What, actually, is a flyby for the purposes of tourist contracts?

[bigcalm]

What, actually, is a flyby for the purposes of tourist contracts?

I've tried lots of things, sometimes I seem to get it randomly, sometimes I don't get it all!

What I've tried:

Intersect, then orbit, then leave: Doesn't constitute a "flyby" (tourist contracts will get the "orbit" and/or "suborbit" but not "flyby")

Intersect at low periapsis, don't go into orbit, leave and go home: Doesn't consitute a "flyby"

Intersect (so get SOI changes) without a periapsis at all, leave and go home: Doesn't consitute a "flyby"

I really don't understand these tourist flyby contracts! Do I need focus to be on the ship as it crosses a certain point?

Edited May 19, 2015 by bigcalm
answered

[Jonboy]

You should be able to focus on the ship at any point in the target body's SOI and return the tourists home. That would constitute a flyby as far as the game is concerned. Of that doesn't work, you're observing some weird behavior.

[bigcalm]

I'm thinking I need to focus on the ship at a particular point - I'm ducking in and out sure, but trying to manage other ships at the same time means it's fiddly to focus concentration on a particular "flyby". Trying again with no burns at all during SOI!

[bigcalm]

It looks like you need to have focus on the ship as it changes sphere of influence to the target body - or no completion.

[Streetwind]

Good to know!

Another reason to always play with Kerbal Alarm Clock