NRC Contest Flying

Since 1959, sanctioned NAR model rocket competition has evolved into a proven method for challenging the individual rocketeer to improve their craftsmanship and flying skills. It is an activity that emphasizes modeling and flying skill, and sportsmanship. Any NAR member can participate in NAR competition, and you do not have to go to a big organized launch to do it.

The U.S. Model Rocket Sporting Code is the official rulebook for conducting and participating in NAR sanctioned competition. NAR members can design and build model rockets for over 25 different competition events. Official US Records can be set in many of these events.

When you’re done flying one of the NRC events, you just report your flight scores and they get posted to a national “Scoreboard” where you can see how you are doing in that compared to everyone else in the US that year. If you want to move up in the rankings, just fly again the next weekend; you can fly as often as you want. At the end of the contest year (June 30), the NAR recognizes the top 10 fliers in each event, and if you are one of these you can go to the National Championships (NARAM) and compete head-to-head in the event for the title of “National Champion”. If you want to know more about how the NRC process works, read the basic explanation briefing attached below.

The NAR Contest Board is pleased to announce the NRC events for the 2023-2024 Contest Year:

1/2A Helicopter Duration
1/2A Parachute Duration
A Rocket/Glide
B Streamer Duration
B Payload Altitude
B Eggloft Altitude

These events have been selected by the NAR Contest Board and the NARAM Contest Director per Sporting Code rule 13.1.3.  The 2023-2024 Contest Year starts on August 2, 2023, and ends on the last day of NARAM.  NRC flying ends June 30, 2024.

The NAR annual meet brings together all NAR members for a 4 or 5 day competitiob. The next national championship meet, NARAM-64, will be held near Lordsburg, NM . NARAM will be held July 29-Augst 1, 2023.   Events will be the 6 NRC events above plus:

    • 1/2A Flex Wing
    • Precision Fragile Payload
    • Classic Model

Launch Windows Online lists most of the organized launches currently scheduled where competition events can be flown. Not all launches are always listed, so it is best to contact an NAR Section near you to find out about launches in your area where you might be able to fly NRC competition.

Want to challenge your skills by trying NAR model rocketry competition?  The “Competition Guide” section of the NAR website has extensive information on how to design and fly rockets for all of the events found in the US Model Rocket Sporting Code and the “FAI Spacemodeling” section has information on the different rules and model types used in international competition.

MARS Club is ready to help, all of our launches are NRC registered events so come on down and FLY FLY FLY

As the contests themselves change each year along with some of the rules you can look up all the info you need Directly on the NAR Website https://www.nar.org/contest-flying/