Gossamer Albatross; no, Anisoptera...

[Hotel26]

I've published a new version of Gossamer Albatross [KerbalX] with enhanced balance & controls.  UPDATE: Albatross has been retired.  Please try Gossamer Anisoptera...  You'll love it.

I'm opening a topic on it because it's not so trivial to fly. 

The Albatross is a great tourist vehicle (24 pax) -- a "lo-grav flitter" -- to see the Mun et al. "up close and personal".

Pre-flight check-list:

• AG7 extend sails
• RCS on
• stage the ion drive (you may need to create a dummy stage before it to make Space bar work)
• toggle AG0 and ensure that the Puff engines are shutdown
• AG8 hover mode
• SAS on, SFC mode, Radial Out

Lift-off:

• engage full thrust (Z)
• climb to a safe altitude
• select SAS Hold (press and release F momentarily)
• AG9 flight mode

Cruise:

• use F to defeat SAS Hold momentarily while adjusting the craft attitude
• use attitude to vector ion drive thrust
• AG0 to engage horizontal propulsion via the MP Puff drive

Landing:

• by the time you get to this, you will have figured it out
• hint: you can use the throttle to carefully adjust your sink rate
• hint: you can use the RCS translate thrust for enhanced deceleration
• hint: if you get desperate, you can turn tail and use the Puff drive (AG0) to decelerate.
• hint: its got wheels.  if you can't land like a chopper pilot, then align the wheels with your direction and land it like a plane.

WARNING: THIS MACHINE TURNS INTO A PUMPKIN AN HOUR BEFORE DUSK.  HAVE IT ON THE GROUND OR IN ORBIT BY THAT TIME AT ALL COSTS.

The manufacturer claims to have orbited this machine from the surface of the Mun.  With sufficient skill and iron nerves, it ought therefore be possible to land it, too.  [Your speed may vary...  [Although your altitude will always come back to zero!]]

Refueling:

via a Klaw to be attached to the small girder at the rear of the spacecraft.

Deployment:

Attach it to a lander via the top dock and sky crane it in OR use HyperEdit if you just want to joy-ride the machine.  You won't be disappointed.

OR *NEW* you can download a fully-equipped world save file: https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/170734-lunar-ion-drive-pylon-course/
(UPDATE: the Albatross Pylon Challenge will be updated shortly to use the new Anisoptera...)

Pireps made here would be appreciated...

 

 

Edited February 21, 2018 by Hotel26

[Hotel26]

I'm seriously thinking about trucking in loads of xenon and making a network of fuel dumps on the Mun just to make the Albatross a sustainable means of transport there just like airplanes are on Kerbin!

[Hotel26]

"Albatross is to the Mun what airplanes are to Kerbin".  Elon Kerman [mis-?]quoted making another one of his typical bold claims...  Or was it Richard B. Kerman?  [So much fake news on Kerbin now!]

"Albatross will put an end to 'fly-by-nite' airline companies!!", claims another top aviation exec...

It climbs to orbit.  It refuels in orbit.  It descends from orbit and flies into the destination field.  All without nasty mid-flight turbulence??  What can't it do? (*)

* hint: the all-economy-(no overhead baggage space!)-class seats are packed so closely together there is no room for a trolley for in-flight service!

---

MIssion Kontrol is in the midst of a sub-orbital flight spanning 137 deg (all in brilliant daylight!).  Apoapsis was 246 km.  "Ladies and Kermans, if you look out the left side, you will see the Mun.  For those on the right side, if you give us 2 seconds to violently roll the craft to starboard -- UHH!!..., there -- you will see ... the Mun."

Edited February 11, 2018 by Hotel26

[Hotel26]

Behold (@Brikoleur), the new Gossamer Lepidoptera under development...

In terms of passenger comfort, Lepidoptera will be to lunar excursions what Concorde was to Trans-Atlantic travel.

Coming soon.

Edited February 16, 2018 by Hotel26

[Hotel26]

I, Hotel26,

with some considerably evil glee, now inform all lunatic aviators of the world that the long-awaited Gossamer Lepidoptera is now available...

https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Gossamer-Lepidoptera    UPDATE: superseded by Gossamer Anisoptera

...for 150 quadrillion dollars!!!!!

Get yours now, before they're all sold out!

 

Edited February 21, 2018 by Hotel26

[Hotel26]

Well, that didn't last long.  I've decided it looks more like:  A DRAGONFLY!!

Hence, the name will be Gossamer Anisoptera.  This is the final version.

It's Lepidoptera with tricycle gear for better stability, an ion drive toggle (to prevent draining the battery while driving hard prograde with the Vernors for orbital velocity) and the matter of the final name change.

 

Action Groups:

AG6:  ladder
AG7:  sails
AG8:  toggle Dawn
AG9:  Hover mode
AG0:  Flight mode

Download it from KerbalX...