Precision Duration

40.1 Scope

Precision Duration comprises three events open to any single-staged model rocket. The purpose of this competition is to accurately predict the duration that an entry will achieve.

40.2 Classes

The three classes of Precision Duration are:

40.2.1 Predicted Duration

The competitor must predict the duration in seconds that the entry will achieve. The competitor’s prediction must be recorded on the flight card and given to the official(s) prior to any official flight by the competitor at the meet. The minimum duration prediction is 30 seconds.

40.2.2 Set Duration

The Contest Director must set the target duration when the meet is sanctioned. This target duration must appear on the sanction form and all appropriate meet information. The target duration must be no less than 30 and no more than 120 seconds in increments of 5 seconds.

40.2.3 Random Duration

The Contest Director must select the target duration just prior to when the event is flown, by random selection. The target duration must be no less than 30 and no more than 120 seconds in increments of 5 seconds.

40.3 Practice

Practice flights are not allowed on the day the event is flown.

40.4 Number of Flights

Entries must be allowed only one official flight in Precision Duration. In the case of a timer malfunction, any re-flight must be made by the same entry, and no changes in configuration, motor type, or prediction must be allowed.

40.5 Control

The entry may not be radio controlled. The entry must not contain a dethermalizer or other device whose purpose is to cause the entry to land after a predetermined amount of elapsed time. Any entry that is caught or interfered with prior to landing must be disqualified. Any entry that drifts out of sight of the timers while still in flight must earn only flight points.

40.6 Scoring

Precision Duration must be scored as follows: the achieved duration of the entry must be divided by the target duration, and the result multiplied by 100. This figure must then be rounded to the nearest 0.1%. If the result is greater than or equal to 100, subtract 100 from it; otherwise, subtract it from 100. The competitor whose score comes closest to zero is declared the winner.

40.7 Return

Return of the entry to the officials is not required except as stated in Rule 9.10 – Impound.