plazmaXIII

i done some tests on this a while back. higher altitudes are best for big plane changes. this is because your going slower and forces apply better to objects that travel slower (to my knowledge).

DERP parachute?

im really not happy with the amount of drag + size of the landing gear. I know they are not deployable yet but in reality no plane could fly at Mach speeds with the landing gear out and stay airworthy; tail fins are also undesirable (although they make you more stable lower to ground). i think im going to have to mod landing parts to zero drag (as if they were inside the wing) because its not realistic

wow nice design. what's that like to get into orbit? very shuttle-like ive used sleds before and had a lot of success with them so i will try to fit them somehow where are you landing? the gears don't seem like to rough land?

is it possible to land with one gear you think? perhaps someone needs to mod a lighter smaller set of gear . . . (hint)

a calculation that shows what angle and speed you will hit the main atmosphere (probably going to need it sooner or later. and its nice to know with space planes so you don't rip the wings off)

BREAKTHROUGH!!! :D i have finally come up with a solution to getting a space plane into orbit via rocket with minimal modding. this is just a prototype design but im sure with a few modifications i can get this to land at KSC! It seems that the hardest part is getting your rocket past the 10,000m mark, once you have managed that the issue of the wings throwing your rocket off-course is negligible. the way i got past this is to use LOTS OF TAIL FINS on the first stage so that the rocket didn't veer of course. i also tried to use a design which places the flight wings as far away from the top of the rocket as possible, this reduces the rotational force on the rocket. On the way down to kerbin i tried to keep the plane in line with its vector until i lost most of my speed (you cant really use your wings at high altitude / speed. you just spin out of control). once i had slowed down to about 300m/s i took control of the space plane and it was easily controllable. im fairly confident that if i can get lander gear on this plane i can get it to KSC. will post my attempt at getting to KSC soon!

did you fly that plane into orbit? the best way we know how right now is to fly dead north/south (or east/west) and get into a stable orbit. Then use a transfer orbit down to about 32,000m when you are directly behind KSC by using your navball (other side of the planet - a purple indicator on your navball will show you. however, this isn't particularity accurate . . .

thats awesome. a few more goes and you could probably get that! shame your kinda cheating though with those jet engines, wasn't somebody supposed to be making a space shuttle that would work on top of a rocket?

my thinking was that with a spare tank of fuel and moveable fins you could compensate for the inaccurate method of landing at KSP. if you aimed a litle short with a transfer orbit you could fly the rest of the way back. i cant test this yet as im still having problems getting a spaceplane into orbit any suggestions?

think it would be fair to say that you can use disposable stages if you need. The main problem ive found is keep the rocket stable with fins so high on the stack. Maybe i just need more SAS 8) Will try this later on tonight when i get back

ok, so with the new experimental we have been given moveable flight surfaces meaning that its easier (ish) to fly and glide objects down to kerbin! some people have been flying for a while and i was wondering if anyone has been able to get a plane into space then glide it back to the new runway my early attempts havent gone so well as the wings seem to tip my rocket over! if anyone has a workable desgin post it here!

Ok that makes sense thank you. A good but slow technique for future moon landings then.

ok, i understand that now. every example ive typed in so far have been more fuel intensive. whats a good example of it being effective to save fuel. also where should the turnover altitude be set for maximum effciency?

can someone explain how to use the bi elliptic transfer calculator? what is the turnover altitude? i understand how these orbit changes work but cant figure out how to use it :|. it also seems really inefficient.