Q6152
