XPRS 2025

2025 Contests

Any flight made during the week of ARLISS / XPRS is qualified to enter.

General Rules:

All rockets and/or motors meeting TRA safety requirements,

including experimental motors and/or rockets are encouraged to participate.

• Clustered rockets will be considered based on total impulse of all motors.
• Flyers must be TRA or NAR certified for motor class they are entering. 
• TMP or NAR Jr Level 1 flyers must meet all the requirements.

X-treme Altitude

All Ages (Youth’s low power and Adults high power)

Objective: To fly as high as possible with a successful recovery (including recovering within the FAA Waiver in effect at the time of the flight). 

Youth: Low Power

• The youth category can fly A-F motors.
• The altitude measurements must be taken by altimeter. 
• Kids can have adult assistance in the altimeter portion of their rocket, but they still must build the rocket themselves. 
• The contest director can demand access to the original altimeter if a flight’s altitude is unusual for its motor size.
• Download Flight Cards

Adult: High Power

• The adult category can fly G-O
•  Multi-stage rockets all being judged as a separate category.
• Commercially available altimeters need to be used.
• The contest director can demand access to the original altimeter if a flight’s altitude is unusual for its motor size.
• For all flights (including the booster and sustainer on two-stage flights) any damage must be limited to the same criteria as a TRA certification flight. 
• Non-deployment of recovery mechanism disqualifies a flight including the booster on two-stage flights.
• Download Flight Cards

Flight Data requirements:  

1. The highest recorded altitude from a “brand name” altimeter or flight computer must be entered on flight contest form and submitted in the contest box prior to 4pm on Saturday.
2. Note: Contest Coordinator(s) may ask to review altimeter / flight computer data if obvious questions arise, e.g. a clear data “outlier” or suspect data recorded by device.  For example, a K to K two stage flight that has a recorded altitude of 100k ft.
3. Otherwise, data submitted by each flyer is accepted on the honor system.

Awards: For each motor class certificates are given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

with a trophy awarded to the first place contestant.

Playaphobia 

Is focused on flyers 17 yrs and younger and  motor classes A through F

Objective: The rockets are afraid of the Playa! 

Help keep them away from the ground for as long as possible!

• Any rocket with a parachute, streamer, or glide recovery.
• Flights are timed from launch to touchdown.  
• Rocket must be presented to LCO or RSO after each flight for inspection. 
• To qualify, the rocket must be in a re-flyable condition or returned to that status with minor field repairs.  
• Detached fins or non-deployment of recovery mechanism disqualifies a flight.
• Contestant must present contest form to LSO or RSO prior to each flight.
• LSO or RSO must note the “playaphobia” time on contest form and participant (or responsible parent) must insure that the contest form is filled out and returned to contest box prior to 4 p.m. Saturday.
• Clusters or staged rockets will be considered based on total impulse of all motors.

Note: LSO and/or RSO cooperation for timing and inspection will be required. 

Awards:  For each motor class, certificates are given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place with a trophy awarded to the first place contestant.

• Download Flight Cards

Rumble & Roar

All Ages

Objective: To fly the most successfully retrieved and functional cluster rockets! 

• Each distinct rocket counts for 1 point. 
• The rocket must be designed to take a cluster safely (no taping motors on the outside) and more than one motor must ignite on take-off for that rocket to be counted.
• Awards will be handed out to the top three fliers!
• Download Flight Cards

Sad Wallet

All Ages (Adults and Youth awarded separately)

Objective:  Highest flight with the cheapest commercially available motor! 

• The cost of a motor is based on MSRP, and altitude is measured using a commercially available altimeter. 
• The height is then divided by the cost of the motor (or motors) to get the feet per dollar.
• Awards will be handed out to the three highest feet per dollar in the youth and adult categories separately!
• Download Flight Cards

Please download contest rules here

Decisions by contest Coordinator are final but appealable.

Please contact xprscontests@aeropac.org for more information on the 2025 contest.