Mk3 VTOL SSTO with rotating engines

[Chris_2]

This is the VTOL version of my Mk3 SSTO. It uses jet engines on a rotating bearing / hinge to create thrust vectoring engines for hover and cruise flight.

Download

Notes:

The turbojets have been throttled down to 85% to allow vertical takeoff without tipping over. You might want to throttle them up to 100% after takeoff.

Because the turbojets spool up so much faster than the basic jets, the basic jets should be started first (press space), then wait ~10 sec to allow them to spool up, and than start the turbojets (press space again) to prevent tipping over during takeoff.

Action groups:

1 Decouple engines and shutdown forward hover jets

2 Shut down center hover jets and close bays

3 Toggle rapier mode

4 Toggle turbo jets

5 Toggle 2 of 4 rapiers

6 Toggle other 2 of 4 rapiers

7 Toggle LV-909

Sometimes the engine mounting might be a bit rough, try to wobble a bit, or throttle back and then 'aim' the engine assembly:

---

Old prototype showing the working principle:

Vertical takeoff:

Rotating engines:

Horizontal flight:

Engine/bearing assembly: (just built from girders and docking ports)

Edited May 15, 2015 by Chris_2

[lolstock]

It looks good, flies even better! You definitely need to use action groups though haha.

[SHiftER2O]

Revolutionary in a sense have some rep ! and lolstock'smright, action groups are the way to go

[Hobbes Novakoff]

How does this work?

- - - Updated - - -

Also, craft file?

[Chris_2]

Update of the start post with fully functioning craft!

Edited May 14, 2015 by Chris_2

[Starwhip]

Oh my god! That is really nice!

[Prof. Endwalker]

Holy moley! Thats really incredible! Great job. Cool to see all of these great 1.0 crafts!

[Goodle...]

Nobody in the history of ksp has ever done that!

[Heckspress]

Dammit. I was spacing out in class today, thinking, "Hmmmm, how could I make stock rotating VTOL engines?" I thought of crazy arrangements of docking ports, landing gear, and how to actually ROTATE the darn thing, and then someone beats me to the punch with some girders and a probe core. I got detention for not paying attention, btw, so ALL THIS WAS IN VAIN!

[Giggleplex777]

Nice!

I made something like this a while back but it used a stock hinge that allowed it to remain one craft for the entire flight. Here's the post:

After a couple hours of experimentation, I've finally made something I've been trying to make for a while: a Tiltwing.

Vertical Takeoff

Horizontal flight

Vertical landing

Please note that this pictures are that of an older prototype. There have been additional changes to the aircraft since.

I'll be away for a while and I don't have time to add descriptions to the crafts ingame, but here they are:

ZF-22

Basically a ZF-21 with missiles and new hinges.

Action groups:

1: Toggle lift fan

2: Toggle main jet

3: Fire long ranged missiles

4: Fire short ranged missiles

0: Toggle crew ladder

How to fly:

Vertical Takeoff:

1. Throttle up to 2 notches above 1/3 throttle.

2. SAS on

3. Parking brakes on.

4. Press 1 and 2 to activate engines.

Transition to level flight:

1. Right click the docking port on the lower part of the "L" and click undock.

2. Throttle up to 100% and press 1 to deactivate the lift fan and the engine should snap in place.

3. If the engine isn't docked to the top docking port yet, pitch up and then pitch down.

Vertical Landing:

1. Throttle down to 0%

2. Right click the docking port attached to the rear engine and click undock. The engine should dock to the lower docking port.

3. Press 1 to activate the lift fan.

4. Carefully land the plane.

Flight Tips:

• Wait until the plane has stopped before dropping the rear engine if you want to takeoff vertically after you have landed horizontally.
  
• Since the rear engine is angled, the plane will move forward while hovering.
  
• The plane has a tendency to yaw right due the fact that there is only on docking port on the left side holding the rear engine.
  
• Pitch up while rolling to prevent it from flipping and stalling.

Download: http://www./download/5ygng1vnipmynvb/ZF-22.craft

ZTW-7

A stock tiltwing that can hold 6 Kerbals.

Action groups:

1: Toggle jet engines/deactivate rockets

2: Toggle rockets/deactivate jets

3: Arm claws

0: Toggle crew ladder

Backspace(Abort): Arm parachute

How to fly:

Vertical Takeoff:

1. Press 3 to arm the claws

2. SAS on

3. Parking brakes on.

4. Press 1 activate engines.

5. Throttle to 70%.

Transition to level flight:

1. After you are at least 30m above the ground, throttle down to 50%.

2. Right click the bottom claw and click release.

3. Allow the wing to snap on by itself. If it doesn't lock after a few seconds, you can pitch up and down until it is attached.

4. After the wings are locked in place, you may throttle to 100%.

Vertical Landing:

Note: You should be at least 50m from the ground when you perform this maneuver.

1. Throttle down to 50%

2. Right click the claw at the top and click release.

3. Press 2 to activate the rocket engines.

4. Once the wing is locked on to the vertical position, press 1 to reactivate the jets and throttle up.

5. Carefully land the aircraft.

Download: http://www./download/c93flpsrp2nirdj/ZTW-7.craft

ZF-31

Probably the first stock variable-sweep wing plane.

Action groups:

1: Wings extended

2: Default wing position

3: Full sweep

4: Toggle engine

0: Toggle crew ladder

Download: http://www./download/5nqef3ne9cbpcpb/ZF-31A.craft

ZF-32

A modified version (actually, it was built from scratch) of the ZF-31 with the ability to sweep its wings forward.

Action groups:

1: Forward sweep

2: Default wing position

3: Full sweep

4: Toggle engine

0: Toggle crew ladder

Download: http://www./download/x5y23xl9h582s34/ZF-32A.craft

For the last two planes, the wings may shift slightly asymmetrically. You can try to press the action group again to reset the struts, but it's probably going to keep doing it anyways.

That's all folks, have a great summer!

Edited May 21, 2015 by Giggleplex777

[Zephyriel]

I wondered if it was possible in KSP to make rotating engines, I'm glad to know it is! Does it cost a lot in terms of weight and space or is it a viable solution if you want to make an efficient spacecraft?

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Love the look and the ingenuity. Love the look so much I stole the wing design for my own SSTO, but I'm having trouble actually getting it to space. Think you could take a look?

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/122477-Help-with-Mk3-SSTO

[Heckspress]

This is still friggin genius

[Kagame]

o_o That little fuel... that much powah...

WITCHCRAFT!

Regardless, well done.