Pandemic

I've got a bit of a desire to get a Redbull air race type course set up in KSP. I know it's possible but I'm not sure exactly how to do it. Also, KAX is the only mod I know with a similar type engine but it's severely under-performing. Is there another mod with a better engine?

I'm flying the albatross right now just for kicks. I notice that every 3 or so seconds the smoke effect stops for about half a second. I've noticed this elsewhere too, like while landing on minmus. Not heavily modified, running the latest KSP. 3ghz quad(?) core with 8 or 16gb ram and a radeon 5850 gpu. Should be able to run this no problem. Any advice?

Having a mod that allowed automatic drone launch, flight path, return and landing would be the coolest thing ever.

In this case I use the electric motor of KAX. That's the only non-stock part I use though.

Yeah, ideally I want to let this thing fly to see if it can surpass a year in the air.

I've been tinkering with various aircraft capable of perpetual flight. I have a few that are working very well (20km ceiling at 200m/s) that I'd like to test over long periods. Is there a way to keep the aircraft flying on it's current heading and altitude without having to have it active on the screen? As an example, build a craft, set it's heading, go back to space station and send another one up on a different heading? Anyone else into this type of thing? If so, let me know the longest flight time. I just hit 40 days on one craft. Computer was on for about 2 days though.

Tried to get in on time but fell asleep early last night. Super lame. Congrats to the winner.

Thanks High Guard. I think that's what I didn't know. Also, I have a bunch of fins for my test plane but how else can I mitigate side slip?

I'm trying to circumnavigate kerbin at about 315 degrees. I've noticed that before long the plane is at 270 degrees and falling. I tested with a plane that will hold 90.44 degrees all the way around kerbin at 16,000 meters and experienced the same issue. Is this normal for a straight flying plane?

could you link the leader board to the individual post by that person achieving the challenge rather than their profile?

I've got a good ship but my ascent and decent need work. Any tips on the most efficient take off and landing?

I had to mod my velocity plane that was steady at 1686m/s before... wouldn't get half way around the planet after the update. I can now get it around under an hour. Still testing to see if I can do a bit better.

Fun challenge. What's FAR?

I was within seconds of beating juzeris time. RAWRRRR. juzeris, you should try again and see how it goes. Are we going to have to do another challenge for 1.0.3 now? :/ Also, how often does this get updated? I did get the 3+ circumnavigation successfully but the OP hasn't been updated.

have to see if the update borked my plane.... edit: ....! I was able to hit 1686m/s at 22,000m. Now it's waaaaay harder. I'm at about 1683.4m/s at 22,500 but fuel is being used much faster now too. I should have tried to beat the velocity score before updating. I used to be able to go a full lap around kerbin and have about 200 fuel left from 1500. I now get half way around kerbin on 1500...

I'm closing in on one hell of a velocity plane. Hoping to have some interesting stats in the next few days. I'm coming for ya, juzeris.

I'm finished with the 3+ lap challenge. Velocity seems like a good one now.

Managed to get 3 rotations of Kerbin. Landed with 22.9 fuel left out of 1090. Ship name: Aaro Highest Altitude: 13,000m Highest speed: 215m/s Total mission time: 3 days, 4 hours, 31 min, 4 sec 3 trips around Kerbin http://imgur.com/a/Hu8mZ Needless to say the temp gauge bug didn't bother me.

Looking to get some horizontal wings at the top of the body, on the bottom, and then possibly another set in the middle. Trying to make a tri-plane almost. Problem is, when I try to put the wings on the top I don't know how to adjust them so they stay at the point but angle down to be horizontal. Thanks

So I'm able to orbit and get to mun and back easily enough. I'm sure there's a more efficient way but I'll learn that in time. I don't know how to start learning about the finer skills. How do I get into an exact orbit, how do I navigate to and then dock with another ship, etc. Right now I have a contract that wants me to do a polar orbit. I take off going South but by the time I'm up the contract orbit is off enough where it's difficult for me to adjust to it. I'll check out the in game tutorials later to see if something like that can help. Any other tips?

Used pilot assistant today - works a lot better anyway. Thanks for the suggestion!

curious - how was I able to use the guidance before in the same career? Bug?

I swear my space plane is handling differently...

Good idea regarding the flag. I have the general layout of where the landing strip is but that'll make it quicker to find. I'll check out pilot assist. I liked MechJeb purely for the heading and altitude autopilot. I've had good results with setting a heading and altitude, leaving the machine in 4x mode for 20 minutes or so, completing a contract and doing the same on the way back. I've noticed recently that it seems like something changed though. The controls are a lot more sensitive or maybe aerodynamics changed somewhere. I'm still running 1.0.2 but something is different. Weird thing is before the update I was able to use the mechjeb space plane autopilot all the time in career mode. Now, for some reason, it's changed. Landings are OK for me. I prefer to be lazy and let mechjeb do the work but I can land fairly well.

Yep, it works in sandbox. I'm guessing I have to unlock something in the tech tree to get it back?