The Aircraft Help Library

[RocketSquid]

So, this thread is meant to compile an array of tricks for building and piloting planes. If you have something to add, please comment with it. Try to avoid giving *just* a video, post a text summary at least, since A) People on mobile devices will suck through their data if they try to watch without wifi. B) It can be easy to overlook critical details by forgetting that viewers cannot see your keyboard.

Building Planes:

First of all, there's this. Its comments on drag are outdated as of 1.0, so ignore those.

Second of all, there's my tutorial (not done yet, sorry):

Spoiler

Trait-Oriented Airplane Design:

By RocketSquid

So you want to build a plane. Maybe for space, maybe for show, or maybe just for some in-atmospheric shenanigans. This is a tutorial on how to optimize your plane for certain traits.

Maneuverability: Very important for low-altitude planes, stunt planes, and STOLs, and handy for all other planes, especially spaceplanes. So how do you get maneuverability? There are a few ways. The first is control surfaces. These include canards (on the front), Elevons/elevators (on the back of the wing), ailerons (horizontal on the tail) and rudders (vertical on the tail). You can also use tail fins or the larger "canard" parts on the tail, and they will replace rudders or ailerons depending on angle.

 

Edited March 9, 2016 by RocketSquid

[RizzoTheRat]

Can't really vote as I've never shared any of my designs to know if anyone else is better at flying them, but I have tried downloading some other people's designs in an earlier version and had the same problems I have flying my own designs.

The biggest problem I have is the digital nature of trying to fly on the WASD keys (I have a few hours solo on gliders so should have a fair idea what I'm doing), hence I always use Mechjeb's Smart ASS system to hold a pitch/bearing/roll setting.  Useless if you want a dog fighter but useful for spaceplanes and cargo aircraft.

[assasin172]

Well i builded few  planes .. some of them were just complete garbadge and even fellow Jebediah Kerman was unable to take them off the ground ... then few planes / rokets which i shared with my friend .. ended up modifiing them since he could't manage them to take off If only i was better at building stuff

[RocketSquid]

Poll updated. Please post what you know.