Hotel26

OK, drag me back to the 20th century, then. My very first prop plane: the Blue Baron I took a trip out to Koney Island (at night) and realized I didn't need to lug the 580 kallons of fuel. It's electric. (I guess they didn't have internal combustion back in the 20th??) It's quite pleasant to fly and, being a tail-sitter, just as much fun to land... (Full flare, stay off the brakes and land uphill, whenever available.) On final for KSC R27L: Viewer Poll: did not end well... ended too soon... all of the above...?

For this task, I use two tools: Kerbal Alarm Clock to place an alarm on either the AN or DN. With no other target set, the default reference is the orbited body. KAC then gives a count-down to the arrival. KER giving a heads-up display of lon/lat and also of inclination The main thing to realize is that, as long as you are lat degrees North or South of the equator, you cannot make inclination any less than this amount. You are therefore flying an asymptote toward the equator. Close in on it fast, but then burn off as much of the lateral component you need in order to avoid overshoot. Use a trickle as you get close to that equator to reduce the inclination to as close to zero as you like, spending as much time as you can bear for the accuracy desired.

I start thinking about names for craft shortly before they come out of the hangar doors for the first time. I honestly had no idea with this one -- until I was performing the docking tests: It is Butterfly... I built this one purely to rev-eng the wing design. The wings are too big for a space-plane. But the name fits.

(Temporarily) speechless, actually... quite verklempt[*] In a thread which is fundamentally a troop of intrepid (and valiant!) explorers traipsing over the Kerbin countryside at supersonic speeds, having fun (and laughs!), often on bingo fuel and/or in poor weather conditions; shooting stunning photography that National Geographic would be proud of; and occasionally pulling amazing feats of aviation, such as e.g. landing on high-altitude, sloping icy crevasses or landing in deep valleys, I can only say that this: TOTM Award has been earned and deserved by every participant of this thread: @Castille7 @Chryssalid 8492 @TheFlyingKerman @James Kerman @purpleivan @SuicidalInsanity @Alienwall @Vanamonde Sir @fulgur @swjr-swis @Klapaucius @Retro Starship @Poodmund with a Special Accolade to Kayak Club Supreme Judges, Castille7 and purpleivan who have performed a Truly Marvelous job in maintaining Law & Order amongst we Wild Pioneers. Backed up very ably by this thread's Sheriffs, Vanamonde & James Kerman. And I do wish to personally thank the Moderator Team for its effort (and keen sense of humor) across the whole forum and particularly for the work it takes to present the TOTM Awards every month. Finally, on a matter of Administrivia, the Judges and I will shortly convene an Internal Audit to enquire into two issues: a prima facie case of an apparent Violation of Article I of Kayak Club Rules and possibly Article X as well. We will need to investigate. how to settle the theory, gaining currency, that this thread was started merely to bring out everyone's marvelous Flying Machines for dastardly @Hotel26 to copy-cat. Thanks, lads, all, for being such jolly good sports!! * Verklempt, and will admit this time I don't know what that word means, but as it does entail symptoms of a tightening throat, palpitations in the chest and teary eyes, I do hope it passes soon.

Dr. V. Kerman is writing a thesis entitled, "What Is Science Good For?" She reports that she has enjoyed the research so far: not having a boss wearing a lab coat and spectacles and carrying a clipboard poking her nose into what other people are doing and asking lots of questions without answers[*] but has otherwise not yet reached a conclusion. She is also wondering, 4. how long her grant will last... "1. How long has this ladder been here? 2. Why haven't I noticed it before? 3.a) Who put it here? 3.b) what is it for? and 3.c) where does it go? 4. What's up there?" Lots of questions. Dr. V made it to the very top the first time but slipped getting off. She fell all the way to the ground and landed on her helmet. She got up feeling quite dazed! "1. That was a long, long fall: I wonder how high that was? 2. And why I am wearing this stuffy helmet!! 3. Is that why I fell? 4. Must I enumerate everything??" She took the helmet off and repeated the climb -- and also the fall, landing once more on her head. "<snip>!", more than a little disoriented now. "1. now where did I leave that helmet?" Third time went luckily and Dr Kerman proudly stood at the top: "Science is great! Now I know ladder-climbing! I wonder what is in this tank? Let's take a soil sample? Why is it called a soil sample? Can't I drill anywhere...?" "1. Hmm(?) 2. Fumes!? 3. Does that smell like rocket fuel?" Luckily for Dr. V, a) the tank was empty. And b) her grant money was now exhausted... Back to the cockpit for her. Lucky Val. * scientists know they don't need to ask questions that already have answers. that would be pointless.

Emphatically yes, in general. KSP is rich in challenge, though. For those who wish to challenge themselves against the tyranny of the rocket equation or recreate the rigors of the space program to date, I guess they might elect to forgo this step, but it does limit payload and therefore mission possibilities. Paraphrasing Robert Heinlein, "LKO is halfway to anywhere". Getting fuel supplied from KSC to LKO is cheaper than from any other source (i.e. mining and with the exception of on the launchpad at KSC), although I don't rule out the Mun or Minmus as an interplanetary departure point (just haven't embraced the additional complexity of launching from those departure points...). I do use the Mun as a recovery and refueling point for interplanetary accelerators and asteroid-hunters. Finally, would anyone predict that Mankind won't have any kind of space infrastructure (for neither fuel nor payload transfer) in the 22nd century? (And I didn't mention how much FUN that extra play time is!)

Probably true and I would never counter-say a practicing helicopter pilot on the subject. Being "current" in IFR means being certified as having practiced several approaches per month. In persistent clear weather, this is performed in the company of a safety pilot and the pilot-in-command dons a plastic hood to shut out the view outside and compel him or her to focus on the instruments alone. The safety pilot signs a cert in the pilot's log book after the flight. In addition, helo drivers have to practice an auto-rotation on a schedule as well. For the same reason, Multi-Engine Licensed pilots routinely practice single-engine (one engine idled) approaches to remain current. Let's just say that you can never be "too current". I think the issue is probably more one about the criticality of judgment in scud-running. If charter companies were more inclined to make use of bad weather to go safe, IFR, into the clouds, they could ensure their pilots stayed right on their game. These are always sad events, whatever the circumstances.

Sounds like this was an FAR Part 135 (Charter) operation in which case the pilot would have been mandated to be IFR-rated and current. The transition from "scud-running" to IFR is not easy when unprepared (no flight plan on file) and (not a helo pilot) but pilots are unable to hover stably on instruments (without visual references) unless the machine has been fitted with auto-hover equipment. Nevertheless, maintaining ground "contact" should be easier in a rotary by descending as necessary. Problem for the pilot's decision-making then is maintaining the 500' above structures requirement, but let's face it: Confess-Communicate-Comply -- ATC are only too happy to assist a pilot in trouble. Update: well I viewed the video (thank you) and it does state that the flight/company was "VFR-only" -- probably to save money on currency training. The pilot was an Instrument Instructor but maybe not keeping current.

Have you ever read "Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid"? Is a Mobius Strip circular? There is a ring in mathematics, but I don't think it's particularly circular. This leads me to wonder whether there is the concept of a box in mathematics, other than the geometrical shape? Have you ever read "Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid"?

Who knew there is a cross-runway at KSC: R18-36?!! Jack Kerman (despite the acrid protestations of the KSC Tower Controllers) spotted what he thought was R18 and landed... Luckily, he had chosen to borrow one of @purpleivan's brilliant craft, the Boxo, which proved itself eminently capable for the task. What fun!! Meanwhile, I'm struggling a bit with my first-ever Science career. Not enough OP parts. And I may have spread my kerbucks(?) too widely across the tech-tree. Fortune has smiled on us, though, with the timing of Kergarin Aerospace's recent video post, "KSP Career"! "Kopy Kats R Us is on the job"...

Well, that is very true, but my objective is simply lay-out. (It might be worth me reducing the thumbnail sizes as a related project, though; and I am splitting one post with all images into a dozen posts sorted by Hangars. I know that doesn't help when posts are on the same page, as the browser will have to load all the images on a page.) For now, I think I will have to stick to the 1,200-pix width table which is a penalty for phone users, but they can always transfer to my KerbalX site and browse by Hangar there. It's either that, or just go with pix only and no captions... Or have a separate index for hand-held devices. Someone will inevitably ask me why I am effectively mirroring KerbalX (I ask myself the same question) but the motivation was so that adding a new post would come up in the forum feed and also to be able to click sequentially through a Hangar.

I'd like to take the liberty of reviving this thread, since a) it's not very long and b) my question is similar. I used to post screenshots in a table in order to lay them out across the page -- but this isn't great for users on small screens. The same can be accomplished simply by scaling the screenshots down to a smaller size and putting them on one line so that the browser can split them anywhere on the screen as it likes. Clicking the screenshot gets a full-size view, too, when desired. Now I want a simple caption under each screenshot. (The images, by the way, are being hosted on imgur.) Here's the objective: PERSONNEL HANGAR Jetstar Panther Hexapen Dolphine 2020 Magellan Light Cruiser But I've done this with a 1,200 pixel table. So I tried making each image/caption a 2-row/1-column table and putting N of them on a line. But Invision won't seem to allow more than one table on a line. I think I'm probably schnookered... just hoping somebody has an idea.

Aside from the bravery in landing, I'm nominating this photo-shoot for a Kulitzer Krown for Imagery. You really captured the mountain!! [Scores will be updated later today]

Luckily, I brought a couple of coconuts! Unfortunately, I believe they are now floating amidst the oil and wreckage of my ex-MiG about 28 km due east. Any idea the direction of the prevailing winds, old bean?

AT LAST!!

I did get the impression from the poster, it being a shower thought, that he might likely be thinking actually about playing KSP in the shower. (I may have misread his mind.) And would that not ultimately accomplish both goals of "reducing heat" and lowering "electric resistivity"? Being more, ahem, serious: doesn't Moore's Law state:

Jetstar Craftyard Description 1:RAPIER 2:NERV 3:boost 4:cut A Mach 7 hypersonic aircraft called Jetstar. Built with 38 of the finest parts, its root part is mk2SpacePlaneAdapter. Perfect for fast trips to destinations, 1,000 to 1,884 km, distant. Cruise 2.187 km/s @31km. Atmospheric Autopilot [AA] is a must in order to achieve cruise flight. Inspired by the pioneering work of Laie in the 80 Minute Challenge, this is the commercial application for up to 8 pax. Preflight check-list - View: Free - Open AA Cruise Flight Controller - set initial desired heading and select Heading control - dial in Speed control: 2220 m/s but leave disengaged - set altitude to 31km and climb rate 10m/s and select Vertical speed - ensure Advanced options: max_climb_angle: is 15 degrees - select Cruise Flight controller for take-off but leave Master Switch: Off - pin a RAPIER tweak menu open to the side Take-Off - activate RAPIERs, SAS Hold, disengage Brakes and go Throttle: Full - rotate at 90 m/s; just raise the nose to lower the tail-wheel to the runway - when clear and gear: up, engage Master Switch to establish a shallow climb and turn on course - when on course, engage Altitude control to start the climb toward an ultimate apoapsis of 36.6km altitude (even though the Altitude control is set for only 31km!) - at Mach 1, activate the NERV - at speed: 1km/s (attitude centered in the navball prograde), engage SAS Prograde and disengage AA - engage RAPIER boost when their thrust drops to 100 kN - kill the throttle when the apoapsis arrives at 36.6km - wait for 25 km altitude and engage AA to level off at 31km and go Throttle: Full! - engage Speed control: 2220 just before the speed arrives at this number - when speed is stabilized at this target, shutdown the RAPIERS - periapsis will stabilize at 31km, altitude at 31km, apoapsis at 36.6km - immediately reduce speed setting to 2,187 m/s once Pe shows 31km - Congratulations! You have now achieved cruise flight profile. Enjoy your flight! Descent - begin 500 km from the destination - set throttle to idle and kill Speed control - engage Standard Fly-By-Wire - begin mild porpoising to wash off some speed gradually to below e.g. 2 km/s - begin a slow descent - beware of heat indicators as you approach 20-25km altitude; keep the AoA at/near zero as much as you can - Good Luck. Patiently done: there is sufficient safety reserve Thanks, Laie!!

PARDON OUR DUST -- AS THIS SITE UNDERGOES A PERIOD OF REFURBISHMENT Truman has made a commitment to bring the site index up-to-date and keep it that way. The lead page will list the Hangars only and link to a page for each Hangar, containing its index. The intention is to make it easier to browse. It seems also that the layout could be made friendlier for small-screen devices. The rest of this page will, during construction, be the prototype for the Personnel Lifter Hangar index. Craft will be listed, newest to oldest. Thanks for your patience. What a rotten procrastinator I am/Truman is! How hard could this be? Just do it! OK, let's pick my Lifter hangar and start with the photos... Star Knife https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Star-Knife https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Blister https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Spearhead Venom V A stock resupply rocket called Venom V. Built with 84 of the finest parts, its root part is probeStackLarge. I will use this ship to keep my LKO space station(s) supplied with monopropellant (3,750 kals). Includes a Sparrow and a recoverable Spunk lifter. Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.7.3. https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Xenon-III https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Terrapin https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Aquila-VIII https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Mule https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Methuselah https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Spunk https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Archer https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Zephyr https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Titan https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Escort https://kerbalx.com/Hotel26/Forward-Assisting-Rear-mounted-Thruster

I can't resist posting this one! "On the alphabet, it's somewhere between K... and W..." I know also at least one Mighty Explorer has traveled this route. (If anyone posts a Visitation, feel welcome to name it and add some stronger clues!) I think it's a contender for the Mt Majestic Award!?

What a delight, this little airplane, I must say! Enquiring minds are wishing to know where and how you placed an air intake in the little beauty to feed the Juno...? UPDATE: well, my engineering team worked all night and they tell me now, "it's in the obvious place, Chief!". OK, then.

I flew this KerbalX airplane today: and that, rather surprisingly, got me started on a Science career. Just for fun.

Eureka, I suppose. In September, 2018, through pure luck, I made a machine fly, steady, with a Pe of 31km, at an altitude of 31 km, with a reported Ap of 36.6km and at a speed of 2.187km/sec on a trickle of fuel. I've been looking for the magic elixir ever since. So -- right now -- this flight: rock-steady with a different set of numbers: Pe/alt: 34km, Ap:46.7km speed 2.187km/sec for a fuel draw of 0.22 kal/sec and a range of at least 6,800 kms. This machine is too twitchy for Atmospheric Autopilot to fly "into the saddle", so it simply must be hand-flown, with AA providing auto-throttle and, only once seated, turned over to AA. So, KSC to a full-stop landing on the exact opposite side of the planet in 20 minutes. (Consider that a regular obit at 70km around Kerbin takes 38 minutes.) [click to enlarge] Feeling rather ecstatic, actually!

Obviously, but never offense, good fellow. This is why correct pronunciation is so important in education, I feel.

OK, so it seems my hypothesis is correct. The above is the proof. NOT a coincidence, I surmise, that Curveball Anders communicated the exact thing I said, IN ONE UNDENIABLY-CONCISE SENTENCE, just before I said it!? (I'll say no more on this subject. I fear I may have already revealed too much.) Uranus?

But you took LGG's conjunction out of context! "I would know if I was". Of course, he is capable of working on a completely new set of mods. (Thus aiding and abetting the fragmentation of the community...) But could he do that without knowing??!! No, obviously not. A tell-tale sign for any Master Programmer would be: suddenly feeling completely dis-oriented. "Hey!! What the...!? This is a completely new set of code bases!! Now belonging to us..." This ignores the question: where would mods for KSP 2 suddenly appear from? (Thus leaving the loyal fan base completely stranded in orbit around, or even on, Uranus...!!??) Hmm... An inkling of a subtle idea is looming like the proverbial locomotive...! What if LLG has been signed to port ALL KSP 1 mods... to KSP 2... BEFORE release date! (Maybe then THIS is what is taking so long with KSP 2!!??) And LLG IS working for Star Theory! But his contract specifically stipulates that he has to fib if asked this question: "Are you Star Theory?" I think we need to subtly reword the question... and maybe that's why we seem to be getting nowhere here.