Gauss H2K

What about SSTOs? Due to the weight restrictions my SSTOs can only really carry as much armament, as a medium-heavy fighter, however due to the added weight of the wings and etc, that allow them to function in atmo, their tonnange puts them into the bomber-attacker range. However they are using their wings mainly as light armor, so I'm sure if they went against other vessels of the same tonnage, they would be wiped out. I then tried to make one of them have angular surfaces in an effort to make it have stealth, but for obvious reasons (like thermal generation), that alone won't make it hard to detect on "radar"/"sensors". I had already made another SSTO, that had some stealth characteristics, but was mainly for exploring other worlds, and I reasoned it could carry electronic jamming equipment to boost the stealth capabilities of the other fighter. Then I thought, this combo is nice but you know what would be just as nice? A fighter that combines the advantages of both, and is lighter, but has some of the disadvantages as both and is lighter. One wall of text later and a tl;dr My SSTO's are pretty heavy for the medium-heavy fighter class, yet I consider them to be within this range. And in an effort to try to increase their survivability since they're pretty weak, I designated them as "stealth" vessels meant for sneaky ambushes (where all ambush ships get a "surprise" round before the other vessels can respond) rather than open engagements as otherwise they're just pretty looking targets. I thought up some rules on "stealth" vessels for justification that would not make them OP against other creations. In case that route wishes to be explored. And alas what type of person would I be if I didn't show pictures of the offending vessels 25 ton "medium fighter" 30 ton "reconnaissance/medium fighter" 42 ton "heavy [stealth] fighter"

Go ahead an post pics plus the craft file if other people want to take a look. However the challenge (and "perceived" impossibility) go out the window when it's not SSTO, since the problems can be easily solved by adding more throw away boosters.

I know that VTOLs in KSP are a bit tricky since the game doesn't like control surfaces going backwards, so on take off try gaining a bit of forward speed. Also I when I make VTOL's I add an equivalent weight of the main engines in the spots where the engines will be, so I can get an idea for CoT balance.

Yeah Constructing previous SSTOs has led me to build better booster for rockets easily. The ones I've built used actually about 1 turbofan per 15 ton, and utilized about 6 RAM intakes per Engine, which allowed them to got to 26Km+ and 1500 m/s+, then I use the Nukes+Radial engines to climb to 30-36km where a TWR of .5+ (just Nukes) and a speed around 1800 m/s is able to keep the vessel climbing to orbit. At which point circularization becomes easy since the delta v of just nukes was usually around 4500 m/s, and I was usually left with ~800 m/s delta v after circularization. The biggest one I made was 42 tons, had 3 turbofans, and 4 nukes. However when I tried to make a 10+ Kerbal VTOL SSTO Thats when the problems hit. To get enough fuel for IP travel (Which to me was a must), the vessel started to weigh 100-200 tons. This wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for the fact that 30 engines (with Ideally around 60 intakes for the Jet engines) taxes my computer too much to be practical (I can't even play with the aerodynamic effects because they crash my computer). Basically I'm not able to do this project with Stock KSP.

After trying for a couple days now, I've decided to save my sanity, and give up on this project. The requirements for the design I had required too many small engines to be practical. I have no doubt that I could complete my design if there were was a bigger jet engine and a bigger Nuclear Engine, however since there isn't any in the stock version I give up;.;

Sooooo I've tried this idea I had and its failing... Here it is in the hangar Here it is on the runway Now I followed some advice, and did as much to ensure that this thing would fly. It has 12 turbo fans, and weighs about 151 tons. It's CoL is right behind it's CoM. It has extended landing gear designed to prevent tail strikes. It has almost half its mass in lifting force. (it only slightly <2 RAM intakes per jet engine, but as it can't get off the runway that's a mute point). The main problem I had was that it doesn't want to lift its nose, even with RCS and rear landing gear just behind the CoM, control surfaces are also a fair distance away from the CoM, so the torque from everything combined should at least allow it to lift its nose... Here is the download link if people want to take a look at the actual vessel (you'll need the latest version of Mech Jeb) http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/recs-utah/

While I am no beginner to the complexities involved in SSTO building, as I've built several one man Stock SSTO's that can get to Laythe with refueling. However I am having difficulty scaling up to a space station that can work as a central refueling hub and carry 10+ Kerbals, as expected since its mildly difficult to build a non SSTO version. While its tempting to just ask for a craft, I want to do this on my own for the satisfaction of completion. This is basically going to anyone who's built large space bus like SSTO's, any tips or tricks to make this possible? I also ask for ways to minimize part count as my computer can barely handle 500 parts.

Raptor Enterprise strives to build SSTO vessels after a Spirit Wolf Corvette was able to go to Laythe, and return. We had hoped to one day be a friendly rival to Spirit Wolf when it came to designing space faring vessels. However, after the Hanland - Spirit Wolf Incident over Laythe, we knew that Spirit Wolf would need help instead of another rival. This is why we are willing to dedicate the blueprints, and if need be, piloted vessels, to aid Spirit Wolf in her endeavors. This ship was originally designed as a direct competitor to the Corvette Elysium, but the Incident at Laythe made it clear that modifications would be needed to make her handle a new multirole platform This is the RER-77 Mk VII - Eagle (Aid Ship) She could get get to Laythe with heavy computer equipment, however after a new breakthrough in stability control systems she traded the now redundant control systems for an equal weight of fuel to boost her delta v without impacting her flight characteristics. She features advanced communications software, which if boosted by additional communications equipment via hard points, or an already existing satellite system, could be used as an Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence Vessel. It's this reason we've given her the R designation for Reconnaissance. Additional hard points means that she can also carry a payload if need be, but given how critical most components are on an SSTO, we advise against arming her for frontline duty. It's this reason that we put a lot of our R&D funding into our skunkworks to produce a fighter as well. This is that prototype. Designated the REF-117 Mk I - Night Hawk (Military Ship) This vessel is also an SSTO that carries no equipment into orbit, and was able to reach Laythe with outdated stability systems that have been replaced by fuel, just like the Eagle. While also not being a frontline fighter, this vessel is intended for far more sinister purposes. She was designed with angled surfaces to deflect RADAR waves and minimize her appearance on scanners. She was also outfitted with more RCS thrusters to allow her to rely on a different form of propulsion, that doesn't generate as much heat as her main nuclear engines, when stealth was needed. Since she is also a fighter, and needs to react faster, she has a higher TWR than the Eagle almost across the board (She's slower in high atmo, where air breathing engines fail, but there is still drag, however this situation is so specific, and unlikely to be used against her, that it's neglected). However these improvements have their downsides. She isn't as efficient as the Eagle, she doesn't have exterior lights, or jamming equipment due to the removal of non essential electronic equipment in an effort to reduce thermal profile, and she is more complex, featuring more parts. Now these vessels each have their shortcomings, but applied in the right role, together, they can be quite deadly. If an Eagle utilized its advanced communications equipment, and boosted it's effectiveness with a relay network, it would allow it to jam electronics allowing a couple of Night Hawks to theoretically close the distance to just outside visual range from a target vessel. At which point, if the Night Hawks were equipped with long range kinetic kill weapons (missiles/torpedoes), that were designed to close within visual range without alerting sensors, until the kill range where it didn't matter, the targeted ship could be taken out without an idea where the missile came from. On a high priority target, like a flagship, and with the missile coming in from a decoy direction, this tactic could be devastating. We hope these vessels might be of use to Spirit Wolf in their fight against Hanland

After messing around with an original design to convert into Stock KSP, (I usually play with FAR installed), I gave up on that notion, and decided to alter one of Macey's previous designs, The Corvette Elysium from his playlist of SSTO to Laythe, I tried to make it more efficient, and give it some med-heavy firepower. I haven't tested it yet, but considering it's very similar to Elysium, it should function similarly.

Could I get some tips on aerobraking on other planets with this mod. What would be good heights that would slow the aircraft down without disintegrating it. I'm aiming for an aerocapture. If a specific scenario is needed: Here is the one I'm currently facing, an SSTO is docked to a Space Stationy Interplanetary Booster Fuel Ring Thingy, basically an aerodynamic brick assembled in orbit, not meant for atmo. This vessel has way too much delta v for a Laythe Landing, and I'm looking for a way to aerocapture the entire station without wasting its precious fuel.

I just started using this mod, and I'm having a little trouble adjusting to the more realistic aerodynamics. If I could get a tutorial of some kind, of basically how to fly certain planes at certain speeds at certain altitudes, that would be great. I'm a visual learner, and would appreciate videos and pictures much better than raw data. Also I've created this SSTO, I would like to know how well my design works as I currently lack the piloting skill to fly it.