Well that was time well spent...

[WOODY01]

I spent so much time trying to design a plane with only the basic jets that could reach an altitude of 18.5 k realiablly and without using any extreme maneuvers. Why? I had a contract with that altitude and 16.5 and 17.5 listed altitudes to do a temp scan. I only had the basic jet engine available and was determined this mission would be completed by a plane with those engines.

After many failed attempts first trying light and fast to operate push up to those altitudes, then trying the "Moar Boosters" approach, I was using more jets, since losing thrust was the main issue at altitudes above 10k. The more engines worked for very little altitude gains. I spent roughly 15 hours trying to come up with a pure jet design, I would see very slight improvements with each attempt then I eventually seemed to hit a wall.

I finally decided a pure jet plane for this contract was not feasiable and decided to go with an jet/rocket hybrid. Jet engines would carry me to the target area and to around 13k and the rocket engine would take me the rest. I spent roughly 4-5 hours designing a plane that would remain stable when the rocket fired at both high and low altitudes, stable in normal flight, capable of rough terrain landings, able to hit Mach I with the jet engines alone, enough fuel capacity to use the rockets multiple times and leave enough fuel to return to the KSC and the usual stuff.

I had my design tested and proofed then took off to head to the first target area to get the tempature scan. Nearing the area I double check the altitude I need to reach to meet the mission criteria and realized I was already at the target altitude. The contract requirments was to be at any altitude below what was listed.

The good news I now have a design standing by in case any missions popup requiring a plane capable of long range flight and multiple ascents to altitudes around 22k or capable of suborbital flight.

PS: I am not being sarcastic in the title of this thread. really enjoyed the design challenges, failures requiring to go back to the drawing board and it was fun trying and eventual coming up with something close to what was originally conceived.

[Motokid600]

I'm having trouble with a contract testing the basic jet at 25,000m going 300m/s.

That's... Like any oxymoron or something. But I gotta make sure its not "below 25000m " like you said. Pretty sure it's not seeing is how the altitude parameters never went green.

[Galileo Kerbonaut]

I am in the middle of building a simple jet plane and I am struggling to keep the thing stable. Now, I wasn't much of a plane builder before 1.0, but at the moment all I do is crash Seems like the simple tricks I used to build a stable plane don't apply anymore. Back to the drawing board...

Oh, and I killed Jeb.

[Jovus]

I'm having trouble with a contract testing the basic jet at 25,000m going 300m/s.

That's... Like any oxymoron or something. But I gotta make sure its not "below 25000m " like you said. Pretty sure it's not seeing is how the altitude parameters never went green.

You aren't going to get up there on jet power, but there's nothing saying you can't bring a jet up there on rocket power.

[Snooze]

Or build all your speed in a vertical climb then go ballistic when the engines flame out. Coast that baby onwards and upwards.

[Motokid600]

I suppose I could develop a purpose built craft that can bring test parts up to their specified parameters. The hard part is keeping the craft at those parameters. Rockets are a complete pain to test parts on that need s certain altitude and speed. It's gotta be a plane. Or in this case a rocket propelled plane. Tuff part about rockets is they don't last very long. Whatever it is I need to get done I have a short window to work with.

And I've only got the very first liquid rocket engine you can get. Fun times ahead for sure.

[Xavven]

Or build all your speed in a vertical climb then go ballistic when the engines flame out. Coast that baby onwards and upwards.

Ooo, this reminded me of the zoom climb. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_climb I wonder if this works in KSP.

[WOODY01]

Ooo, this reminded me of the zoom climb. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_climb I wonder if this works in KSP.

It does just not to the altitudes pre 1.0. Highest I got on the basic jets alone was around 13-14k. I managed 15K once with a very light overpowered plane but the problem was it was somewhat short ranged and had stability issues because of speed. I am sure someone can exceed those heights, really the first time I am spending any meaningful time on planes for atmospheric flight. Usually I am focused on rockets.