Links to competition classes

Scale Classes

There are two scale classes flown at FAI events.

S7 Scale, or super scale has points awarded for how the models adhere to the original design, documentation on the original rocket being modeled, build quality and flight characteristics. Models are usually very complex, often multi-staged and "launching" satellites at the end of the flight. Every piece of the model must descend on either a parachute or a streamer, or the flight will be disqualified. Following an S7 scale flight their may be ten or more different parts of the model floating down on parachutes with team members running around the field trying to capture the fragile parts before they hit the ground.

Static judging is done before the flight and is very rigorous. The judges typically know how may rivets the original had and the model must have the same number. Documentation is equally critical with original manufacturing drawings or specification documents adding significantly to the score.

S5, or scale altitude, has the same points scoring for adherence to scale, documentation and build quality. The difference is that these models flight is simply judged on how high the model flies. Top models for the class are two stage with a small top stage on a long burn motors include the Bumper Wac and Nike Ajax. When the top stage ejects its recovery device, usually a parachute to preserve the precious model, it also eject a puff of chalk so that observers on the ground can measure the height of the model.

Models in either of the scale classes take many hours of research and building to create. One of the great things to do at a major championship is to visit the room where the models are shown on static display before they are flown. However, as the panel on the right shows, all that work all to frequently ends up in tears. A model that has taken hundreds of hours to make can take seconds to destroy if the flight goes wrong.

In the UK we are just beginning to compete in Scale classes. Although our models are not up to the standards of the best in the world yet, Stuart Lodge has had some success in world cups and Trevor Seabrook flew in scale altitude at the 2007 European Championship. For 2010 the S5 scale altitude event will use electronic altimeters to measure how high the model flies.