HA! You're the one with all the records (for now, that is). 🙂

I'm in for the SSSS. You only beat me by about a 150 feet last year, and I'm sure I could have easily made that up with a little more attention to detail.

The field is definitly getting tougher. There are a lot of altitude junkies these days. I think the records - and prize pools - are about to be split up many different ways...

Currently there are NO paid up entries in the Super Single Shot Sweepstakes for 2008.

Rules are unchanged from 2007:
- Aerotech J350
- Any design, any type of recovery including motor ejection or electronics.
- Radio and/or audio tracking allowed.
- Highest altitude wins.
- $20 entry fee. Winner takes the entire pot.

Warren, one thing that has seemingly changed is there is no deadline on the entry. If Ed, for example, strolls out there at MHM and lobs a J350 to 15,000', there will probably be exactly no one enter after that. In past years we have had a deadline. Any thoughts on that?

I'd personally like to have the contest promoted a lot harder a lot earlier, and then have the field close after the first flight.

(no, "Beyond Consolation" does not sim to 15K - though I do sense Ed has something up his sleeve this year) 😀

In previous years, this contest didn't have to be sold at all. Before I could leave the annual meeting, I was swamped with people pushing money in my face and asking to sign up - generally for both the Single Shot Sweepstakes and the Super Single Shot Sweepstakes. This year was quite a change with only 2 people stepping up to the plate for the SSS and no one signing up for the SSSS.

I asked a few folks before the discussion on these contests and we even tweaked the rules to remove the biggest thing holding folks back and the rule against electronic tracking on the SSS was dropped. Still, we only had 2 folks sign up.

This is actually an EASY contest - especially considering prior years. The rewards are great - winner takes the entire cash pot, which in previous years went well over $200 on each contest. Personally, I'm very focused on a couple projects this year and until they are done, won't be biting off any more. What I don't understand is why more folks haven't signed up, especially given the easing of the no-tracking restriction to allow folks to use radio tracking to find their birds.

I want to remind folks that this isn't just an altitude contest - this is a contest of strategy. Last years' SSS could have been won by someone flying a 4" stubby rocket with huge fins to only 500'. No one had a qualifying flight and if someone had flown such a bird in November or December, they could have walked with $240 cash or more.

Since we only have 2 entries for the SSS and none for the SSSS, I feel we need to leave entry open until someone makes a flight, but we may have to leave it open longer just to get SOME participants. I'll personally sign up for both myself and I'm sure we have a few other folks who will get involved that weren't at the annual meeting this year. We just need to give them a chance to get on board.

Warren

I would enter my dart for the SSSS. but I need someone to volunteer a radio tracker as the dog coller is to big! 🙄

Scotte

Boosted Darts are explicitly not allowed for the SSS and SSSS contest - in fact, that's the only design requirement. Design is open, but the bird must carry the motor casing to apogee and then back to the ground.

Warren

Boosted Darts are explicitly not allowed for the SSS and SSSS contest - in fact, that's the only design requirement. Design is open, but the bird must carry the motor casing to apogee and then back to the ground.

Warren

Is there any other way??
Thats how it worked the last time I launched it!

Scott e

Scott,

I think Warren is referring to a Boosted Dart where a smaller and less "draggy" upper section seperates from the main body tube upon motor burnout and coasts to a higher altitude. The larger motor section comes down separately.

As he points out, this is not allowed for the SSS of SSSS contests, but might be a good idea for a 2009 contest. It's not too common in our club right now and a contest might generate the interest.

Scott,

I think Warren is referring to a Boosted Dart where a smaller and less "draggy" upper section seperates from the main body tube upon motor burnout and coasts to a higher altitude. The larger motor section comes down separately.

As he points out, this is not allowed for the SSS of SSSS contests, but might be a good idea for a 2009 contest. It's not too common in our club right now and a contest might generate the interest.

Oh. Mine is just a Cirrus Dart. Or however you spell it. But that other thing sounds cool!

Do any of us work during the day? 😉
Scotte

Ah - I misunderstood. Usually when people refer to a "dart", they mean a boosted dart - a two stage design with no motor in the upper stage. Extremely high altitudes can be acheived this way - for instance the Loki Dart used a large N class motor with a fast burn (1.8 sec) to fly a 9# dart to 250K' AGL. The booster burned out by 13K and the dart just coasted the remaining 237K'. As you can see, this is potentially a phenomenal performance boost just from dropping the weight of your motor and having a properly weight-optimized sustainer to maximize coast time.

A Cirrus Dart is a standard bird and you'd be welcome to fly it for either the SSS or SSSS. I'm not sure if the 38/720 case required for the J350 completely fits in the airframe though. You might end up sticking out an inch or two.

Warren

I'll go in for the SSS. A lack of a deadline on entering that, plus plenty of other projects is why I haven't entered already.

One way to add a little drama and still have fresh players coming in after the first flight is to NOT publicly announce the altitude of an SSS or SSSS boost. Participants could fly, have the LCO witness the altitude, and turn it in privately. Warren (contest director) would have to keep the tally to himself until season's end. Then, at the annual meeting, you could start with the lower altitudes and work your way up to the winner.

I like that idea John. It leaves the altitudes secret until the annual meeting - possibly a better solution than cutting off entry. The crux is getting flyers to keep their altitudes a secret.

W

Simple enough - make disclosure grounds for disqualification