Announcing...

LUNAR Contest Launch III (Spring 1996)

by Rob Powers, LUNAR #374

As you have probably noticed on the 1996 LUNAR calendar, two contest launches are scheduled. The first of these will be held on April 21, and I have volunteered to be the Contest Director.

First, let me encourage each and every one of you to participate in this contest. You don't have to participate in every event. Many people only enter in one or two, but you can certainly enter all of them if you want. Contests are definitely more fun when many people participate. Last fall, some of the events only had a few participants. Let's try to get a larger turnout this spring!

If you are under 18, you will need a parent's signature to participate in the contest. And regardless of your age, you must be a NAR member to get contest points. Also, since the contest year runs from July to June, this contest falls into the 1995-1996 contest year. Any points earned here will be taken into the 1996 NARAM.

Thanks to generous donations from Countdown Hobbies, Magnum Hobbies, Vaughn Brothers Rocketry, NARTS, and Stellar Dimensions, Inc., we will have many prizes to award for each event.

As with all LUNAR launches, we need volunteers to help with various tasks (equipment setup/takedown, altitude tracking, RSO, Contest Jury, etc.). If you would like to help out, please let me know. I can be reached via telephone at 510-485-5922 (day) or 415-577-9482 (eve) or by email at . If we don't get volunteers, we can't hold a very good launch!

And now, the moment you've been waiting for... the event list! This contest will comprise of:

A Altitude (*)

The object here is simply to go the highest using an A motor. Optimal mass and good streamlining are keys in this event. However, you can enter just about anything in this event to get a qualified flight. Two official flights will be allowed for this event, with the best altitude being counted for each person.

B Flex Wing Glider Duration

Just like last fall's exhibition event, but with a higher impulse motor. Last fall's Sport Rocketry carried plans for flex wing gliders. QCR sells a kit for this event which is very similar to the SR plans. Each entrant will be allowed to fly two official flights, with the longest duration recorded for scoring purposes. Please note that the announcements handed out at the March launch stated that this was going to be a Multi-Round event. Due to the limit on how many weight factor points may be included in a Regional contest, this event had to be changed to a "normal" format.

C Helicopter Duration (*)

Keep your rocket aloft as long as possible using autorotation as the only means of recovery. You can buy a "competition" helicopter rocket or even modify an Estes kit. The key here is that the rocket cannot come down in multiple pieces and you can't use a streamer or parachute. Two official flights will be allowed for this event, with the best time being counted for each person..

F Dual Eggloft Duration (*)

Keep your rocket aloft as long as possible using any means desired and keep both of the TWO eggs from breaking. You'll need to consider stresses during boost as well as recovery for a successful flight here. One official flight will be allowed for this event. Those of you who generally only launch larger rockets and might not normally be interested in competition could even enter this event.

All events marked with (*) will also be held at this year's NARAM. Participating in them here will give you some practice in them if you are planning to head east later this year. This contest has the potential to be a lot of fun for all people involved in it. Just remember that participation is the key to a good time!

Information date: Apr. 10, 1996 lk