At the World Space Model Championship held in Romania, Lithuanian aeromodellers achieved extraordinary results. In the S3A (missile with parachute) class, the Lithuanian aeromodeler, assistant of the Aeronautical Engineering Department of the Antanas Gustaichis Aviation Institute (AGAI) of the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) and master's student Povilas Karalkevičius was unbeatable.
Lithuania was represented in the championship by four athletes - Jurgis Strazdas, Povilas Karalkevičius, Vladislav Plechanov and Maksim Timofejev, who took fourth place in the competition of this class. In the team standings, the Lithuanian team took second place.
Aeromodelling competitions - what needs to be done?
According to the aeromodeller P. Karalkevičius, the team took about 34 rockets and models of rocket planes to the competition. Each participant could register a maximum of two models in one class, with which it was necessary to perform 3 qualifying flights. No more than three athletes of that country could run models from the starting area in one class.
"If the results of the three main participants are the same after three, additional final flights are made, for which an additional model can be registered. That's why we always carry spare models. What classes (competitions) we will participate in is specified in advance. The goal of different classes of rockets is similar - to stay in the air for the maximum flight time specified in the rules", says P. Karalkevičius.
The VILNIUS TECH AGAI student also says that the maximum flight time for S6A, S4A and S9A model classes is 3 years. or 180 sec., which are converted into 180 points, and in S3A class 5 min. or 300 points. The points of all 3 flights are added up and the athlete who collects the most points becomes the winner.
"In the team standings, the results of all three participants who started in the same rocket class are added up (the results of a total of 9 flights) and the winning country is chosen in the team standings. The stability of flight results of all team members is very important in each event. Even if you don't achieve prize results in the individual competition, you can win a prize place in the team competition", emphasizes the aeromodeller.
The results achieved are subject to weather conditions
According to Mr. Karalkevičius, although the sport of aeromodelling is a technical type of sport, rocket models made of the highest quality using the latest materials and techniques do not yet guarantee victory.
As in other aeromodelling sports classes, you need to additionally know meteorological weather conditions, to feel when the weather is more favorable for a rocket shot. Also, after successfully launching the model (models of the S6A, S3A, S9A classes rise to a height of approximately 200 m), the challenge is often to find it.
"A small landing model rocket or rocket glider can be carried more than a kilometer by strong winds. A model that has flown so far is difficult to follow, not only for judges with binoculars, but also for the participant himself," says the winner of the championship.
He also points out that sometimes when hit by strong updrafts of thermal air, the model can go even higher and not be found. As a result, attempts are made to add additional rescue systems, but it makes the model heavier by a few grams. In poorer weather conditions this may lead to less good results. It is important to remember that in a seemingly simple sport, a well-thought-out strategy also determines a lot.
