Raptor9

That is a REALLY good-looking replica...I especially like the picture of it dropping the small spaceplane like it did the real-life X-15. Nicely done

Not at first, but Stargate Universe became my favorate of the franchise. It featured imperfect people in a grim and gritty situation. And it also highlighted some real challenges of long-term spaceflight. Isolation, resources, equipment limitations/failures, etc. Just my take anyway. Really cool ship, I was watching the video just waiting for him to power up all those ion engines

Well, you can see it launching at 0:21 into the "KSP - The TV Show" video in my sig, and sitting in the background in my title post of Raptor Aerospace. I haven't really included it in the designs list on that page for two reasons: 1) Still trying to narrow down the max payload weight the Shuttle can lift off with and make a certain altitude (ie 100x100km orbit for a heavy payload vs 200x200km with a light payload). I designed it as a station-builder, but alternatively, how much weight can it safely glide and land with if it needed to bring something down? It launches no problem, and it glides wonderfully during testing (but the cargo bay was empty after jettisoning a test payload in orbit). So not quite ready for roll-out. 2) My designs list in Raptor Aerospace reference air-breathing aircraft that primarily operate in the atmosphere for aero-testing, science surveys, or service missions (like moving a rover to an island for example). SSTO spaceplanes are sort of an exception to that, but they use the same facilities as the atmo-only aircraft, so in my mind, they're just aircraft that can operate for extended periods at REALLY high altitude. Whenever I tweak the shuttle design, I'll see about posting it and where (separate thread?, etc) On the subject of spaceplanes (specifically the one I posted about on page 3), I tweaked it a little, and tweaked some more, and I got a working prototype of the passenger variant in orbit with enough fuel for rendezvous and reentry; barely I think EDIT: Whoops, mixed up my threads, it was in Rune's White Dart thread, not this one (facepalm).

Personally, I use Open Broadcasting Software for recording. It's really handy, free, and can also be used to broadcast a twitch stream. For video editing I use Nero 2015. It's not free, but for someone that puts the occasional cinematic video together, it's reasonably priced and easy to figure out. I've never done a tutorial video, but I was considering doing one after I finally cracked the Shuttle solution. It would be what steps to take, considerations in design, how to test, how to tweak, etc. That kind of stuff would be useful depending on what your talking about (SSTOs, base-building, etc).

Thanks guys. I really wish they would release a DVD set for "The Cape". A bit too dramatic as most 90's shows were, it was still a good run.

Gotcha. I see some of your designs have the J-X4 "Whiplash" engine for lift. I considered them, but nothing I've built so far needed that much "oomph", lol

Really like the B-X08b Halo, and the B-X28 looks like a beast. I'm curious, what's the function of the airbrakes mounted around the core of the lift engines?

Very cool SSTO Rune, my RAC cell was giving my spaceplane, the "Valkyrie", a break for a bit. The cargo variant (with no payload) had barely enough dV to get to a 71x71km orbit and back, and the passenger variant came just short of circularizing it due to the slightly higher weight. Wasn't sure what else I could do with the design, seemed to be in a constant battle between carrying enough fuel and maintaining a decent TWR, and that was before addressing the payload fraction. But after seeing the elegantly simple design of your White Dart, I'm going to reallocate more engineering time to my own spaceplane project.

Raptor Aerospace endorses Project Jumper by Blackbird Aviation

KSP - The TV Show? What if KSP was a TV show? What would the intro theme be like? The music used in this video is the theme from "The Cape". "The Cape" was an American drama series that ran for one season in 1996. It centered around a group of NASA astronauts as they trained and flew Space Shuttle missions. As of this video, a DVD release of "The Cape" episodes has never been made, and few clips are available online. However, the theme matches up well with the atmosphere and immersion of Kerbal Space Program. DISCLAIMER: The KSP logo is present in the video, as is the reference to Squad as the producer, but they're simply there for theatrics and this video is NOT an official product of Squad. Raptor

After proving the practicality of the quad-engine-powered XV-H, the SPH RAC cell began designing another quad-engine XV. This new XV, designated XV-L (Lift) would have twice the payload-lifting capacity of the XV-H, and be able to lift oversized payloads that may not fit in the cargo bay of the XV-H, or aren't able to be rolled up the ramp. Like the XV-H, the L would have a similar set of augmentation engines, giving it dash speeds of 135 m/s, shattering the XV speed record of the XV-H. The main limitation to the XV-L is it's lack of passenger compartments, however modular crew containers could be designed to be mounted underneath if the need arises. Winch built using Kerbal Attachment System/KAS (KAS requires Kerbal Inventory System/KIS to function).

Very cool

Very interesting concept. Nice

Nope, the four lift engines are required for constant lift. On an additional note. The XV-M, A and H all have their liftjets tilted forward a few degrees. This helps with forward airspeed without having such an aggressive nose down attitude. The XV-M for example maintains a moderate forward airspeed when the nose is maintained at the horizon, which makes it easier to do slow speed flight around an LZ. It just means that the XV's hover a few degrees nose high, which isn't unlike some real-world helicopters that mount their rotor systems tilted forward slightly for the same reason.

After the successful flight tests of the XV-M and XV-A concept demonstrators, the engineering team at the SPH RAC cell began designing a larger, more powerful version of the XV concept, the XV-H (Heavy). This airframe would have twice the power of the previous designs, and have a pair of augmentation engines for horizontal propulsion, giving it dash speeds far exceeding the top speeds of the M or A variants. The XV-H, after construction, was tested to have a max takeoff weight (MTOW) of 40 tons, which equated to 10 tons of payload available at sea level if fully-fueled. Even with dash speeds as high as 115 m/s, the engineers in the RAC cell felt they could lift more with less. Again, they returned to the drawing boards...STAY TUNED

I've tried the shuttle on top of a rocket before, never turned out well for me the way I did it. Yours looks sick though. I like how you mounted the shuttle on top with the mounting quad.

Yeah, I had several SSTO spaceplanes that were capable of VTOL, but the hit to the J-33 'Wheesley" thrust definitely hampered those designs. I was however able to create this VTOL last week. It has excellent range and handling. I'm trying to make an amphibious version of it, but I can't find parts that are buoyant enough to keep it high enough in the water. Might just be too heavy to float high. CV-15 'Kestrel' (with the exception of Lack's Mk3 Cargo Bay from his SXT mod, this craft is all stock) I've actually created an entirely new design series for VTOL concepts in my aerospace "company"...only a few design so far, but others are almost done.

After realizing that hybrid verti-planes (airplanes with VTOL capability) could only go so far in terms of capability and performance, lead engineers at the Kerbin Space Agency's SPH RAC cell developed a brand new aerospace concept with a focus on vertical propulsion. The goal was to create a new series of aircraft that could hover just as easily as conventional airplanes were capable of flying at high speeds. As a result, the XV program (eXperimental Vertical) was created. Interested parties soon took interest, namely civil emergency services, the Kerbin Defense Forces (KDF), as well as executives from the KSA itself. At the outset of construction, two prototypes were developed, the XV-M and the XV-A... The XV-M (Mobility) was to be the baseline behind the concept of vertical propulsion. It's purpose was to provide the ability to carry personnel or cargo and deliver them safely and reliably anywhere big enough to land the aircraft. The XV-A (Attack) was a design aimed for purchase by the KDF. While it was heavier than it's unarmed counterpart, the XV-M, it had a 60% increase in fuel capacity. Further, due to many commonalities in design with the XV-M, namely the propulsion and portions of the fuselage, this aircraft became an attractive prospect for the KDF from a logistical and pilot training perspective. After the initial successes of the flight tests of the XV-M and XV-A, the XV program was expanded to determine what future growth this concept could provide...STAY TUNED

I have an SR-71 analogue that I use between 20-23km altitude at ~Mach 3.1 (throttle maxed out due to lower air density). It mounts two Whiplash engines with a shockcone intake and precooler on each nacelle. Works pretty well for long-range flights. If you're afraid of the runaway freight train effect at lower altitudes, once you're past the transonic speed range and into the ramjet effect of the J-X4 Whiplash, you can bring down the thrust limiter on the engine(s) so you can still use your throttle without worrying too much about overspeed. I have a twin-Whiplash engine fighter that I keep both engines at 70% thrust limiter, and a single engine fighter I keep at 80%...they won't break through the transonic barrier at low altitude without bumping up the thrust limiters, but at medium and high altitude, it keeps the engines governed better. It just comes down to testing limiter settings at the altitudes you want to operate at and find what configuration works for you...just think of it as prototype flight testing

While the CV-15 revolutionized the air logistics mission by providing long-range transport without the need of a runway, there was limits on what it could do. It's VTOL capabilities gave it flexibility, however it suffered from a poor power-to-weight ratio when landing vertically with a heavy payload. A new series of aircraft needed to be developed...STAY TUNED

The X-12 isn't nearly as maneuverable as the X-13 since, like you said, it lacks all moving tail surfaces. However, it's still able to pull off 6-12G's, depending on what speed you initiate the pitch back between 200-350 m/s. In real-world terms, that's really good. The X-13 can max out in the red portion of G-meter easily during the first several seconds of the turn, and that's without thrust-vectoring (gimbal is locked, the X-12's aren't). It should also be noted that the forward most sections of both aircraft, the long adapter and even the nose cone, can hold fuel, but normally don't for most flights. They can be fueled for longer flights while maneuverability takes a penalty, however. At least until you burn off some fuel. For fictional immersion, I justify these setups in that the X-12 was built for speed and stealth, whereas the X-13 was more in focused on maneuverability and cheaper costs. Not to mention that real-world fighter planes are restricted in their maneuverability when carrying external fuel tanks or heavy ordinance (however that is due to structural limits, not CG issues).

X-12 breaking the sound barrier & X-13 in a vertical climb C-17 flying to the Island Airfield & CV-15 departing the KSC

I have a few PC games I payed $50 or more for (like multiple DCS modules) that I don't play nearly as much as KSP. From a gameplay over time perspective, KSP has been the cheapest game on a dollars (or cents) per hour scale. Are there issues? Sure...but nothing that prevents me from having a fun gaming experience. (DISCLAIMER: I've been playing KSP since 0.13 so if I remember correctly I purchased it at ~$15, but based on what it has become, I'd gladly pay $40 dollars now) Bottom line, what your getting for $40 dollars is well worth the cost, not to mention when they release updates...they're free.

My 1.0 SPH file revamp is still underway, and it's really fun to rediscover how to make these experimental planes under the new aero model. Here's some pictures of the activity inside my SPH hanger... A recently tweeted picture from one of Wernher Von Kerman's interns: