TCC Competition Primer: USMRSC 36, Boost Glider Competition (BG)

TCC NAR Competition Primer: USMRSC Rule 36, Boost Glider Duration Competition (BG)

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This primer presents, in one place, all the information you need to succeed in NAR model rocket competition in this event.

TCC has provided a link to the official rules whenever we discuss a rule.

All Entries

Your entry must:

* Comply with the NAR Model Rocket Safety Code: http://www.nar.org/NARmrsc.html USMRSC 2.2

* Be a model rocket as described by the United States Model Rocket Sporting Code. USMRSC 3.1-3.9

* Use NAR Contest Approved motors: http://www.nar.org/SandT/NARenglist.shtml USMRSC 4.1, 4.4

* NOT eject its motor casing(s) without a recovery system. USMRSC 9.2

* Have your NAR number or your name on the outside, large and clear enough that the contest officials can easily read it. Teams must use the Team number or name. USMRSC 9.4

* Have been constructed by yourself or by one or more members of your Team. You may not enter Ready-To-Fly rockets (no construction required) in NAR sanctioned competition. USMRSC 9.9

Know the rules

Your having a grasp of the bigger picture can increase your enjoyment of NAR competition. You can read the Pink Book Lite to see only the rules for competitors, not for Contest Directors or other contest officials. Read the full USMRSC (Pink Book) to see all the rules.

* Pink Book Lite: https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/USMRSCLight.html

* Full USMRSC: http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/

General Competition Tips:

TCC NAR Competition 101

TCC NAR Competition Strategy and Tactics

Contest Etiquette by Kevin Paul Wickart, NAR 59720, cr 1998, the author

Beginning Competition -- The RSVP Principle by Kevin Paul Wickart, NAR 59720, cr 1998, the author

Guide to NAR Contest Rocketry Information for Beginners by Jeff Vincent, NAR 27910, Northeast Regional Contest Chair

Which are the Main USMRSC Rules for This Event?

* The main rules are 9, 15 and 36.

http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/9_Entries.html

http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/15_Timing_Data.html

http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/36_BG.html

* This event can be flown as Multi-Round.

What is the Goal?

* In Boost Glider Duration Competition you want to achieve the longest possible flight duration for a model rocket that returns to the ground in stable, gliding flight. Only the gliding portion is timed. USMRSC 36.1

Are There Any Special Considerations?

* The gliding surfaces (wings) must be made of rigid materials. The wings can move and/or flex. The wings can consist of many pieces as long as each piece is rigid. USMRSC 36.1

* If your entry is staged, the gliding portion must be attached to the top stage and must stay attached until the top stage burns out. USMRSC 4.6, 4.8, 10.3 and36.1

* If your entry is clustered or staged, enough motors must ignite for it to meet the impulse class requirements or the flight will not be official. USMRSC 4.6, 4.8, 10.3 and36.1

* Your entry may separate into multiple parts, but non-gliding portions must descend safely. USMRSC 36.1, 9.2 and NAR Model Rocket Safety Code

* If your entry is clustered, enough motors must ignite for it to meet the impulse class requirements or the flight will not be official. USMRSC 10.3

* BG is divided into classes based on the allowed total impulse of the motor(s). USMRSC 36.3

* This event can be flown as Multi-Round.

Do I Have to Return My Entry?

* You must return the GLIDING portion of your entry after at least one qualified flight in order to place in 1^st-4^th. USMRSC 15.10, 13.1

* If you cannot return the GLIDING portion of your entry after at least one qualified flight, you’ll only get Flight Points. USMRSC 13.1, 13.4, 13.5

* You have to return ONLY the GLIDING portion of your entry. USMRSC 36.1

* The Contest Director can require that you return your entry. USMRSC 9.10

How Many Flights Can I Make?

* You can make up to two flights. USMRSC 10.1

* You can use more than one model. USMRSC 9.7

How is the Competition Scored?

* Your official score is the sum of the durations achieved by your entry on up to two official flights. USMRSC 10.1, 10.3

* The duration starts at the first motion on the launch pad and ends when the gliding portion lands or the timer loses sight it. USMRSC 15.6

What Will Disqualify My Entry?

* Your entry will be disqualified if the gliding portion has a permanently attached streamer or parachute. USMRSC 36.1

* Your entry will be disqualified if, in the opinion of the contest officials, the glider fails to glide. USMRSC 11.1

* Your entry will be disqualified if its power pod separates at launch and proceeds into the air under power without the glider. USMRSC 10.3

How About Some Suggestions for New Competitors?

Estes Model Rocketry Technical Manual is a good source for construction tips, including glider construction and trimming.

http://www.estesrockets.com/assets/downloads/roecketrytechniques.pdf

Kits you'll find in hobby stores:

Quest Flat Cat (B and C BG) http://www.questaerospace.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=3006&eq=&Tp=

Estes Eagle (B and C BG) http://www.estesrockets.com/products.php?number=2186

You’ll also find small Styrofoam gliders that can be attached to a model rocket. Here is an example of such a “parasite” glider: http://www.dars.org/JimZ/est1280.htm

Of the kits available by mail order, the Edmonds Aerospace Deltie (see vendor list below) is the best combination of ease of construction and efficient glide. It almost always requires NO trimming before first flight. I’ve seen a Deltie glide away on a 1/2A motor at Johnson Space Center. Edmonds also has larger gliders for B, C and D motors. ASP carries the Edmonds line:

http://www.asp-rocketry.com/store/category.cfm?Category=190

TCC Competition Vendor list:

https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/competitionrocketvendors.html

Don’t paint your glider. Paint adds too much weight. Use colored permanent markers, with black on the bottom. Optionally, you can finish with a light coat of thinned (50%) dope.

Follow the instructions in your kit for trimming your glider.

Here’s a link to Apogee Components “Peak of Flight” newsletter articles on glider trimming.

https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/36apogeecomponentsglidertrim1.pdf

https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/36apogeecomponentsglidertrim2.pdf

Many vendors have competition models and/or competition supplies:

https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/competitionrocketvendors.html

What Else & What Next?

Online Competition Rocket Plans:

NAR Competition Plans http://www.nar.org/competition/plans/

Competition Model Rockets (Howard Kuhn) Plans http://www.oldrocketplans.com/cmr.htm

More details on trimming from Kevin McKiou (Vector-Aero Cuda)

https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/36kmckiouglidertrim.html

Use a piston launcher to eliminate the launch lug and its drag. Piston Launchers Explained http://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter47.pdf

A simple tower can also be effective: Bob Supak, NAR 65523

- Take 3 1/4" aluminum rods, each about 24" long.

- Depending on what size model you want to launch, take an 18" piece of same body tube and put a few wraps of tape at each end.

- Place the 3 rods in a triangle around the body tube and secure with rubber bands, leaving 6" of the ends of the rods exposed.

- Now place the rods into a coffee can full of wet cement or plaster and let set. Voila - launch tower!

Use computer simulations to determine altitude various rocket and motor combinations. This is a bit more difficult for gliders as you must compensate for the extra drag of the gliding portion.

Free altitude simulations: wRASP - http://www.wrasp.com/ and wRASP 32 - http://tccnar.tripod.com/sims/082_wRASP32_221.zip

TCC NAR Competition Bibliography

https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/TCCNARCompArticleBib.html

Yahoo group for discussing model rocket competition in general:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contestRoc/messages

Yahoo group for discussing this event:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rocketboostgliders/messages

George Gassaway’s NARAM Tips:

http://tccnar.tripod.com/tcctnp/

Detecting Thermals:

http://www.apogeerockets.com/education/detecting_thermals.asp

US Spacemodeling (International Competition Tips):