Rocketry Planet

GAITHERSBURG, Maryland USA — ROCKETS Magazine has stepped up to the plate to sponsor the Maryland/Delaware Rocketry Association's Mach Madness contest to be held this year at the Tripoli Rocketry Association's LDRS 27 event in Argonia, Kansas, this August 28th.

The goals in the Mach Madness contest are to build and fly the rocket that ascends at the highest speed while staying under the waiver and to HAVE FUN! The contest gives all participating rocketeers the chance to put your "Motor Where Your Mouth Is" and show us "Who Is The Baddest In The Land". Prizes will be awarded from the generous donations by our Vendors. The person who flies the fastest rocket in the Mach Madness Contest will be called "The Fastest at LDRS 27". He or she will have the bragging rights to being "The Baddest In The Land".

Mach Madness is a skill event that will test the fliers’ ability to master all the elements necessary to survive high speed flights. Mach Madness will put you on center stage, where your abilities to design, simulate, build, fly and recover your project will be demonstrated at the biggest launch of the year.

LDRS 27 Mach Madness Rules

Upon satisfying the TRA and LDRS 27 launch requirements the rules for Mach Madness are as follows:

• Stay under your waiver.
• The rocket must ascend intact.
• The judges must be able to read the data from the altimeter.
• The rocket can be damaged on landing, get caught in power lines, trees, etc.
• There must be a recording altimeter on board.
• The judges will accept data downloaded from commercially available data-logging altimeters including:
  ARTS I, (Data Analyzer V1.5),
  ARTS II (Data Analyzer V1.6.1),
  Altacc (Flight Analyzer V1.04),
  G-Wiz (Fight Viewer V2.8.1),
  RDAS (V 3.6) and
  Perfectflite (MiniALT/WD) (See note 3 below.)
• The altimeter data are downloaded into the Judge(s) onsite laptop after the flight.
• You have until the end of the Mach Madness to find and download your altimeter.
• The highest recorded Velocity will determine the winner.
• Judges' decisions are final.

Registration will occur at the ROCKETS Magazine tent daily during the launch. Get your rocket RSO’d and step over and sign up for Mach Madness.

Downloading of flight data will occur at the ROCKETS Magazine tent at times posted at the launch.

Mach Madness Flights will be clearly indicated on the flight cards.

Vendors that want to show their support for the fliers that are participating in Mach Madness can send their intent and prize listings to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . Since the event will run through Tuesday of the Research Launch, we are suggesting that the participating vendors provide gift certificates that will be used as prizes, as some of the winners may leave the launch before the end of the event. All participating Vendors will be prominently displayed on the ROCKETS Magazine web site and featured in the up coming cover to cover issue of LDRS 27 in ROCKETS Magazine.

Some of TRA and LDRS 27 launch requirements to keep in mind:

1. All flights must conform to the TRA Safety Code and KloudBusters field limitations, including the following:

Metal in High Power Rocket Construction

RSO Guidelines

High Power Safety Code

LDRS 27 Flyer Info - http://www.ldrs27.org/flyerinfo.cfm

2. Procedures for flights over 25,000 feet

If you wish to make a flight to over 25,000 feet you must obtain prior approval from the Board of Directors. The application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the planned flight, to allow prior time to review your application.

25K Application (RTF)
25K Application (PDF)

The LDRS 27 RSO’s and Organizing Committee(s) will have the final say whether your project makes it to the pad or not. Once you have complied with the above-stated rules, you can register for Mach Madness.

3. Note regarding Perfectflite and other altimeters: The data logging PerfectFlite altimeter records at 20 samples per second. Differencing the data using a 20 iteration lag has been tested as a way to determine maximum velocity. The judges will use this method to determine maximum velocity of your rocket if you use this altimeter.

There are other commercially available data logging altimeters. The judges do not own and are not familiar with them. The judges have access to those listed in the rules above. If you have another commercially available data logging altimeter that reports maximum velocity in the software (examples are PICO and Control) and you can load the analysis software on to the judges’ laptop on the field, it may be allowed. Judges decisions are final.

Reader comments:

#1 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

Ok, I gotta ask. Are Research motors allowed in the Mach Madness Contest? Please say yes.

I didn't see any mention of commercial motors only. And, anyone know what velocity the winner achieved last year? Yea I know, MDRA doesn't have a 50K waiver. Just wondering.

SmokinJoe on 02-14-2008 10:32 PM

#2 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

Are non-member "visitors" from other clubs allowed?

Just Jerry on 02-14-2008 10:46 PM

#3 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

Currently Mach 1.88 on a 38mm 1050Ns EX motor. It will be (hopefully) well over Mach 2 by the time LDRS rolls around. The waiver is 16.9k.

I have a feeling Mach 3.4+ will be seen at LDRS.

landru on 02-14-2008 11:12 PM

#4 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

Quote:

I have a feeling Mach 3.4+ will be seen at LDRS.

"Seen" might not be quite the right word. That's going too fast for my eyes. But I hope to hear where it used to be.

Steve_Shannon on 02-15-2008 12:00 AM

#5 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

Adrian,

The new batch of Parrots ready yet?

denverdoc on 02-15-2008 12:24 AM

#6 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

Im still curious as to what those who use strictly aluminum airframes will be doing to enter this contest.

SQUEEK42984 on 02-15-2008 01:15 AM

#7 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

I hope they are disallowed, and folks carefully inspect AF construction. Do we need a metal detector? I think so.

denverdoc on 02-15-2008 01:50 AM

#8 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

From the LDRS 27 website:

Aluminum Rockets at Argonia
Rockets launched at Argonia may not be constructed of all aluminum or other metals. Aluminum fin cans or nose cones will be permitted only if required to ensure structural integrity of the rocket during a high-performance launch. Absolutely no aluminum airframes or fins attached directly to motor cases will be permitted under any circumstances. Any metal structural components (nosecones or fins/fin cans) must be painted. Screws, rivets, nuts, washers, and other non-structural small components are exempt from this restriction. Please contact the This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ">KloudBusters prefect for further details.

agrippo on 02-15-2008 04:18 AM

#9 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

agrippo,

True with some exceptions for LDRS generally.

This event should make none IMHO.

As there is no mention of motor, I guess this is like top fuelie unlimited. I would still like to see a commercial class.

denverdoc on 02-15-2008 05:43 AM

#10 Re: ROCKETS Magazine to sponsor Mach Madness at LDRS 27

We will have a thin walled carbon version which is allowed to fly. (or so we've been led to believe.) It won't be quite as fast though.

~Andrew

landru on 02-15-2008 08:40 AM

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