Gosling series of hybrid skycranes: bring your wayward chicks home!

[Torquimedes]

Ever landed a rocket in the highlands instead of the beach near KSC because the displayed trajectory doesn't account for re-entry drag? Or crashed a plane but wish you could retrieve it for full recovery of funds, minus the exploded bits? We might all need to deliver heavy mining equipment across Kerbin when resource harvesting is added to KSP.

These cranes harness the lifting power of the Basic Jet, augmented by the Rockomax Mk55 to fill gaps in the jets' throttle response. The Mk55’s large gimbal range helps stabilize touchy VTOL operations and acts as a panic button to abort missed approaches. Effective range depends on how much rocket-panic is invoked, since they share LiquidFuel with the jets.

Control POV is vertical, allowing SAS-Radial to automatically settle into a stable hover, freeing the pilot to concentrate on precise translation and manage their sink rate. Craft are tested and intended for keyboard operation in a completely stock game.

Models are defined by payload capacity and mission type:

• Gosling delivers payloads up to 18 tons, Gull retrieves them.
  
• Goose delivers payloads up to 45 tons, Pelican retrieves them.
  
• Albatross delivers payloads up to 60 tons, Vulture retrieves them.
  

Retrieval cranes handle payloads using a Klaw. They can launch from the Pad and grapple a payload from the Runway for delivery abroad if you don't wish to add a docking port to the payload.

Delivery cranes are loaded as a subassembly and attached to a docking port on the payload centerline. They feature a pendulum joint that allows a larger pitch axis for more lateral speed. The pendulum, docked with the payload, acts as a separate craft from the crane. It includes solar panels to provide power to undock from the payload after delivery, along with a disconnected emergency battery for night operation.

The first model is named Gosling because the pendulum joint was inspired by Firefly's Serenity. Some people may juggle geese, but Krazy Ivans are not recommended with these craft.

Action groups for all cranes:

1 Toggle rockets

2 Toggle intakes

3 Arm Klaw

4 Release Klaw or docking port

Gosling Delivery Crane

KerbalX link

Mass: 11,677

Cost: 16,240

Parts: 35

Endurance: 18 ton payload deliverable 50-100km from launch point on Kerbin

Approx one minute of rocket assist is available.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Put craft file in Subassemblies folder

Load payload in SPH/VAB

Attach subassembly to docking node on the centerline, close to directly over CoM if possible

Right-click the OKTO2 under the left intake, Control from here.

Engage SAS, set vector to Radial.

Throttle zero and stage to ignite engines.

Tap 1 to toggle off rockets.

Stage to decouple pendulum.

Throttle up and launch on jets. Fly safe.

Because the control POV is vertical:

AD roll to vector thrust toward the desired left/right translation.

QE yaw inversely. Think of Q as pushing on the left side to swing it forward.

Tap WS gently to move faster/slower toward your delivery.

Use throttle to control climb/sink rate. Use 1 for bursts of rocket assist if you sink too fast for the jets to spool up.

When you’ve delivered the payload, set throttle to zero if it is level, or just below liftoff thrust if it is not.

Switch craft to the pendulum and use 4 to undock. If it refuses, enable the emergency battery.

Switch back to the crane and fly it back to KSC. Fly safe.

Gull Retrieval Crane

KerbalX link

Mass: 11,022

Cost: 13,857

Parts: 26

Endurance: 19 ton payload retrievable 50-100km from launch point on Kerbin

Approx one minute of rocket assist is available.

Kerbal not included, operation is unmanned. But I couldn't keep Jeb from flying this thing anyway.

Engage SAS, set vector to Radial.

Throttle zero and stage to ignite engines.

Tap 1 to toggle off rockets.

Tap 3 to arm the Klaw.

Throttle up and launch on jets. Fly safe.

Because the control POV is vertical:

AD roll to vector thrust toward the desired left/right translation.

QE yaw inversely. Think of Q as pushing on the left side to swing it forward.

Tap WS gently to move faster/slower toward your delivery.

Use throttle to control climb/sink rate. Use 1 for bursts of rocket assist if you sink too fast for the jets to spool up.

When you reach the payload, carefully hover over it as near the CoM as possible.

The Klaw will automatically grapple the payload. Off-center and off-angle grappling is possible with careful liftoff and landing.

Rightclick klaw and free pivot.

Throttle up jets to gently lift off. If SAS cannot hold the radial vector, tap 4 to release the claw and doubletap 1 if you need a burst of rocket to lift free. GOTO grapple.

Fly back to KSC for recovery or other another site for delivery. Fly safe.

Tap 4 to release the payload after delivery if it is not intended for recovery.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Edited March 2, 2015 by Torquimedes

[problemecium]

And here I was doubting playing KSP could help me pick up chicks... ;P

[CitizenAerospace]

This could be very helpful when they add resources to the game...