Events and Rules

Last updated: 17-Aug-2020

Events: Events include variants of the five standard World Cup events plus S2/P (precision fragile payload). Some changes are made to impulse to reduce performance and allow the use of smaller flying fields:

S4A – rocket glider duration
S6A – streamer duration
S9A – gyrocopter duration
S8D – R/C rocket glider duration
S7 – scale (simplified judging)
S2/P – precision fragile payload

Schedule: Flights may be flown from 21 August through 18 October. Final results and winners will be announced on Wednesday, 21 October. S7 Scale entrants should note the unique dates for that event.

Rules: Flights must comply with the 2020 Edition (effective 1-Jan-2020) of the FAI Sporting Code for Space Models (except as noted) and the appropriate safety code as issued by each participant’s National Aero Club. For participants in those countries that do not have a published safety code, we recommend the use of the National Association of Rocketry Model Rocket Safety Code.

Motors: Flights must use motors approved by their National Aero Club. Participants in the United States shall use only NAR contest-certified motors.

Official Flights: All flights in an individual event must be completed within the same calendar day. The participant may make those flights at any time during that calendar day. Flight results should be reported as soon as possible, and in no case longer than 48 hours after the flight attempt All flights shall be reported no later than 19 October 2020, 2359 CDT.

Duration Timing: You may time your own model. Standard timing rules apply except that duration flights do not need to be returned. Binoculars may be used.

Model Dimensions: Models shall comply with the dimensions listed in the FAI Sporting Code for Space Models.

Altimeters: You may process your own altimeter results. Use of NAR contest approved altimeter is required. The Adrel BMP altimeters used widely in FAI competition are on this list of approved devices. The altimeter list may be found here.

Eligibility: The goal of the World Space Modeling Virtual Open Meet is to be as inclusive as possible. Participants do not need to be NAR members or possess an FAI license. NAR or FAI numbers are not required on models.

Flight Data Submission: The following data for official flights must be submitted via email to James Duffy (jduffy@mac.com) and Mike Nowak (mikemnowak@gmail.com) before 2359 CDT on 19 October, 2020.

Name, nationality, and NAR/FAI number of flyer (if entrant is a member)
Date and launch site location
Motor(s) used
For duration events, report the duration of each flight
For S2/P, report the raw altitude reported by the altimeter, the altimeter type, and the temperature. During data entry, we will adjust the altitude for temperature effects per the FAI EDIC procedures.
For S7 (scale) , an entry form, data pack, and photos of the entry must be submitted. S7 Scale entry forms, data packs, and model photographs may be submitted via Dropbox (preferred) or email. Contact James Duffy (jduffy@mac.com) for a Dropbox link. A short video of a successful flight must be posted to YouTube and a link provided.

Flight results should be reported as soon as possible, and in no case longer than 48 hours after the flight attempt All flights shall be reported no later than 19 October 2020, 23:59 CDT.

Results: Results will be posted to the World Space Modeling Virtual Open Meet contest web site as they are received. Final results and awards will be announced on Wednesday, 21 October, 2020.

Event Managers: James Duffy (jduffy@mac.com) will be the Contest Director, and Mike Nowak (mikemnowak@gmail.com) will serve as Sport Director for this remote, virtual contest. Contact them regarding questions or suggestions about this contest.

Disclaimer: This World Space Modeling Virtual Open Meet contest is not an official NAR or FAI contest event. It is simply a fun event to help practice our competition skills, foster fellowship, and encourage further activity in FAI Spacemodeling.

Expanded rules for duration events (S4 rocket glider, S6 streamer, S9 gyrocopter)

Three rounds will be flown, just like a typical World Cup contest.
Max times for these rounds will be 180 seconds.
If a flyer scores max flights of 180 seconds in each of these three rounds, they should then fly an additional tiebreaking “flyoff” round. This flight should be timed to completion, with no maximum time limit.

Expanded rules for S8D RC Rocket Glider

Because of the unique nature of a distributed, remote contest, the practice of flying in working groups and normalizing scores for each group cannot be used. Instead, this event will be flown using simplified rounds, much like S4, S6, and S9.

Three rounds will be flown.
Max times for these rounds will be 300 seconds.
If a flyer scores max flights of 300 seconds in each of these three rounds, they should then fly an additional tiebreaking “flyoff” round. This flight should be timed to completion, with no maximum time limit.
There will be no precision landing task for this event.

Expanded rules for S7 Scale

There are unique challenges associated with a remote scale contest, especially the subjective static judging. Unlike the other events, there will be two separate participation windows for S7 Scale, a “Static” window during which the entries will be judged, and a “Flight” window during which participants may submit the results of their flight attempts.

For Static judging:

Each competitor must submit the following:
- A completed S7 Entry Form.
- A data pack. A sample data pack can be reviewed here.
- Five to ten photographs of the finished model. Two of these photographs should be full length, showing front and back views of the model. Additional photographs should focus on details and workmanship.
Because the models cannot be measured by the judges, each entry will receive the maximum points available for dimensional accuracy.
The window for submitting data for Static judging will extend from 21 August through 6 September, 2359 CDT. During this period, entrants will submit their entry form, data pack, and photographs.
Beginning 7 September, the judges will begin their evaluations of the entries. Results of their deliberations will be posted 20 September.

For Flight judging:

Each entrant shall record a video of a successful flight and post a video to YouTube of that flight.
Each entrant must submit an S7 Flight Form detailing the results of that flight, including a link to the YouTube video.
Entrants may submit their flight judging forms and video links starting 21 September.

To recap, the timeline for the World Space Modeling Virtual Open Meet S7 Scale event:

Friday, 21 August until Sunday, 6 September at 2359 CDT: S7 entry form and data pack may be submitted to contest director
Monday, 7 September through Sunday, 20 September: static judging window
Sunday, 20 September (evening): static results posted
Monday, 21 September: entrants may submit flight reports and video links

Expanded rules for S2/P

S2/P will be run as specified in the FAI Sporting Code for Space Models (Rule 6.2). Countries that participate in TARC may note that the rules for S2/P and TARC are very similar, with some minor changes.

Target altitude is 300 meters.
Target duration for each round is one minute.
Reporting altitude results depend on the type of altimeter used:
- Adrel BMP altimeters: the user should enter the local air temperature into the Adrel read-out software. The Adrel software will apply the temperature correction to the altitude data. The user should report the temperature-corrected results from the Adrel software.
- All other altimeters: the user should report the as-read altitude and the local air temperature. When the data is received by the contest officials, the altitude will be corrected for temperature effects per the FAI EDIC procedures.
Each flyer must complete three rounds with the same egg. The egg is not checked until the third round is completed.