Programme

All pyrotechnic rocket flying at IRW follows the UKRA Safety Code. The site ceiling is 16,000 feet (4,876 metres) AMSL, weather permitting.

Types of rockets

• Model Rockets — ½A to G motors, 0–160 Newton seconds (Ns) total impulse
• High Power Rockets — H to M motors, 160–10,240 Ns total impulse
• Large Rockets — N and above, 10,240+ Ns total impulse

Motors: Solid, Hybrid, or Liquid Propellants. Experimental/Research rockets are also welcome.

Competitions

Scale Contest — theme: Open

Any model is valid, including but not limited to, real space rockets and vehicles, sounding rockets, military missiles, and science fiction rockets and spaceships.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• Construction – Basic rocketry construction, e.g. fins on straight, fillets smooth.
• Reference – Source material for the scale model. This may be any simple evidence that the subject existed; it may be a fully dimensioned set of plans autographed by the designer; or it may be anything in between.
• Detail – Additional scale elements, e.g. conduits, rivets. Only details shown in the reference material will score.
• Painting – Basic paintwork, e.g. lines sharp and straight, smooth finish.
• Accuracy – To score points here, the entry must have a reference (research material and evidence) and will score based on how closely it resembles the original.
• Ingenuity – E.g. clever mechanisms to depict some aspect of the flight of the real vehicle, provided these do not prevent the rocket from flying safely.
• Flight – E.g. correct number of motors in a clustered rocket, correct number of stages.
• Own Work – Modified kits will score here; outright scratch builds will score well.

Note: Numerical performance - altitude and flight time (endurance) does not count. A small model powered by a 1/2A motor has as much chance of winning as a large model powered by a J (except the larger model has more room for small details).

An entry may be submitted for scoring before flight, but the score will not count until the model has flown safely. It can also be submitted after the flight, but the paintwork and decals may have been damaged even after a safe flight and recovery. Detail and accuracy will be judged on the configuration as flown, e.g. if the rocket has fins which are detachable for display, it will be judged with the fins attached.

Boost/Rocket Glider Duration Contest

Models launched vertically on single or multistage propulsion (A–G total impulse) and glide-recovered. Timed from first movement to landing. Up to 3 flights — best individual flight counts.

Helicopter Recovery Duration Contest

Helicopter rockets ascend on rocket power and are recovered by autorotating blades deployed by the motor expulsion charge. A–G total impulse. Up to 3 flights — best flight counts.

Landers

Design and build a vehicle to land in a specified orientation and remain there after landing. A to G motors. Points awarded for ingenuity, interest level, and success in meeting the specified landing orientation. Extra points for carrying and recovering intact a delicate payload such as an unboiled hen's egg.

Payload Contest

Launch and recover an unboiled hen's egg or other delicate payload without the landing orientation constraints of the Landers contest.

Rocket flying rules

All pyrotechnic rocket flying at the IRW is conducted under the following rules:

• UKRA Safety Code — all flying conducted according to the UKRA Safety Code — ukra.org.uk/safety/
• Range Safety Officer — all flying under the authority of an RSO at the appropriate UKRA Level
• NOTAM and Launch Windows — all pyrotechnic flying operates under a NOTAM issued by the CAA in co-ordination with Glasgow Airport ATC. No launches permitted outside of Launch Windows or specified NOTAM hours
• BMFA membership — all UK pyrotechnic rocket flyers must hold valid BMFA Membership. Full and Temporary BMFA Membership can be purchased at the IRW. Overseas flyers are covered under the BMFA Overseas Visitor rule at no charge
• Explosives certificates — where required by UK law, flyers must have valid Explosives Certificates and RCA documents physically present at the event
• Experimental/Research rockets — details must be notified to the UKRA Safety & Technical Committee at least 30 days before the intended flight
• Large rockets — rockets over 10,240 Ns require UKRA Large Rocket Scheme approval and individual CAA Special Permission for each launch