NARAM2000 Events

Following is a list of the events scheduled for NARAM2000. I've added descriptions from an electronic version of the Pink Book, trying to be as accurate as possible. However, it is possible that some of the rules may have been changed . . . so it should be understood that the most current version of the Pink Book will always take precedence over anything on this web site. If anyone notices any incorrect information here, please let me know so I can update the page.

• Research and Development
• Giant Sport Scale
• D Engine Superroc Altitude
• 4XA Engine Cluster Altitude (no airstarts and no boosted darts allowed)
• C Engine Eggloft Duration
• 1/4A Engine Parachute Duration (Multi-round)
• A Engine Boost Glider Duration
• B Engine Streamer Duration
• 1/2A Engine Helicopter Duration
• D Engine Rocket Glider Duration

Research and Development

63.1 Research and Development Competition is 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:

(a) advancing the state-of-the-art of model rocketry; or
(b) using model rocketry as a research tool.

Projects previously entered in a meet with a contest factor greater than or equal to the current meet may not be accepted as an entry unless the contestant has demonstrated that significant new work has been done.

63.2 This event may be conducted at Conventions as well as at Competition Meets. A Convention director desiring to hold Research and Development Competition shall apply for a contest sanction as described in Rule 6.8. The Convention shall be sanctioned as a Local Meet, with a Contest Factor of 1 and a Weighting Factor equal to the maximum Weighting Factors available at a Local Meet as described in Rule 6.6.

63.3 This competition may not be conducted by proxy, unless the Contest Director rules that special circumstances, such as illness, warrant special consideration.

63.4 Each entry in this competition shall be judged by at least three Judges, who shall be selected by the Contest Director. Although NAR membership is not a prerequisite for judging, all Judges must demonstrate a working knowledge of the rules of the competition, and be technically competent to judge the quality of the entries.

(a) The objectives of the work;
(b) The approach taken;
(c) The equipment used;
(d) The data collected;
(e) The results obtained; and
(f) The conclusions drawn and/or plans for further work.

63.6 Each entry shall include, in addition to the detailed report, a separate 250-300 word written summary of the report. The summaries from all the entries shall be sent to the NAR Contest Board by the Contest Director with the meet results. The NAR reserves the right to publish the summary in order to disseminate information on current R&D activities. This in no way is intended to interfere with the contestant's right to publish his/her report or summary.

63.7 The contestant should be prepared, if called upon by the Judges, to make an oral presentation on his/her project. The oral presentation shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The presentation should cover briefly the material of the written report. During this presentation the contestant shall not be interrupted. No oral comments shall be made by anyone until the presentation is complete and the contestant asks for questions. At this time, the Judges and members of the audience may question the contestant concerning his project for a time not to exceed ten minutes.

63.8 An oral presentation shall be required from those contestants being considered for the top places.

63.9 If required, the contestant must demonstrate his/her project in operation. Success or failure of the demonstration shall not affect the contestant's score, provided that the contestant gives a reasonable oral explanation of the deviation from expected performance.

63.10 If any entry does not fully comply with the safety standards set forth in this NAR Sporting Code, the contestant must present to the RSO evidence that the entry is really safe in operation. The RSO is the only official who may judge the safety qualities of a project.

63.11 Contestant must state in his/her written report or oral presentation how much money was spent on the project, and what facilities were available to him/her to carry out experimental work.

63.12 Research and Development competition shall be scored as follows: places will be awarded sequentially descending from first place (1-2-3-4) on the basis of the quality of the projects submitted, and their new contributions to the hobby or its applications. All places need not be awarded. Entries not placing, which in the opinion of the judges were entered solely to qualify in the event and which offer little or no quality value, may not be awarded flight points for the event at the discretion of the judges.

Weighting Factor 36

Giant Sport Scale

53.1 Sport Scale Competition comprises three events 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. Sport Scale Competition differs from Scale Competition (Rule 50) in that the dimensions of the model are not directly measured.

53.2 Classes

The following classes of Sport Scale shall exist:

• 53.2.1 Sport Scale

Any size model may be entered.

• 53.2.2 Giant Sport Scale

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.

• 53.2.3 Peanut Sport Scale

The model must be no more than 30 centimeters in overall length or no more than 2 centimeters in body diameter. When judging this class, the increased difficulty of building a very small model should be considered.

53.3 Sport Scale models of amateur rockets or missiles are specifically excluded from this competition, except when the prototype is of obvious historical significance.

53.4 Entries in Sport Scale Competition may model nonflying or inert prototypes.

53.5 Entries that qualify for Plastic Model Conversion Competition under Rule 55 are specifically excluded from this event. Parts from commercial plastic kits may be used on Sport Scale models, provided this is pointed out in the data presented with the model for judging.

53.6 The contestant must supply data to substantiate his/her model's adherence to scale in shape, color, and paint pattern.

53.7 If the prototype is a multi-staged vehicle, the scale model may be designed so that some or all of the upper stages are inoperable dummies. However, a scale model of only the upper stages of a multi-staged vehicle may not be entered without the operable lower stage(s) unless specific data is furnished to prove to the judges that the upper stage configuration has flown separately, alone, and as a vehicle itself.

53.8 If the prototype is not stabilized by means of fins, or if the scaled fins are not of sufficient size to ensure the stable flight of the model, the scale model may be fitted with transparent plastic fins to make it stable in flight. However, the transparent fins and their attachment shall be judged for craftsmanship along with the model.

53.9 Models shall be judged for static points in the following manner: Scale-like qualities are to be judged from a distance of at least one meter from the model. Judges may then closely examine the model to judge it for craftsmanship.

53.10 Details that are not visible during judging (e.g., dummy engines, hidden interior assemblies) shall not be considered in scoring the entry.

53.11 Each entry shall make a safe, stable flight. If the. entry does not make a safe, stable flight, it shall be disqualified.

53.12 Static points shall be awarded according to the following schedule:

• 53.12.1 Similarity of Outline: 200 points.

The contestant is required to submit data to substantiate his/her model's visual resemblance to the prototype. Minimum allowable data consists of:

(a) A line, tone, or color drawing; or

(b) One or more clear photographs, halftones, or photo-reproductions of the prototype, sufficient to show the outline and general configuration of the prototype modeled.

Any entry not accompanied by the minimum allowable data as listed above shall be disqualified. The Judges may disqualify any entry which, in their opinion, is accompanied by substantiation data of such poor quality as to fail to convey a satisfactory impression of the outline and general configuration of the prototype.

• 53.12.2 Finish, Color, and Markings: 200 points.

The contestant should submit data to substantiate his/her model's fidelity to the prototype. Suggested options include:

(a) One or more clear photographs, halftones, or photo-reproductions; including at least one in color. The number of these submitted should be sufficient to substantiate additional views of the model on which the color pattern and markings differ significantly.

(b) Other published pictorial representations, such as a color painting, or a drawing from a magazine.

(c) A detailed written description, from a reliable source, of the color scheme and markings; accompanied by a drawing of the prototype on which the color scheme and markings described have been included. This drawing may be neatly made by the modeler.

Any entry not accompanied by data substantiating the finish, color, and markings of the prototype shall be given zero points for Finish, Color and Markings; but shall not be disqualified from the competition.

• 53.12.3 Degree of Difficulty: 100 points.

Points shall be awarded according to the difficulty experienced by the modeler in building the model and adapting it for flight. Minor consideration should be given to whether the model was built from scratch or a kit. Points should be awarded for parts and details that were individually constructed by the modeler. (To facilitate judging, the contestant should point out difficult assemblies or construction problems in his/her substantiation data packet.)

• 53.12.4 Craftsmanship: 300 points.

Points will be awarded for neatness, care in construction, craftsmanship of visible details, and quality of finish. Consideration should be given to the invisibility of body seams and wood grain, the proper curving of curved lines, and edges made properly sharp or rounded as visible from the substantiating data. The finish should be free of fingerprints, brush strokes, runs, or other unintentional blemishes; and the paint pattern should be well-defined. The details should be precise, and neither more nor less obvious than on the prototype.

53.13 Flight Characteristics: 300 points

300 flight points shall be awarded according to the following schedule:

• 53.13.1 Mission: 200 points.

Mission points are awarded for appropriate and scale-like operation of the model during flight. Examples of such operations are staging, simulated cloud seeding, operation of electronic payload, and smoke ejection. Any such operation must comply fully with the safety standards set forth in this NAR Sporting Code. If it does not, the entry shall be disqualified. The RSO is the only official who may judge the safety qualities of the operation.

• 53.13.2 General Flight: 100 points.

General Flight points are awarded for proper operation of the model during flight, including launch, lack of misfires, stability, recovery, and lack of damage on landing. No consideration should be given to staging or scale-like flight characteristics, as these are covered under Mission points; however, if the general flight performance of the model is adversely affected by the ailure of one or more of these aspects, points may be deducted from General Flight.

53.14 Sport Scale Competition shall be scored as follows: the points awarded to the entry in static judging shall be added to the points awarded to the entry in flight. The contestant receiving the highest score is the winner.

Weighting Factor 20

D Engine Superroc Altitude

21.1 Super-Roc Altitude Competition comprises nine events 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.

21.2 An entry that comes apart, bends so as to crimp the body, or has a similar structural failure prior to ejection shall be disqualified.

21.3 The model is allowed to separate into two or more unattached parts after ejection, provided that each part conforms to the provisions of Rule 3.5. The recovery system shall be enclosed totally within the model until ejection.

21.4 Entries with bodies or significant structural parts made from hard or potentially unsafe material (e.g., hardwood doweling or fiberglass shafts) shall not be allowed, under the provisions of Rule 1.1.

21.5 Super-Roc Altitude Competition shall be scored as follows: the length in centimeters of the model, as measured from the tip of the nose cone to the aftmost end of the motor nozzle, up to the maximum length for that category, shall be awarded as static points. No additional points are awarded for any length beyond the maximum. The altitude of the model in meters, as tracked and reduced, shall be awarded as flight points. The static points and flight points thus obtained shall be multiplied to determine the score. The contestant achieving the highest score shall be declared the winner.

21.6 This competition is divided into classes based on the permissible total impulse of the motor(s). The following classes of Super-Roc Altitude competition are established:

4XA Engine Cluster Altitude

23.1 Cluster Altitude (CA) is comprised of five events open to single staged model rockets.

23.2 The purpose of the competition is to achieve the highest altitude.

23.3 All motor cases are to be retained in the model. Following an official flight, a contestant must present his/her model as recovered to a contest official for verification of motor casing retention or the flight will be disqualified.

23.4 The person achieving the highest altitude is the winner.

23.5 The following five classes of Cluster Altitude are established:

23.6 All motors of Cluster Altitude event models shall be ignited on or instantaneously after the model's first motion (i.e. "Simultaneous Ignition").

Partial cluster ignition shall be deemed a qualified flight unless disqualified for other safety reasons by the RSO. Unignited motors carried aloft shall be retained within the model.

23.7 Models that do not ignite all motors in flight will be considered official flights. An entry which fails to ignite all of its motors is considered a qualified flight unless it is unsafe (Rule 11.1), experiences a catastrophic failure (Rule 11.5), or the track is lost (Rule 14.9).

C Engine Eggloft Duration

34.1 Egg Lofting Duration Competition comprises six events 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).

34.2 The Safety Check Officer or other official shall provide the egg to each contestant presenting his/her entry for pre-launch safety check. Each egg shall be numbered, and that number shall be recorded on the contestant's flight card. A contestant shall not be required to use an egg that has been previously flown by another contestant.

34.3 Following the flight, the contestant shall present his/her entry as recovered and, in the presence of an official, shall remove the egg. The official shall determine the extent of damage to the egg. If the official cannot examine the egg, the entry will be disqualified. If the contestant removes the egg in the absence of officials, or breaks the egg in the process of removing it from the model, the entry shall be disqualified. If the shell of the egg is broken or cracked, the entry shall be disqualified. Any model that cannot be returned to the officials shall be disqualified. Rule 10.4 does not apply. All entries must comply with Rule 16.7 (no catching of models is allowed for official flights).

34.4 This competition is divided into classes based on the permissible total impulse of the motor(s). The following classes of Egg Lofting Duration Competition are established:

34.5 Egg Lofting Duration shall be scored as follows: The contestant whose model achieves the longest duration for a single flight is the winner.

1/4A Engine Parachute Duration (Multi-round)

30.1 Parachute Duration Competition comprises five events 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.

30.2 This competition is divided into classes based on the permissible total impulse of the motor(s). The following classes of Parachute Duration Competition are established:

A Engine Boost Glider Duration

36.1 Boost Glider Duration Competition comprises nine events 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.

36.2 An entry that descends with parachute and/or streamer recovery device(s) permanently attached to the gliding portion of the model shall be disqualified. However, other portions of an entry may deploy parachutes and/or streamers for recovery purposes.

(If the glider entry accidently rips the motor pod's recovery streamer and the streamer attaches itself to the glider, the entry may be qualified depending on the RSO ruling that the entry still glided and was not disqualified for other reasons)

36.3 This competition is divided into classes based on the permissible total impulse of the motor(s). The following classes of Boost Glider Duration Competition are established:

B Engine Streamer Duration

31.1 Streamer Duration Competition comprises nine events 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.

31.2 A streamer is defined for this event as a piece of cloth, plastic film, or paper, whose shape is approximately rectangular. The streamer must have a length- to-width ratio of five to one (5:1) or greater and have a minimum area of 100 square centimeters. The streamer and model must be connected by only a single line or cord, attached at the narrow end of the streamer. The cord may not be connected to either the streamer or the model at more than one point (e.g., no yokes are permitted). The streamer may not be cut, slit, or otherwise altered in such a manner as to affect its nature as a simple connected plane.

31.3 Several pieces of material may be assembled into a single streamer to overcome length restrictions imposed by the length of commercially-available material. All pieces of the streamer shall consist of identical material (e.g., the same type of crepe, plastic, or so on . Lengths of streamer material assembled in this manner must be joined in a manner so as to keep the aerodynamic effects of the joint as small as possible. All such joints shall be parallel to the narrow axis of the streamer.

31.4 This competition is divided into classes based on the permissible total impulse of the motor(s). The following classes of Streamer Duration Competition are established:

1/2A Engine Helicopter Duration

32.1 Helicopter Duration Competition comprises nine events open to any single-staged model rocket which 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.

32.2 Each entry must be decelerated during descent by its autorotating recovery device. The resulting autorotation must be around the vertical axis. A model that descends nose first, or flips over once during descent is permitted. A model that flips over more than once shall be disqualified.

32.3 Recovery devices employing flexible (e.g. plastic film or cloth) surfaces are prohibited. Entries using a recovery system which is designed to act (or which actually acts) in a manner similar to a parachute, a rigid inverted bowl, or similar techniques are specifically excluded from this competition.

32.4 This competition is divided into classes based on the permissible total impulse of the motor(s). The following classes of Helicopter Duration Competition are established:

D Engine Rocket Glider Duration

37.1 Rocket Glider Duration Competition comprises nine events open to any single-staged model rocket which returns to the ground in stable, gliding flight supported by aerodynamic lifting surfaces which sustain it against gravity. 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.

37.2 Any entry that descends with parachute and/or streamer recovery device(s) attached shall be disqualified.

37.3 This competition is divided into classes based on the permissible total impulse of the motor(s). The following classes of Rocket Glider Duration Competition are established: