Got it Steve. I think the "Icarus" contest was maybe 5 years ago. Thanks for your input!

Would love to get more survey votes and feedback on the 2014 contests. Ideas welcome!

Chad,

Historically, what have been the most popular contests? Alphabet, then Single Shot Challenge?

Ed,
Just from memory, Alphabet had the most participation, especially considering that each entry required many flights. The alphabet variants have been popular too, though not quite as much as the original.

Dozens of people were interested in the upscale contest, but no one forked over the entry fee or registered.

The single shot sweepstakes and similar altitude contests used to be moderately popular, but the interest in altitude flights may have waned the last few years even as good altimeters became cheaper.

Other ideas have not faired as well, but that's not to say they were bad ideas, perhaps just not the best format, rules, or stumbled due to other factors.

It is difficult for me to discern patterns confidently (thus the poll). We've had lots of weather cancellations, turnover in club members, and a spike in activity followed by a diminishing of activity related to the successful lawsuit to remove low explosives permits. The typical launch log shows plenty of G and H flights, so members seem comfortable with shelling out $20-$30 per flight.

Even if alphabet type format with an emphasis on reliability was the most popular, there may be value for stepping away from that for a year so we don't burn out the concept. Just a though, not a plan.

OK Folks, Here is what the contest manager proposes in 2014. We are going to hone these two ideas over the next three weeks (comments on this forum appreciated) and present them to the membership at the annual meeting on 1/11/14. At the meeting we will vote on which of the two ideas to pursue for 2014. If you cannot attend the meeting in person, I'll carry your proxy vote for you.

Idea #1: An alphabet contest using a single rocket. The objective is to successfully fly the most motor classes, in upward sequence, using a single unaltered airframe. Minimum motor may start at A or any letter above that (B, C, D...). The minimum altitude attained is 250', as demonstrated by altimeter. Multiple attempts are allowed on the first letter, but once the sequence is begun, all flights must be successful. In case of a tie (e.g. 2 flyers both with successful flights spanning 5 letters/class motors), the winner will be the largest ratio of the highest impulse motor flown to the lowest impulse motor flown. Only internal alterations to the rocket allowed between flights (e.g. parachute, motor mount adapter, payload), no structural or airframe changes. Clusters allowed.

Idea #2: A single shot sweepstakes. The objective is to fly the highest using a prescribed motor- a CTI 1 Grain 54mm I165 C-star. The rocket must have a minimum diameter of 56mm (2.2") for at least 300 mm (11.8"). Altimeters required, from a prescribed list (mostly matching the NAR approved altimeters). Expected winning altitude will be between 10,000' and 12,000' (about 3km), allowing for a safe launch at the Atlas site.

Ready, Set, Discuss....

First knee jerk reaction to your proposals are that idea #2 will keep a number of people out who (1) may not have a L1 cert, and (2)may not have the money, (3) and may not have the experience, unless they are willing to ask for the help.
I know there are those that will loan motor hardware and will loan out altimeters, and this is good. Yet if a person is not experienced enough, dual deploy may be intimidating and you would need that if you are at 10,000' at the Atlas site, and with the normal winds at that location, recovery could be quite difficult. Just some first thoughts. Of course you are welcome to discount them completely since I will probably not be attending since I am working weekends, along with the other five days of the week.

I'm in for #2.

I'm in for number two too!

I have always wanted to get in to the contest end of the club, I would learn a lot from either contest and I "Might" actually have the time to compete this year. I have many rocket goals for 2014 and I see how this could fit in with them. I am really going to go bonkers if we don't get a lot of flight time this year....

I'd be up for #2 if I can afford motors this year.

After a vote at the 2014 annual meeting, we decided to run BOTH contests. Here is the first contest:

One Rocket Alphabet
A new take on the alphabet contest — get through as many letters as possible using the same rocket. You may start on any letter, and proceed sequentially through the alphabet. The sequence ends when the rocket is lost, when it is unable to immediately return to flight status, or when the flyer chooses to stand pat. Once the first letter is successfully flown, no second chances are allowed.

Objective is to fly a single rocket sequentially through as many letters of the alphabet as possible, with the winner successfully flying the greatest span of letters corresponding to motor(s) impulse.

• Open to current NCR club members
• Prize to be the sum of entry fees awarded to the flyer spanning the most letters with a single rocket.
• $20.00 entry fee per person. Fee must be paid before first flight.
• Over the course of the year, entrant to launch (at NCR sponsored launch dates only) and successfully recover declared contest rocket. Contest open year-round and until the 2015 annual club meeting.
• Each contest flight must be declared as “alphabet flight” on the entrant’s flight card prior to ignition.
• Rockets to be powered by any commercially available motor(s) only, in each designated motor class type, according to the Alphabet, flown in the proper sequence (C then D then E…). Entrant may start on any letter from A upward. Upon a single successful flight in each impulse class, the next corresponding impulse class may be attempted. For example, a flyer may start on E, and go on to complete F, G, and H, thereby earning a span of 4 letters.
• The rockets used by entrant must have been personally built by entrant – group project builds not permitted.
• Spools, pyramids, and the like are not permitted.
• Clusters are allowed, and the sum of the impulse shall be used to determine the appropriate letter. For example, two A motors may be clustered for the B flight. Staging is not permitted.
• Rocket airframe must remain unchanged across all flights. The only modifications allowed are alterations to the recovery system, payload, and alterations to motor mount/motor adapters.
• Each flight must achieve an altitude of at least 250’, flights of questionable altitude must have an altimeter reading verifying the minimum altitude was met.
• The first flight in the alphabet sequence may be reattempted with no penalty. This may be necessary to adjust stability, weight, meet the minimum altitude, or make other field repairs or adjustments. Once the first flight is successfully made, no further modifications are allowed other than the exceptions detailed above.
• Rocket must be successfully recovered by the close of that day’s launch and presented for Immediate Return to Flight Status (no field repairs allowed excluding fixing less than one inch of airframe zipper). Unsafe flights are disqualified. It is the responsibility of the contestant to make sure their flight cards are updated with two witness signatures regarding their Flight Status verification (Good or Okay / DQ’ed, Not Recovered).
• At the time an entrant’s rocket is determined to be unsuccessfully flown (igniter misfires excepted), unsafely flown, or unsuccessfully recovered, the sequence will cease at the last successful flight.
• In the event of a tie in letters spanned, the participant with the highest letter flight wins.
• As a secondary tie-breaker, the largest ratio of impulse wins.

Here's the second contest we will run in 2014. You'll need a CTI I-165 motor to play, and Motor Joe will be providing a discount and collecting a bulk order.

Single Shot Sweepstakes — I-165
We’ll return again to the single shot sweepstakes. You’ll have one shot to achieve the best altitude with a fixed motor on a limited dimension airframe. This contest is about building a lightweight and low drag airframe while standing up to the rigors of transonic flight. The chosen motor is a CTI 54mm 1-grain I-165, with the high-ISP C•star propellant, 518 Ns impulse, and a 3.2 second burntime. Expected best altitude is 10,000’+, opening up the Atlas site as a possibility.

Objective is to successfully fly a rocket of minimum dimensions to the highest altitude with a CTI I-165 motor

• Open to current NCR club members
• Prize to be the sum of entry fees, awarded to the highest valid flight.
• $20.00 entry fee, only one attempt allowed. Teams permitted. Fee must be paid in advance before first flight.
• Over the course of the year, entrant to launch (at NCR sponsored launch dates only) and successfully recover declared contest rocket. Contest open year-round and until the 2015 annual club meeting.
• Motor must be a CTI 54mm I-165 C•Star.
• Rocket diameter must meet or exceed 2.22” (56mm) for a minimum of 18” (457mm) of airframe length.
• Rocket may have standard launch guidance (e.g. lug, rail guide) or be tower launched.
• Recovery deployment may be via electronics or motor ejection. Tumble recovery not allowed.
• Electronic tracking is allowed.
• A commercial altimeter listed in the NAR Pinkbook must be successfully read and verified by two witnesses and recorded on the flight card ( http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/G_altimeters.html).
• “Single Shot Sweepstakes” must be declared on the flight card prior to launch.
• Rocket must be successfully recovered by the close of that day’s launch. Successful recovery based on integrity of flown rocket for Immediate Return to Flight Status (no field repairs allowed excepting fixing less than one inch of airframe zipper). Unsafe flights are disqualified.

I'm in for #2. On the info handed out at the annual meeting contest #2 was called "Option B". That being said, I present Option "B".

I threw this rocket together from parts I found in the workshop and it was nice to get some use out of the "junk" laying about.

Option "B" is a minimum diameter fiberglass rocket with an SL100 (Altimeter) and BRB900 (GPS Tracker) in the nose. The recovery will be duel deploy using a cable cutter. The rocket is 32" long and weighs in at about 3 1/2 lbs. Simulations put the altitude at ?????, (Like I'm going to tell everyone that when this is an altitude contest! 😛 ), on an CTI I-165.

I hope to fly this rocket either 4/5 or 4/6.

_________________
The original "Skyviper"!
NAR #88227
TRA #14358
L1: Madcow "4 Patriot - I284 - 4/7/2013
L2: Madcow "4 Patriot - J350 - 5/5/2013

"Speed and Aggression"

Nicely done!

Hey everybody, don't forget to get your motor from your favorite vendor.

Chad

It looks to be a solid second place rocket to me!