NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27

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Text File | 1992-11-21 | 20.0 KB | 393 lines

Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets Path: sparky!uunet!seas.smu.edu!vivaldi!rsd0!rsd.dl.nec.com!buzz From: buzz@rsd.dl.nec.com (Buzz McDermott) Subject: Frequently Asked Questions - Part 5 of 5 Message-ID: <1992Nov21.172633.727@rsd0.rsd.dl.nec.com> Keywords: FAQ Lines: 381 Sender: usenet@rsd0.rsd.dl.nec.com Nntp-Posting-Host: rsd2.rsd.dl.nec.com 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. *===========================================================================* * END OF REC.MODELS.ROCKETS FAQ * *===========================================================================*