Links to competition classes
S6 Streamer
S6 is one of the most popular classes in the UK. The object is to launch a rocket with a minimum 40mm body width and 450mm total length that descends under a streamer having dimensions that must be 10 times as long as it is wide. The streamer must be a single piece of material with no cuts in it and must completely unfurl during decent. The contest is flown in three rounds with maximum flight times of 180 seconds. The best total score wins. If there is a tie or more than one competitor scores three maximums, there is a fly off among the competitors who have tied, with no maximum time limit. At present both World Championships and World cups are flown using A motors (2.5Ns).
This seems like a simple class, but it is not. Ultra lightweight models are required, and any model over 10 grams is not likely to be competitive. These models are launched using zero volume piston launchers to get the maximum impulse from the tiny motors. The streamers are often made using aluminized mylar and competitors are always on the look out for new light weight materials that take a crease. Ian Dowsett, for instance, swears by hot stamp foil. Each competitor experiments with their own special fold pattern and works on new patterns to eke out the extra seconds that make the difference between a good flight and a medal.
The basic rocket bodies can either be made from paper yourself or bought from a specialist vendor. The Romanians always use paper models to great effect and Benedykt Klejnow qualified for the junior team using models made from laminating pouch material. In the UK most of the British team use ultra light weight glass fibre rocket bodies made by Mike Francies. Mike can even put the pattern of your choice on the bodies without adding weight. Rocket bodies can also be acquired from a couple of good sources in Serbia.
The people to beat in streamer are the Serbians and the Russians. However the British are on their way up the rankings. Trevor Seabrook has won two world cups already and Mike Francies had a top ten finish at the last World Championships.
