Spacemodelling Sport

George Garry Stine is preparing a rocket
model for launch, 1970

Rockets modelling and constructing exact copies of real rockets is one of the most interesting hi-tech hobbies. Modelling is a unique sport because it organically combines intellectual activities and physical exercises in the open air.

Spacemodelling sport is a technical sport where participants compete in designing, manufacturing and launching rocket models as well as in piloting (e. g. radio controlled models). This sport is intended for people of all ages.
Spacemodelling individual and team competitions are held to measure flight altitude and duration as well as landing accuracy. In S7 class the degree of rocket detalization and scale is evaluating.

The space modelling pioneers appeared in USSR in 1920. Then they have not suspected yet that after the first satellite launce and human space flight designing real rocket copies will acquire wide popularity. Later two Americans – George Garry Stine (rocket designer known under the pseudonym "father of rocket modelling") and his friend Orville Karslil (shoemaker by profession) invented competitions and set their rule prototype. Further these rules formed the basis of the document that the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) is guided by even today. The fact that many countries fight the right to be named the birthplace of spacemodelling proves the popularity of this sport all over the world.

Space models launch turns into reality the eternal human striving towards reaching new creativity heights at the unknown spaces of the Universe. The moment when the hand-made rocket rises to the air leaves lasting impression which will leave memories for the rest of your life! This is the reason why the spacemodelling sport had won millions of hearts worldwide.

Rocket modelling is widely spread in such countries as: Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Romania, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Great Britain, USA, Uzbekistan, Norway, Egypt, France, Azerbaijan, Australia, RSA. Spacemodelling sport is now gaining popularity in Brazil, Greece, Sweden and Cyprus.

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  S1 - altitude

  Goal of the competition is to achieve maximum possible height, recorded through observations and measurements. Height data measures by special devices (altimeters);

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  S2 - payload

  Goal of the competition is the lift of standard payload on maximum possible height, recorded through observations and measurements;

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  S3 — parachute duration

  Goal of the competition is to achieve maximum flight duration using parachute;

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  S4 — boost/glide duration

  Goal of the competition is to achieve maximum duration of the flight using vertical or almost vertical free ballistic flight take-off;

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  S5 — scale attitude

  Goal of the competition is to achieve maximum height of the flight by model, which is an exact copy of real rocket, and in this case they make bench assessment, i.e. model detalization degree;

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  S6 — streamer duration

  Goal of the competition is to achieve maximum duration of the flight using streamer;

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  S7 — scale

  Goal of the competition is to get maximum number of points for model detalization degree (bench assessment) and to perform qualification flight. In case of equal score preference is given to the prototype with higher bench assessment mark;

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  S8 — rocket glider duration

  Goal of the competition is to set the best flight time and at the same time to land the model at the specified zone;

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  S9 — gyrocopter duration

  Goal of the competition is to achieve maximum duration of the flight with autorotation recovery system to return to the Earth;

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  S10 — flex-wing duration

  Goal of the competition is to achieve maximum duration of the flight with flex wing (Rogallo wing).

The International Air Sports Federation curates the activities of spacemodelling sport on international level. The Federation has been established in 1905 and now unites aviation organizations of more than 100 countries.