Ohio Open Rocket Tournament
1/4A Parachute Duration
The goal of the parachute duration event is to launch a rocket and
keep it aloft longer than anyone else using a parachute.
At the Ohio Open Rocket Tournament, contestants must use NAR contest-certified
1/4A motors. Currently, the only contest-certified motor available is the Estes 1/4A3-3T. This event will
be flown multiround, which means you can use two models to make three
flights up to 60 seconds in duration. Longer flights will be rounded down to
the 60 second maximum. Because two models are used to make three flights, one
flight must be offically recorded as returned returned. Here are a
few tips to help first-time fliers:
- Competition parachutes are usually constructed from 1/4 mil polyethylene
(dry cleaner bag) or 1/4 mil aluminized mylar. Mylar is tricky to use, and
polyethylene parachutes tend to be more consistent and reliable. If you use
polyethylene, color it with a magic marker for visibility.
- Practice folding your competition parachute. It should fit easily inside
your airframe, and you should be able to blow it out of the tube with no trouble.
Use a dusting of talcum powder to help keep the plastic or mylar from sticking
to itself.
- Put your NAR number on your model.
- If possible, make a few practice flights before the day of the meet.
You can get an 18" (or larger) chute in BT-5 tubing to deploy reliably, but it takes practice.
More detailed rules for the NAR parachute duration event are available on the
online NAR Pink Book.
Questions?