bandman444
Well-Known Member
I’m excited to share and document the progress and plans for one of my most ambitious projects.
For over a decade I’ve been enthralled with the idea of setting an official altitude record in rocketry. I’ve watched performance titans like Curt von Delius, Adrian Adamson, and Jim Jarvis push the limits of performance to the max. I’ve also been pretty quick to judge my skills as “not good enough” to compete at their level. While many of the records continue to reach higher and higher, the need for perfection (and my lack of ability to reach there) kept them pretty far out of reach.
I had probably been loosely aware with the idea that there might be other record categories, and while the hyper-optimized single-stage commercial category may be above me (literally), perhaps another category would bring lighter and more fun competition.
Now would be a good time to remind you about the categories for Tripoli Altitude records.
Tripoli’s Records Committee (to which I am a member) manages six unique categories, each with their own rules. Four categories require the use of commercial motors. Those would be the single-stage, multi-stage, cluster, and handicap categories. The additional two are research motor focused with an individual as well as a group category. All of the rules can be found HERE. I feel most of the categories are generally self-explanatory, with one exception, Handicapped.
What is the Handicapped record category? (Again, if you want specific details, see THE RULES).
The handicapped records category is a category of records in which the minimum rocket size is specified for each category. For example, you might know that the single-stage commercial H record is currently using the H13ST motor with rockets that are barely longer than the motor and weigh less than 100 grams. In the handicap record, the rocket MUST have at least 3 feet of the length over 3.75” diameter. This means that naturally the altitudes are significantly lower. This allows those who want to compete an opportunity to fly without needing a “black rock” altitude waiver.
Odds are that if you have flown a handful of high power rockets, you have probably flown a rocket that qualifies for the handicap records.
At the moment (March 2024), Tripoli has handicap record categories for each motor size G through O. If you look through the rules and current records, a couple of things jump out at you. First, there are no submissions for the L and N motor categories, that means that any qualifying flight takes it. Second, with the exception of G, H, and O, all of the current records are over 20 years old. Third, I am already the owner of the current O handicap record. Is it a good record? No, it’s silly, but it counts, so I am not going to be building a rocket for the O category. Lastly, while there are nine motor categories, there are only five “rockets” (sets of requirements). Meaning that for example the rules for the H and I are both 3ft long and 3.75” diameter meaning they *could* be the same rocket.
“Hey Bryce, show us your rockets!!!”
Hold on, hold on, I’ll get there. A few more things.
What are my goals?
I want to define my goals clearly, and I will judge my success based on the following. I will also outline my thought process and justification.
1. Bring more awareness to this underrated record category by sharing my designs, progress, and results publicly.
My main goal is to inspire folks to get out there and have some fun with these categories. I want people to look at my projects and say “I can do that”. If my record attempts inspire a few people to try for these or other Tripoli records, it will be completely worth it.
2. Fly for all needed records in one weekend
Why: Something I have personally struggled a lot with is being efficient with time and project execution. I’ve been able to fly one or two rockets a weekend, but flying seven back to back high power rockets is going to be a new challenge for me with regards to organization, logistics, and preparedness.
3. Set the records at NSL West 2024.
Why: Because I will be there. My local waiver won’t allow for many of these flights. And where better to set altitude records than in Colorado at a launch site over a mile in the sky?
4. I want to set “great” records. Not “excellent” records
Why: You’ll see shortly that I have put a lot of effort into this series of rockets. However, I want there to be room for others to have fun in this category, and my honest hope is that others find wonderful and interesting ways to beat my records. I would not succeed in my primary goal if by doing these projects I "scare" people away. I truly hope that I can do a good attempt at these records, and then other swoop in and earn them after me.
5. Attempt all eight Tripoli High Power Handicap records
Why: Challenge myself across a vast range of rocket sizes and make the goal more difficult
Those are my goals. May 28th we will see how I did.
For over a decade I’ve been enthralled with the idea of setting an official altitude record in rocketry. I’ve watched performance titans like Curt von Delius, Adrian Adamson, and Jim Jarvis push the limits of performance to the max. I’ve also been pretty quick to judge my skills as “not good enough” to compete at their level. While many of the records continue to reach higher and higher, the need for perfection (and my lack of ability to reach there) kept them pretty far out of reach.
I had probably been loosely aware with the idea that there might be other record categories, and while the hyper-optimized single-stage commercial category may be above me (literally), perhaps another category would bring lighter and more fun competition.
Now would be a good time to remind you about the categories for Tripoli Altitude records.
Tripoli’s Records Committee (to which I am a member) manages six unique categories, each with their own rules. Four categories require the use of commercial motors. Those would be the single-stage, multi-stage, cluster, and handicap categories. The additional two are research motor focused with an individual as well as a group category. All of the rules can be found HERE. I feel most of the categories are generally self-explanatory, with one exception, Handicapped.
What is the Handicapped record category? (Again, if you want specific details, see THE RULES).
The handicapped records category is a category of records in which the minimum rocket size is specified for each category. For example, you might know that the single-stage commercial H record is currently using the H13ST motor with rockets that are barely longer than the motor and weigh less than 100 grams. In the handicap record, the rocket MUST have at least 3 feet of the length over 3.75” diameter. This means that naturally the altitudes are significantly lower. This allows those who want to compete an opportunity to fly without needing a “black rock” altitude waiver.
Odds are that if you have flown a handful of high power rockets, you have probably flown a rocket that qualifies for the handicap records.
At the moment (March 2024), Tripoli has handicap record categories for each motor size G through O. If you look through the rules and current records, a couple of things jump out at you. First, there are no submissions for the L and N motor categories, that means that any qualifying flight takes it. Second, with the exception of G, H, and O, all of the current records are over 20 years old. Third, I am already the owner of the current O handicap record. Is it a good record? No, it’s silly, but it counts, so I am not going to be building a rocket for the O category. Lastly, while there are nine motor categories, there are only five “rockets” (sets of requirements). Meaning that for example the rules for the H and I are both 3ft long and 3.75” diameter meaning they *could* be the same rocket.
“Hey Bryce, show us your rockets!!!”
Hold on, hold on, I’ll get there. A few more things.
What are my goals?
I want to define my goals clearly, and I will judge my success based on the following. I will also outline my thought process and justification.
1. Bring more awareness to this underrated record category by sharing my designs, progress, and results publicly.
My main goal is to inspire folks to get out there and have some fun with these categories. I want people to look at my projects and say “I can do that”. If my record attempts inspire a few people to try for these or other Tripoli records, it will be completely worth it.
2. Fly for all needed records in one weekend
Why: Something I have personally struggled a lot with is being efficient with time and project execution. I’ve been able to fly one or two rockets a weekend, but flying seven back to back high power rockets is going to be a new challenge for me with regards to organization, logistics, and preparedness.
3. Set the records at NSL West 2024.
Why: Because I will be there. My local waiver won’t allow for many of these flights. And where better to set altitude records than in Colorado at a launch site over a mile in the sky?
4. I want to set “great” records. Not “excellent” records
Why: You’ll see shortly that I have put a lot of effort into this series of rockets. However, I want there to be room for others to have fun in this category, and my honest hope is that others find wonderful and interesting ways to beat my records. I would not succeed in my primary goal if by doing these projects I "scare" people away. I truly hope that I can do a good attempt at these records, and then other swoop in and earn them after me.
5. Attempt all eight Tripoli High Power Handicap records
Why: Challenge myself across a vast range of rocket sizes and make the goal more difficult
Those are my goals. May 28th we will see how I did.
For the Handicapped Category Classes, M for example, "7.5 inches for at least 8 feet." For clarity sake, that's 8 feet of tube and does not include the nose cone length or tail cone length, correct?
