SSS NAR Competition for 2010


Update: 6 August 2010
SSS has just won their 6th straight National Championship at NARAM-52! I don't have the point totals just yet but it was probably a fight to the finish in Pueblo, Colorado this past week.



SSS Events NARAM-52 Events Helpful Links NARAM Live-2010

SSS has scheduled four competition dates in 2010 to help prepare for NARAM-52. These events, known as Phoenix Regional Meets (PRM), will be held at Rainbow Valley in February, March, April, and May. The purpose of these events is to foster the competitive spirit, prepare for NARAM, and accumulate points to carry forward to NARAM in July.


CLICK HERE for the 2010 PRM Schedule of events. If you are a member of SSS, there is no charge to compete. Non-SSS members will pay $2.00 per month.

These events have been recommended by our Contest Director Matt Steele and approved by members of the SSS Board of Directors. The events offer a variety of challenges and were grouped to maximize our Contest Factor points.

To compete you must be a NAR member in good standing. If you are not yet a NAR member but wish to join NAR and you show up to compete, we can complete a NAR application on the field, and enter “Pending” in the NAR number on the competition registration form. We trust you’ll send in the form with the required payment. If you fail to do so, any points you accumulate will become void.

NAR competition events have continuously evolved ever since the first NARAM in Colorado over 50 years ago. Today’s events cover a broad spectrum of specialties from simple spot landing events to egg-lofting to rocket-powered gliders to detailed scale models. These rockets fly on 1/8A to G impulse motors identified as NAR Contest Approved. Please click here for the most current approved motor list in PDF format. If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, please click here.



The NAR Sporting Code, or “Pink Book” contains all the rules for competition. It also explains each event in detail. We highly recommend you download a copy and become familiar with the contents if you plan on competing.

Some things to keep in mind if you plan to compete:

- These events are not all the same events that will be held at NARAM-52. Please check further down this page for those events.
- Please arrive a little early on competition day so you can fill out your registration documents.
- Open Spot Landing is the first event. A competitor must fly this event before any other events.
- During timed events, you may be asked to observe the flight and operate a stopwatch. We all share this responsibility.



SSS Events for 2010 - Click the link for the schedule of PRMs for 2010.


Event / Weight FactorPink Book
Ref
Narrative
'1/4A' Boost Glide
Duration
(Multi Round) WF 18
Para 36 Open to any model rocket, one portion of which returns to the ground in stable, gliding flight supported by aerodynamic lifting surfaces which sustain that portion against gravity. If the entry is staged, the gliding portion must be part of the uppermost stage, and must not be deployed until that stage has burned out. The entry may separate into multiple pieces; only the gliding portion is timed and only the timed gliding portion needs to be returned to satisfy Rule 15.10. Models whose gliding surfaces are made of flexible materials (e.g., plastic film or cloth) are prohibited from this event. The purpose of this competition is to achieve the longest flight duration time.
’B’ Streamer
Duration
(Multi Round) WF 19
Para 31 Open to single-staged entries that contain a single streamer as the only recovery device. The purpose of this event is to achieve the longest flight duration time.
’B’ Boost Glide
Duration
(Multi Round) WF 19
Para 36 Open to any model rocket, one portion of which returns to the ground in stable, gliding flight supported by aerodynamic lifting surfaces which sustain that portion against gravity. If the entry is staged, the gliding portion must be part of the uppermost stage, and must not be deployed until that stage has burned out. The entry may separate into multiple pieces; only the gliding portion is timed and only the timed gliding portion needs to be returned to satisfy Rule 15.10. Models whose gliding surfaces are made of flexible materials (e.g., plastic film or cloth) are prohibited from this event. The purpose of this competition is to achieve the longest flight duration time.
'C' Eggloft
Duration
WF 16
Para 34 Open to single-staged model rockets that carry, as a totally enclosed payload, one raw USDA Large hen’s egg, with a mass of no less than 57 grams and no more than 63 grams; and measuring no more than 45 millimeters in diameter. The purpose of this competition is to carry an exceedingly fragile payload for as long a time as possible and to recover the payload without damage. The egg is intended to simulate (in miniature) an astronaut, who must be properly cushioned and restrained to withstand the forces of acceleration and the shock of landing. No material may be affixed to the egg (e.g., glue or tape).
'C' Parachute
Duration
WF 9
Para 30 Open to single-staged entries containing one or more parachutes for recovery purposes. The purpose of this event is to achieve the longest flight duration time.
’G’ Eggloft
Duration
WF 22
Para 34 Open to single-staged model rockets that carry, as a totally enclosed payload, one raw USDA Large hen’s egg, with a mass of no less than 57 grams and no more than 63 grams; and measuring no more than 45 millimeters in diameter. The purpose of this competition is to carry an exceedingly fragile payload for as long a time as possible and to recover the payload without damage. The egg is intended to simulate (in miniature) an astronaut, who must be properly cushioned and restrained to withstand the forces of acceleration and the shock of landing. No material may be affixed to the egg (e.g., glue or tape).
’G’ Streamer
Duration WF 14
(B,C,T Divisions only)
Para 31 Open to single-staged entries that contain a single streamer as the only recovery device. The purpose of this event is to achieve the longest flight duration time.
Open Spot Landing
WF 4
Para 60 Open to single-staged entries. The goal is to land the entry so that the tip of its nose cone is closest to a predetermined spot on the ground. Any recovery device may be used.
Drag Race WF 2
(A Division only)
Para 61 Open to single-staged entries. The purpose of this competition is to determine which entry is most successful at meeting the triple criteria of quick ignition and lift-off, low altitude, and long duration.
Predicted Duration
WF 8
Para 39 Contestant must predict the duration in seconds that the model will achieve. This Predicted Duration shall be recorded on the flight card and given to the Contest Director or his/her deputy prior to any official flight by the contestant at the meet. The minimum duration prediction allowable is 30 seconds.
Concept Scale
WF 20
Para 56 Concept Scale is a variation of Sport Scale. The goal is to produce a flying replica of either a fictional or a seriously proposed, but unbuilt, rocket vehicle that differs from Sport Scale Competition (Rule 53) only in the nature of the prototype and substantiation data.
Scale
WF 32
Para 50 Open to any model rocket that is a true scale model of an existing or historical guided missile, rocket vehicle, or space vehicle. The purpose of this competition is to produce an accurate, flying replica of a real rocket vehicle that exhibits maximum craftsmanship in construction, finish, and flight performance.


NARAM-52 Events
Pueblo, Colorado July 30th - August 6th 2010.

Event / Weight FactorPink Book
Ref
Narrative
1/4A BOOST GLIDE DURATION
WF 18
Para 36 Open to any model rocket, one portion of which returns to the ground in stable, gliding flight supported by aerodynamic lifting surfaces which sustain that portion against gravity. If the entry is staged, the gliding portion must be part of the uppermost stage, and must not be deployed until that stage has burned out. The entry may separate into multiple pieces; only the gliding portion is timed. Models whose gliding surfaces are made of flexible materials (e.g., plastic film or cloth) are prohibited from this event. The purpose of this competition is to achieve the longest flight duration time. Score is the total time of two flights.
1/2A PARACHUTE DURATION
WF 7
Para 30 Open to single-staged entries containing one or more parachutes for recovery purposes. The purpose of this event is to achieve the longest flight duration time. Score is the total time of two flights.
A CLUSTER ALTITUDE
WF 16
Para 23 Open to single staged model rockets with a cluster of 4 class A motors. All motors of Cluster Altitude event models shall be ignited on or instantaneously after the model's first motion. Models that do not ignite all motors in flight will be considered official flights as long as the flight was deemed safe. (Four A's are equivalent to one C motor).
B STREAMER DURATION
WF 9
Para 31 Open to single-staged entries that contain a single streamer as the only recovery device. The purpose of this event is to achieve the longest flight duration time. Score is the total time of two flights
D HELICOPTER DURATION
WF 23
Para 32 Open to any single-staged model rocket that uses the principle of autorotation as the sole means of recovery. The purpose of this competition is to achieve the longest flight duration using an autorotating recovery system.
E DUAL EGGLOFT ALTITUDE
WF 29
Para 27 Open to model rockets that carry, as a totally enclosed payload, two raw USDA Large hen's egg, each with a mass of no less than 57 grams and no more than 63 grams, and measuring no more than 45 millimeters in diameter. If the model is staged, the eggs must be enclosed in the uppermost stage of the model. The purpose of this competition is to carry an exceedingly fragile payload to as high an altitude as possible and to recover the payload without damage. If the shell of the egg is broken or cracked, the entry shall be disqualified.
F SUPER ROC ALTITUDE
WF 19
Para 21 Open to single-staged model rockets whose body length is no less than the minimum allowed for the classes of the event. The purpose of this competition is to achieve the greatest altitude possible with the longest rocket possible without impairing the structural integrity of the rocket. Length to be between 200cm to 400cm. The static points (length) and flight points (altitude) shall be multiplied to determine the score.
GIANT SPORT SCALE
WF 20
Para 53 Open to any model rocket that closely resembles an existing or historical guided missile, rocket vehicle, or space vehicle. The purpose of this competition is to produce a flying replica of a real rocket vehicle that exhibits maximum craftsmanship in construction, finish, and flight performance. The model must be at least 100 centimeters in overall length or at least 10 centimeters in body diameter. Vehicles with significant outer assemblies or winged vehicles qualify if their length plus wingspan totals at least 100 centimeters or if their girth (as measured once around in a plane perpendicular to the centerline of the model by a length of string around the components not including the fins or wings) totals at least 31.4 centimeters. (You'll see G motors used here)
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
WF 36
Para 63 Open to any NAR member who is performing research, or engineering new developments, in which model rocketry plays a primary part. The purpose of this competition is to stimulate new concepts, approaches, and ideas in advancing the state-of-the-art of model rocketry or using model rocketry as a research tool.


SOME HELPFUL LINKS:
NARAM-52 Official Website
NAR Competition Webpage

Geroge Gassaway Competition Tips
rec.model.rockets tips
The Competition Consortium
Contest Approved motors (PDF) - look to far right side of data for approved or not
Contest Approved motors Webpage - look to far right side of data for approved or not
A collection of competition plans

SOME SOURCES FOR COMPETITION ROCKETS, SUPPLIES, AND PLANS
ASP – Aerospace Specialty Products - Scale kits and competition recovery gear
Semroc Astronautics - Scale kits
Jim Z's Wesbsite - Classic plans from several manufacturers
Ninfinger Website - Great source for tips, tricks, and inspiration