I've seen several threads recently that seemed to confuse the FAA Class 1 requirement. It seemed there are some that think high power motors are excluded from being FAA Class 1 rockets.
Here is the FAA FAR Regulation
Nowhere does the Class 1 definition mention anything about motor designation, impulse, thrust, etc. To be Class 1, you must meet the requirements 1 through 5. What I'm concerned about here is item no. 1.
I don't know of any commercial G motors that have more than 125 grams of propellant. What I did was go to https://www.thrustcurve.org/ and create a list of H sized motors that meet the FAA requirement #1 for being a Class 1 rocket. I did NOT include any hybrid motors, those are a subject for another time.
It should be noted that at least Aerotech, I didn't check the others, list propellant weights for some motors as 125.0 grams while thrustcurve.org listed them higher. I did not include them on the list. I use the highest value which was from thrustcurve.org. I don't know what the FAA would consider the definitive value, maybe the manufactures figures. Obviously they can't weigh the propellant of a motor that was already used and you can't violate anything if you don't use the motors so there has to be some reference used. This might be something the court has to decide.
Anyway, attached is my list of H sized motors with not more then 125 grams of propellant and would then meet the propellant requirement for FAA Class 1 rockets.
View attachment H motors that are class 1.pdf
Here is the FAA FAR Regulation
§ 101.22 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart:
(a) Class 1Model Rocket means an amateur rocket that:
(1) Uses no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant;
(2) Uses a slow-burning propellant;
(3) Is made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic;
(4) Contains no substantial metal parts; and
(5) Weighs no more than 1,500 grams (53 ounces), including the propellant.
(b) Class 2High-Power Rocket means an amateur rocket other than a model rocket that is propelled by a motor or motors having a combined total impulse of 40,960 Newton-seconds (9,208 pound-seconds) or less.
(c) Class 3Advanced High-Power Rocket means an amateur rocket other than a model rocket or high-power rocket.
[Doc. No. FAA200727390, 73 FR 73781, Dec. 4, 2008]
Nowhere does the Class 1 definition mention anything about motor designation, impulse, thrust, etc. To be Class 1, you must meet the requirements 1 through 5. What I'm concerned about here is item no. 1.
I don't know of any commercial G motors that have more than 125 grams of propellant. What I did was go to https://www.thrustcurve.org/ and create a list of H sized motors that meet the FAA requirement #1 for being a Class 1 rocket. I did NOT include any hybrid motors, those are a subject for another time.
It should be noted that at least Aerotech, I didn't check the others, list propellant weights for some motors as 125.0 grams while thrustcurve.org listed them higher. I did not include them on the list. I use the highest value which was from thrustcurve.org. I don't know what the FAA would consider the definitive value, maybe the manufactures figures. Obviously they can't weigh the propellant of a motor that was already used and you can't violate anything if you don't use the motors so there has to be some reference used. This might be something the court has to decide.
Anyway, attached is my list of H sized motors with not more then 125 grams of propellant and would then meet the propellant requirement for FAA Class 1 rockets.
View attachment H motors that are class 1.pdf