Class 3 Flights at BALLS

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A Class 3 Rocket is any rocket that contains more than 40,960 Newton-seconds of installed impulse (a full O class motor). This threshold requires submitting a Class 3 Form to the Tripoli Class 3 Committee. Simply add up the total impulse of all the motors and compare the sum to 40,960 Newton-seconds. If it’s more, it’s Class 3, and a form must be submitted to the Tripoli Class 3 Committee. It is impossible to have two O motors in the same rocket without it being Class 3, or an O and two Ns. Even an additional 'A' motor with a 100% O motor forces it into Class 3. A baby P motor over 40,960 Newton-seconds is Class 3.

Class 3 Application and Information

Any flight exceeding our 100,000 ft Certificate of Authorization (COA), even with total impulse less than 40,960 Newton-seconds, MUST file Class 3 paperwork with the Committee. If approved, it will be sent to the FAA & AST to acquire its own Personal Class 3 COA and launched from an Away Cell beyond the 2,500 ft distance of normal BALLS operations.

IMPORTANT – REQUIRED TIME FOR CLASS 3 APPROVAL
Those planning to fly a Class 3 Project at BALLS 29 must submit their paperwork to the Class 3 Committee Chairman at least 90 days in advance; the earlier, the better. If you have neglected to send your paperwork until July, you are likely too late. If you bring your Class 3 level project to BALLS without committee approval, you will not be permitted to launch it.

100K+ FLIGHTS
If you plan on exceeding 100,000 feet, even with a vehicle using less than 40,960 Newton-seconds, you must file a Class 3 Form with the Committee. This is a requirement of Tripoli itself. Without Committee approval, the flight will not be approved for launch.

Any multiple-stage rocket intended to exceed 100K+, regardless of being over or under 40,960 installed Newton-seconds, will be required to file Class 3 paperwork and will be launched from an Away Cell at Ground Zero, beyond the 2,500 feet operating distance of the event.

The Tripoli Class 3 Committee is co-chaired by Greg Deputy and Kevin Trojanowski. All Class 3 applications must be sent via email at least 90 days in advance. They will submit your form to various Committee Members for review and action. Your application will be sent to the FAA/AST if applicable or approved for BALLS activities. Class 3 applications must be received by the Class 3 Committee no later than June 21st, 2024.

The national Tripoli Website has a complete page dedicated to Class 3 Procedures and forms. It is advisable to check it out and use it as the official source for Class 3 operations. If you will be submitting a Class 3 project, please go to (Tripoli Class 3 Flight Committee) and follow it as the official Class 3 source.

Information to be submitted:

1. TRA Class 3 Project Sheet
2. RASAero II project file (.alx1) (www.rasaero.com)
3. Rocksim project file (.rkt) (www.apogeerockets.com/rocksim)
4. RASP (.eng) motor file(s) (burnsim.com or similar software)

Procedures and forms for submission can be found under the Class 3 Committee Section of the Tripoli Website.

Please forward completed forms to either as per instructions:

Greg Deputy - greg@blastzone.org  

Kevin Trojanowski - troj@cox.net