[F-FT] Comments on motor decertification requested

David Erbas-White · 2005-04-13T16:48:20+00:00

I've never quite understood the rationale behind having motors decertified for sport use, and I'd appreciate it if folks (especially those who may have been involved in some of the decisions over the years) could contribute comments about it.As I understand it, if a manufacturer stops making a certain motor than after time period 'A' that motor becomes decertified for contest use. After time period 'B' (where 'B' is greater than 'A'), the motor becomes decertified for sport use at sanctioned launches.Now, I can sorta/kinda understand the rationale behind the contest use decertification, because the INTENT (as best I interpret it) is to ensure that only motors available to everyone can be used in a contest, so that an individual can't "cheat" by using a motor that is not available to the general public in order to win the contest. There is a fallacy in this argument, of course -- witness the Apogee Medalist motors. I've never used them, but just purchased my first batch, and folks indicated that one reason they are so pricey is that they are generally used for contests. I ordered some within a few days of the 'quiet' announcement that they were again available, and even then, some sizes were already sold out. So, for motors that are produced in limited runs, or only sporadically, just because a motor is certified doesn't make it generally available. Another example is what happened with the AeroTech fire -- for motors that they had just certified (but where there were only a few in the pipeline), the limited number of motors then available would have become suddenly 'premium' motors for contest use. So, the limitation for contest use has a good intent, but has some inherent problems -- but I'd have to suggest that the current system is probably the best 'common sense' solution to the (real or perceived) problem.However, IMHO, it doesn't make sense that I can use an A8-3 made in the 60's, but I can't use an A10-0T from the 90's. The manufacturer is still in...

Apr 13, 2005 82 Replies

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W. E. Fred Wallace 21 years ago

"big fine" just can't comprehend..(:-)

ROTFLMAO

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Roy Green 21 years ago

Yep, I understood the word "treat" in that context, as "handle," though I could certainly understand the other definition in those same words. I guess its just that since I've never heard of a treatment, I assumed the first definition.

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default 21 years ago

Let's all go down to the corner tavern and have a few. My treat.

steve

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