FITS 2010 Competitions

Contest Director: Mike Bennight

This year features two new contests; a "young rocketeer" focused drag race, and a challenge that will force you to put your rocketry skills to the ultimate test.

der Red Max-imum Drag race

Build and fly a standard Estes "der Red Max" kit and fly it in the drag race against your buddies! We'll launch 10 at a time for "Max"imum fun. This is a kid-friendly drag race, but we know born again rocketeers still have lots of kid in them too. The last round of the drag race will feature adult rockets with more "oomph" - but within model rack power, please.

To participate in the der Red Max-imum drag race, simply bring your fully built kit, with motor and flight card to the RSO table when the contest is announced over the PA.

Are you Faster than a Cub Scout on Sugar?

Assemble your dream team. Break out the trig books, (or just load Rocksim) and brush off the dust from your last bottle of 5 minute epoxy. Your going to need every bit of time, smarts and luck to pull this off.

To participate, your team will pick up a packet of rocket parts and assemble the rocket in 45 minutes or less. During that time, your team will assess all the flight characteristics, stability models, centers of pressure, gravity, and determine your rockets' estimated altitude and flight duration. Once complete, you will fly your rocket with an official contest altimeter. The contest director will verify your flight duration and record your scores.

Your team scores in three categories: build time & style, altitude prediction and duration prediction.

Here's how it works:

  1. Assemble a team of rocketeers and give your team a name. Send your team members and team name any time prior to FITS to fits@washingtonaerospace.org.
  2. At FITS, pick up your assigned rocket packet from the registration table. It contains all the materials to build and fly a single stage, apogee deployment rocket.
  3. There will be a small fee due at the time you pick up your packet. We're estimating <$40 per team for supplies and prizes.
  4. Log your check out time. You have 45 minutes to return the rocket for check in.
  5. Go build! You've only got 45 minutes! Hurry! Run!
  6. While building, use whatever math, science, calculators, and abacuses or ahem - flight simulation software - you need to predict your altitude and duration.
  7. You MUST use every piece in the packet on your rocket. Your rocket must ONLY fly with the included motor reload. You may ADD to your rocket, but it must still meet all NAR/Tripoli safety guidelines.
  8. At the end of your 45 minute build time, return to the registration table with your rocket.
  9. On the contest sheet, enter your rocket team's predicted altitude and predicted flight duration.
  10. Pick up one of the club altimeters and attach it to your rocket.
  11. Find the contest director, and get your style points awarded.
  12. Fill out your special contest flight card and fly your rocket with altimeter.
  13. Return to registration table and record your altitude, and duration and have a non-team member witness initial your flight duration time.
  14. Turn in your rocket and altimeter.

Scoring

  1. You receive up to 100 Style Points. Points are awarded for the following:
    1. Creative styling "additions" and paint job - up to 50 points awarded.
    2. OGF (overall goodness factor) - up to 25 points awarded.
    3. Flight stability modifications - up to 25 points awarded.
  2. You receive 100 Altitude points to start. Five (5) points are deducted for every 20' of altitude difference from your prediction.
  3. You receive 100 Duration points to start. One (1) point deducted for every second difference from your prediction.
  4. Scores are tallied and verified by the contest director. Winner with the highest score is announced during the raffle on Sunday at 7PM. Rockets are returned at that time.
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