Slowness is king

[Rakete]

Here's a challenge idea - maybe someone had the idea before. (If so, then close my thread)

 

Build a plane, that is able maintain flight at a lowest possible speed at sealevel with at least on kerbal on board. The slowest plane wins. The plane must be able to land afterwards. The plane must not contain any jet engines (we go reeeeeeally slow!)

[Rakete]

And no kraken drives ;-)

[DRAG0Nmon]

I have a plane that can technically take off and maintain flight at ~30m/s, but its cruising speed is like 110m/s, so which counts, its cruising speed to its lowest possible speed to climb in altitude?

 

[Flying dutchman]

Edited January 2, 2021 by Flying dutchman

[Rakete]

Lowest speed to hold the altitude.

2 hours ago, DRAG0Nmon said:

I have a plane that can technically take off and maintain flight at ~30m/s, but its cruising speed is like 110m/s, so which counts, its cruising speed to its lowest possible speed to climb in altitude?

 

 

[ralanboyle]

I am assuming vertically oriented propulsion is not allowed. That would then beg the question: At what point is it vertically oriented? An airplane, with fixed wings will have to be angled upward at some angle of attack in order to maintain altitude. So, if it has to point its nose up 45 degrees; Is that still acceptable? If so, what about 80 degrees? Then ultimately, what if it is able to maintain stable flight and 0 airspeed after pulling its nose all the way back to 90 degrees? Because yes, this is possible, both IRL and KSP.    

[Vít Salava]

On 1/5/2021 at 2:49 AM, ralanboyle said:

I am assuming vertically oriented propulsion is not allowed. That would then beg the question: At what point is it vertically oriented? An airplane, with fixed wings will have to be angled upward at some angle of attack in order to maintain altitude. So, if it has to point its nose up 45 degrees; Is that still acceptable? If so, what about 80 degrees? Then ultimately, what if it is able to maintain stable flight and 0 airspeed after pulling its nose all the way back to 90 degrees? Because yes, this is possible, both IRL and KSP.    

Same question, slowest speed to hold altitude is essentialy a hover.