From: buzz@rsd.dl.nec.com (Buzz McDermott)
Subject: Frequently Asked Questions - Part 5 of 5
Keywords: FAQ
Organization: NEC America, Radio Software Dept
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 17:26:33 GMT
Expires: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 15:00:00 GMT

Rec.Models.Rockets FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): Part 5 of 5

Last Modified: 20 Nov 1992

*** PART 5: COMPETITION

Section 5.1: Competition

5.1.1 I would like to get into competition.  I would prefer to start with kits
    rather than designing and building my own.  Are there any manufacturers
    making kits specifically designed for competition?

    There are several sources of kits designed primarily for competition.
    Some of the manufacturers are:

      Apogee Components                    1/2A-C: SD, PD, superroc, eggloft;
      19828 N. 43rd Drive                  specialized competition motors
      Glendale, AZ 85308                   Catalog: $2
      (602) 780-2WIN

      North Coast Rocketry                 Helicopter, B/G, R/G,
      4848 South Highland Dr, Suite #424    piston launcher
      Salt Lake City, Utah 84117           Catalog: $3
      (800)877-6032 (voice or Fax)

      Qualified Competition Rockets        A number of competition designs and 
      c/o Kenneth Brown                    kits for model rocketry
      7021 Forest View Drive               Catalog: SASE
      Springfield, VA 22150

    The manufacturers list described in 'Other Sources of Information' 
    contains many additional addresses.

5.1.2 What are the major categories of competition model rocketry?

    The NAR sanctions model rocketry contests throughout the USA, and 
    throughout the year.  The contest year runs from July 1 - June 30.
    The final contest for a given contest year is NARAM, usually held 
    in August, after the end of the contest year.  The complete list
    of event and rules for model rocketry may be found in the NAR 'Pink Book',
    available free to NAR members and may be ordered from NARTS.  
    Some of the event types are:

    - Altitude (1/4A - G)
      The purpose is to get the maximum altitude from a model using a
      specified class of engine.
    - Streamer Duration (1/4A - G)
      The purpose is to get the maximum flight duration from a model with a
      specified engine type using streamer recover.
    - Parachute Duration (1/4A - C)
      The purpose is to get the maximum flight duration from a model using
      a specified motor type.
    - Eggloft Altitude/Duration (B - C, D - G)
      In this event the competitor must launch either one to two large raw 
      hen's eggs, depending on engine type, and recover it/them, intact, 
      crack free (B-C with single egg, D-G with two eggs).  The goal is either
      to reach the highest altitude or have the longest duration flight, 
      depending on the event.
    - Rocket Glider and Boost Glider Duration (1/4A - G)
      In these events the competitor launches a glider using a rocket engine
      and tries to achieve the longest flight duration of the glider.  In 
      boost glider the pod containing the motor may be ejected and recovered 
      separately.  In rocket glider all parts, including the expended engine,
      must stay with the model (1/4A - G).  There are categories for single
      wing, flex/swing wing, and multi-wing gliders.  Rocket glider is 
      generally considered the more difficult event because the model must be
      both a rocket and a glider without loosing any parts.  The CG and CP 
      requirements for the two phases of flight are very different.  There
      is also an R/C rocket glider event.
    - Helicopter Duration (1/4A - G)
      In these events the model ascends as a rocket.  Rotor arms then extend
      by some mechanism and the rocket slowly descends like a helicopter which
      has lost power.
    - Payload Altitude (A - G)
      In these events the competitor must launch one or more standard NAR pay-
      loads (1 ounce each of fine sand) and recover the model.  The number
      of payloads increases with larger engine sizes.
    - SuperRoc Altitude/Duration (1/2A - G)
      These events require VERY LONG rockets (7-8 feet and more).  There are
      both altitude and duration variations.  The trick to these events is
      that the model must be recovered and the body tubes MAY NOT BEND OR 
      CRIMP.
    - Scale Events
      These are craftsmanship events where competitors build scale models of
      real military or commercial rockets.
      * Scale: exact replicas of space vehicles, with measurements and scale
        checked VERY carefully
      * Sport Scale: craftsmanship is judged, but less strict scale measure-
        ment checking
      * Peanut Scale: Sport Scale for small (<30cm long, <2cm dia.)
      * Giant Scale: Sport Scale for large models (>100cm long, >10cm dia.)
      * Super Scale: must include a scale launcher as well as model of
        rocket; judged same as scale
      * Space Systems: must include launcher, model of rocket, and launch
        a flight with payload, predict altitude, launch within a time window,
        and land within a target zone. Judged same as Sport Scale (launcher
        is optional but gets bonus points).
    - Plastic Model Conversion (PMC)
      This event is either loved or hated.  Competitors enter plastic models
      of rockets or other aero-vehicles that have been converted to fly as
      model rockets.  The models are judged on craftsmanship, degree of diffi-
      culty, and flight characteristics.
    - Precision Events
      These include spot landing, random duration, predicted duration, 
      precision duration, and predicted altitude.  The competitor is given a 
      flight duration or altitude to try and match as closely as possible, 
      or must predict the altitude or duration, depending on the event.  In 
      spot landing the goal is for the model to land as closely as possible 
      to a marked spot on the ground.
    - Drag Race
      Multi-round, elimination tournament where contestants gets points
      for:
      * FIRST lift off
      * LOWEST altitude
      * LAST to land
    - Research and Development
      A non-flying event where contestants enter results of research projects.
      Entries on judged on completeness, contribution to rocketry knowledge,
      degree of difficulty, etc.

    The Tripoli "Member's Handbook" currently lists two competitive events for
    high power models:
 
    - G Motor Waterloft Duration/Altitude
      The purpose of this event is to either get the maximum altitude or max
      duration from a G powered rocket lifting 16 fluid ounces of water as
      a payload.
    - H Motor Streamer Duration

----------------------------------------

Section 5.2: Competition Tips and Strategies

5.2.1 What are some good events to try when first getting into competition?  Any
    'sage' advice?

    From buzz@rsd.dl.nec.com (Buzz McDermott):
    I just started competition this year.  I must have asked 30 experienced
    competitors where to start.  I got 30 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANSWERS!!
    They ranged from 'keep it REAL simple' to 'try everything'.  Here is
    a summary of the most prevalent advice.  It seems to have worked for me.

    - Competition requires a large stable of rockets, given all the
      possible events and engine categories; start with some of the 
      simpler ones where a single model might be competitive in more
      than one event (for example, the same model might be used for 1/2A-A
      streamer or parachute duration, another model might be competitive in
      any of A - C streamer or chute duration)
    - Try single eggloft (B-C, duration or altitude) before trying the 
      multi-egg categories (such as D or E dual egg).
    - Go for a good, qualified flight first; then decide if 'going for
      broke' is appropriate on your second flight (this is for mutli-
      flight events).
    - Get a teammate and enter as a team.  There are too many models you
      need to compete to be able to build all of them your first year.
      Entering as a team let's you pool time, talent, experience, and
      models.
    - Don't get discouraged if you aren't immediately competitive.
      Remember, the main goal is to enjoy yourself and HAVE SOME FUN.
    - KEEP A LOG OF ALL FLIGHTS.  RECORD WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.
      NOTE YOUR FLIGHT TIMES, ALTITUDES, ETC.  Your biggest weapon
      in many events is in being able to predict how your models
      will perform.
    - Make a model preparation checklist for each event (i.e., a detailed,
      step-by-step list of everything necessary to prep the model).  Use this
      list for your first few competitions.  Comp models are often prepared 
      a little differently from sport models.  The difference between winning
      and losing is often just attention to detail, or lack of it, in the
      heat of competition.

    From mark@jupiter.fnbc.com (Mark Bundick)
    Note: This is a condensed version of some competition strategies for 
    individual and team competitors, written by Mark 'Bunny' Bundick and 
    posted to r.m.r.  Check the r.m.r archive server for the complete posting.
    The full posting points out that there are many ways to win, and the 
    following is just what has worked for some individuals.

    Some Individual Competition Strategies:

    (a) Read the Pink Book.  If you don't know the rules for the event,  
    you can't know how to win and how to improve.  Figure out the  
    scoring for each event, how many flights are allowed, required  
    number of returned flights, the reasons for disqualifications, etc.   
    Reading the rules will also give you some insights into how the  
    contest will be run.  Start with the general rules then review the  
    event specific rules.

    (b) Practice for all events where your experience is low.  If you  
    already know how to fly parachute duration  (PD), don't waste time  
    practicing that at your club's sport launch..  Instead, suppose you  
    don't do well in streamer duration (SD).  Build a couple different SD  
    models with different streamers, and fly each of them at least a  
    couple of times BEFORE the contest.  Take a notebook to the field  
    and write down what happened, or at least write it down after you  
    get back home.  Such notebooks can be the lifeblood of your  
    competition model and strategy development.

    (c) Improve one event a year.  At the start of the season, it helps if  
    you pick one of your weak events for special attention during the  
    year.  Review the existing models and strategies for the event, look  
    over the competition carefully during the contest year, and practice  
    this key event each and every sport launch or test flying session  
    you attend.

    (d) Strive for consistent flights.  Rob Justis, my old teammate from  
    the 70's, always reviewed our DQ's after the meet and separated  
    them into "DQ's for the right reason" i.e no return, and "DQ's for the  
    wrong reason", i.e. separation.  We strove to avoid the latter  
    obviously.  This made us terribly consistent, and with today's "two  
    flights count" rule, this is even more important.

    (e) Fly all the events.  Sounds simple, but many people don't do  
    this. You don't have to win the event, but if you don't fly it, you're  
    sure to get behind because you're conceding flight points right off  
    the bat to your competition.   Over the course of a contest year,  
    you can concede 10% of your yearly total this way.

    (f) Concentrate on events with high individual event weighing  
    factors (WF).  If you have to choose events to fly, or are short of  
    preparation time for some of the scheduled events, prepare for and  
    fly the highest WF events first.  Simple again right?  But how many  
    people go to a contest and fly PD first thing in the AM cause the  
    wind is calm, and ignore BG which has a WF two to three times that  
    of PD?  

    (g) Refine, don't abandon, your models and strategies.  Rarely do  
    you get super performance improvements from forgetting all you  
    know to adopt a totally different strategy.  I've seen so many people  
    hop onto a design when it didn't fit their flying style and then get  
    burned. They switch because some guy had a super performance  
    at  a contest, so he must have the "Holy Grail" of models.  Right  
    after Tom Beach placed highly at a NARAM with a flexie RG, I saw  
    lots of folks try them, and crash.  Tom had lots of flexie experience  
    that helped, and when regular BG flyers tried to adopt his style  
    without the background, BOOM!  If you're serious about switching  
    to a completely different model, say from swing wings to slide wing  
    rocket gliders, then take the time to practice, practice, practice and  
    build up the background in the new method.  There are no quick  
    fixes to the winner's circle.

    (h) Pick your contests carefully.  If you can't fly helicopter duration  
    (HD) all that well, and the next regional you plan to attend has two  
    HD events, find another contest! Sometimes, this isn't possible. But  
    if two contests  compete for your participation at the same time,  
    take the one that has more of your "strong" events.

    (i) Casting Your Bread:  Share what you've learned with others.  A  
    three time national champion who shall remain nameless positively  
    stompped every challenger in his sight.  But his desire for keeping  
    secrets and his unwillingness to share left him with few friends, and  
    after a brief time, he left our hobby,  poorer himself and leaving our  
    hobby poorer for failing to let us learn from him.  The benefits of  
    making new friends and sharing far outweigh any short term  
    competitive advantage you might think you have from being  
    secretive.  As a quotation I once read went  "We have all drunk  
    from wells we did not dig and been warmed by fires we did not  
    build."  So go ahead.  Cast your bread on the waters.  You won't be  
    sorry.

    Hope this provides you competition types some food for thought.   
    I'd love to hear from anyone with comments, questions, brickbats,  
    etc. at  mark@fnbc.com.

----------------------------------------

Section 5.3: Some Model and High Power Rocketry Records

[Note: This section will contain summaries of current national and 
       international records for model and high power rocketry.  I will 
       add to it as I can determine what the records are...Buzz]

The high power records come by way of a posting from Chip Wuerz 
(dlw@engr.ucf.edu).  Chip is part of the University of Central Florida's high 
altitude rocketry project.  Additional information has been taken from the
November/December issue of _High Power Rocketry_.

    Records and Altitude Project Ideas

    * * Some current records for NON-METALLIC NON-PROFESSIONAL Rockets: * *

    Top altitude holders:

    Note:  It has been reported that a 2 stage rocket at BALLS 2, August
           1992, set a new altitude record by achieving over 53,000 feet
           AGL.  I have not been able to get details or confirmation...
           [Buzz McDermott]

    1) Altitude:  24,771 feet  (11.7% tracking error)
       Set by:    Chuck Rogers and Corey Kline
                  Lucerne Dry Lake Bed, Lucerne, Ca.
                  June 1989, USXRL-89

    2) Altitude:  24,662  (tracking error unknown)
       Set by:    Tom Binford
                  LDRS XI, Black Rock Desert, Nevada
                  August 16, 1992

    3) Altitude:  22,211 feet   (5.3% tracking error)
       Set by:    University of Central Florida
                  BlackRock Dry Lake Bed, Gerlach, Nv.
                  August 1991, LDRS X

    Highest Tracked Flight at Lucerne:
       Kline/Rogers Team - 24,771 feet, 1989

    Highest Tracked Flight at BlackRock:
       Tom Binford's 'Cloudbuster' - 24,662 feet, 1992

    Highest Tracked Staged Rocket:
       University of Central Florida - 22,211 feet, L750 to L750

    * Published notes on Chuck Rogers / Corey Kline Flight:
    (Lucerne Test Range Tracking Results, November 1988 - May 1989) -

    New unofficial altitude record for nonmetal, amatuer high power/experimental
    type rockets.  Possibly highest tracked flight of an amateur rocket
    (metal or fiberglass construction) yet in the United States.  Korey 
    Kline and Charles Rogers became the first recipients of the Rocket
    Newsletter perpetual altitude trophy for the first flight to exceed
    the previous record of 22,080 feet set with a metal rocket by the Fort
    Team in May 1984.  The trophy will be awarded to the next team to 
    exceed the current record.  Record is unofficial because of some 
    uncertainty on the exact track.  The cloud of red carpenters chalk
    ejected by the rocket was barely visible (because of a background of
    white clouds at higher altitudes) and high wind speeds at 25,000 feet
    dispersed the tracking cloud in only 3 - 4 seconds.  Trackers only
    got a track on the general vicinity of the red carpenters chalk
    in front of a cloud.  Before they could zero in the track, the red
    cloud had disappeared.  The angles from the last position of the tracker
    heads was used for the track, the error was only 11.7%.  The tracked 
    altitude was within 3.2% of the postflight prediction (25,567 feet)
    using the Rogers Alt4 altitude prediction program with the actual
    liftoff weight of the rocket, and a preflight CD estimation from
    program CD2.  Undoubtedly a valid track, but because of circumstances
    considered an unofficial record only.  The Rocket Newsletter considers
    this track an official record.  This rocket used a single, custom-manufac-
    tured L500-25, made by the Rogers/Kline team.
    
    *** Note: unofficial means Tripoli unofficial.  Tripoli only recognizes
        tracks with less than 10% error.  (Chip Wuerz) ***
    

    * Published notes on Tom Binford's 'Cloudbuster' flight at LDRS XI
      (derived from text in November/December issue of _High Power
      Rocketry_ magazine.

    This rocket was launched on Sunday, 16 August 1992, at LDRS XI in the
    Black Rock Desert.  The 'Cloudbuster' was a single stage rocket built
    by Tom Binford. It was powered by a single Vulcan O-3000 motor with 
    30,000 newton seconds of total impulse.  The flight was tracked to 24,662 
    feet AGL, but suffered an ejection failure and was destroyed on impact.

    *** Note: I have not been able to determine if this has been accepted as
        an official flight by Tripoli. (Buzz McDermott) ***


    * Published notes on University of Central Florida's Flight:
    (The TRIPOLITAN ... AMERICAS HIGH POWER ROCKETRY MAGAZINE,
       OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1991) -
    
    Highest tracked flight at LDRS-X / BALLS 1.
    Second all-time highest track of a non-metallic high power rocket.
    University of Central Florida's research project and altitude attempt
    to break the current high-power rocketry altitude record of 24,771 feet
    set by the KLINE/ROGERS team in 1989.  Altitude attempt had been based on
    3850 NS L-engine, new Vulcan L-750 engines deliver 3,000 (now known to be
    less from motor testing results) newton seconds.  In an attempt to make
    up power loss and to provide margin on the goal altitude of 25,000 feet,
    the upper stage was delay-staged by several seconds.  Altitude predictions
    computer simulation program predicted 28,500 feet.  Upper stage flew 
    substantial trajectory, reaching apogee nearly 2 miles downrange.
    Rocket used microprocessors / timer-controlled staging and ejection,
    on-board flight data measurement package, and a radio beacon system to 
    locate upper stage.  Track was accomplished using red carpenters chalk.  
    Both stages were recovered.
    
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