diff --git a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java
index 40725d608..df2285c37 100644
--- a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java
+++ b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ public class AxialStage extends ComponentAssembly implements FlightConfigurableC
 	protected FlightConfigurableParameterSet<StageSeparationConfiguration> separations;
 	/** number of stages */
 	protected int stageNumber;
-	private FlightConfigurationId stageId;
 	
 	/**
 	 * default constructor, builds a rocket with zero stages
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ public class AxialStage extends ComponentAssembly implements FlightConfigurableC
 		this.separations = new FlightConfigurableParameterSet<StageSeparationConfiguration>( new StageSeparationConfiguration());
 		this.axialMethod = AxialMethod.AFTER;
 		this.stageNumber = 0;
-		this.stageId = new FlightConfigurationId();
 	}
 	
 	/**
@@ -92,13 +90,8 @@ public class AxialStage extends ComponentAssembly implements FlightConfigurableC
 	protected RocketComponent copyWithOriginalID() {
 		AxialStage copy = (AxialStage) super.copyWithOriginalID();
 		copy.separations = new FlightConfigurableParameterSet<StageSeparationConfiguration>(separations);
-		copy.stageId = new FlightConfigurationId();
 		return copy;
 	}
-
-	public FlightConfigurationId getStageId() {
-		return stageId;
-	}
 	
 	/** 
 	 * Stages may be positioned relative to other stages. In that case, this will set the stage number 
diff --git a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/FlightConfiguration.java b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/FlightConfiguration.java
index 757e11a49..b2cf9ce61 100644
--- a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/FlightConfiguration.java
+++ b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/FlightConfiguration.java
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ public class FlightConfiguration implements FlightConfigurableParameter<FlightCo
 	private class StageFlags implements Cloneable {
 		public boolean active = true;
 		public int stageNumber = -1;
-		public FlightConfigurationId stageId;
-		
-		public StageFlags(int _num, FlightConfigurationId stageId, boolean _active) {
+		public String stageId;
+
+		public StageFlags(int _num, String stageId, boolean _active) {
 			this.stageNumber = _num;
 			this.stageId = stageId;
 			this.active = _active;
@@ -465,12 +465,12 @@ public class FlightConfiguration implements FlightConfigurableParameter<FlightCo
 			if (curStage == null) continue;
 			boolean active = true;
 			for (FlightConfiguration.StageFlags flag : stagesBackup.values()) {
-				if (flag.stageId.equals(curStage.getStageId())) {
+				if (flag.stageId.equals(curStage.getID())) {
 					active = flag.active;
 					break;
 				}
 			}
-			StageFlags flagsToAdd = new StageFlags(curStage.getStageNumber(), curStage.getStageId(), active);
+			StageFlags flagsToAdd = new StageFlags(curStage.getStageNumber(), curStage.getID(), active);
 			this.stages.put(curStage.getStageNumber(), flagsToAdd);
 		}
 	}
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ public class FlightConfiguration implements FlightConfigurableParameter<FlightCo
 		final String fmt = "    [%-2s][%4s]: %6s \n";
 		buf.append(String.format(fmt, "#", "?actv", "Name"));
 		for (StageFlags flags : stages.values()) {
-			final FlightConfigurationId stageId = flags.stageId;
+			final String stageId = flags.stageId;
 			buf.append(String.format(fmt, stageId, (flags.active?" on": "off"), rocket.getStage(stageId).getName()));
 		}
 		buf.append("\n");
diff --git a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/Rocket.java b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/Rocket.java
index 8f0a632ff..91f79b9a7 100644
--- a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/Rocket.java
+++ b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/Rocket.java
@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ public class Rocket extends ComponentAssembly {
 		return this.stageMap.get( stageNumber);
 	}
 
-	public AxialStage getStage(final FlightConfigurationId stageId) {
+	public AxialStage getStage(final String stageId) {
 		for (AxialStage stage : getStageList()) {
-			if (stage.getStageId().equals(stageId)) {
+			if (stage.getID().equals(stageId)) {
 				return stage;
 			}
 		}