Phoenix: Crew transport shuttle

[Dreadthrone]

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Named for it's uncanny ability to recover from situations that would cause most crafts to undergo rapid unplanned disassembly. The Phoenix CTS (Crew Transport Shuttle) may not be able to haul cargoes like the Firebird, it's bigger sibling, but it's increased range and speed make it ideal for scouting ahead to find Ore or transporting small amounts of Kerbals between bases in Duna's Sphere of Influence.

 

Download: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u503f5d8t72xl7y/Pheonix.craft?dl=0

 

Features:

• Crew transport capability: Space for one pilot and two passengers
• Vertical and horizontal flight modes: One Terrier on the back, one Aerospike on the bottom
• High speed: When flying horizontally, speeds of about 300 m/s can be reached in Duna's atmosphere
• Aerodynamic VTOL engines:  The Aerospike is hidden in a service bay, which can open or close to make it more aerodynamic
• Frontal Clamp O Tron: Can dock far less awkwardly than the Firebird
• Descent Autopilot: With an experienced pilot, the Phoenix can be landed simply by setting the SAS to keep it retrograde and adjusting the throttle.
• A small kerbton of Vernors: Can do sick barrel roles with ease

Action Groups:

1. Toggles service bay, when it is closed it cannot VTOL, but it is more aerodynamic
2. Toggles VTOL engine
3. Toggles horizontal flight engine
4. Toggles Fuel Cell

Notes:

• I'm very happy with it's lifter, it looks good, gets it into orbit flawlessly and can do all but about 100 m/s of the Duna transfer burn
• It seems to need the Caps Lock precision control to dock, otherwise the Vernors are too strong and it just gets tossed around
• Still being tested. I wouldn't be surprised if the current version has issues turning in the atmosphere
• With about 2150 Delta V when using the Terrier, it could actually probably be used to ferry Kerbals between planets  
• Unlike the Firebird, it doesn't come in pairs 
• You could probably fit some science equipment or Ore scanners in the service bay, if you moved the monoprop.

[Wjolcz]

I really like your style.

[Guest]

Well positioned cockpits must be fun to fly around in IVA .

[Heckspress]

What's the VTOL TWR?

[Dreadthrone]

11 hours ago, Veeltch said:

I really like your style.

Thanks 

43 minutes ago, Heckspress said:

What's the VTOL TWR?

0.73 at Kerbin sea level, 2.83 at Duna sea level and 0.96 at Laythe sea level. All of these get higher as it burns fuel.

 

 

[Heckspress]

Brilliant.