White Dart 1.0. It was about time.

[Rune]

Hello guys! Yes, you read right, I am finally ready to start churning out SSTOs in 1.0. And how better to begin, than with my signature ship in a new incarnation? Feast your eyes on the 2015 model:

While it has considerably increased in weight with respect to the 0.90 version, it retains all of its capabilities, form the awesome handling at all speed and fuel levels (and without hidden canards this time), to the excessive performance (basically, point to space and go, this time with TWR>1 at all times), without sacrificing the gorgeous looks and the minimal part count (with all the science doodads, 60 parts, just like before). And I even kept the mission module concept! This time I haven't built several mission modules, just one with science instruments and VTOL rocket engines, but this pic shows you clearly how to make the crew version, or a blank cargo one, in about 30 seconds and all on your own: just grab the rear, and the bird will split neatly in two, allowing you to replace the mission module and put it back together in, literally, six clicks. It is meant to handle about a couple tons, but the margins are so big that you can probably push that if you want to.

And best of all, this time I can confirm this is Duna-rated out of the box! SHiftER2O performed some invaluable test flying (kudos to him for that!) to prove that you have delta-v to spare to make it to the ground, and then back to orbit without refueling. The VTOL chemical engines are a must, but other than that, his (I'd say considerable) piloting skills were enough to make it at the first try*, even though he flew it with fuel levels optimized for oxygen atmospheres. So yeah, these pics prove the White Dart can handle shuttle service in any rock on the kerbol system, except the usual suspects, Tylo and Eve.

*Ok, first he didn't find the short-of-hidden-under-the-airbrake fuel cell, but when I told him that he nailed the flight.

And now, for the flight instructions! Don't worry, they are dirt simple:

-It follows a standard SSTO profile. I am going to write it up and put it on R-SUV for future reference for all my SSTOs, because I always get asked that question, so look there in a couple days to see what I consider to be the way to SSTO in 1.0. Might be useful for you perhaps, it isn't a trivial thing and in 1.0, where an efficient ascent is key to maximize what a given design can do. In the meantime, they can be summed up as "break Mach ASAP, then go as shallow as you can without burning up"... more or less.

-Make sure to turn on the fuel cell if you don't have the solar panels on and are going to need electricity! It's hidden from sight under the airbrake, deploy it and it'll become obvious.

-...and that's pretty much it. I told you it was simple, didn't I? The rest is figuring out what it can do for your space program. I hope it is something awesome!

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http://www./download/cn0zpd456pa5u3p/White+Dart+1_0.craft

Rune. Note that a single 1.0 ship doesn't make a proper 1.0 SPH section. More on that later

Edited May 20, 2015 by Rune

[Guest]

Another great Rune craft! Congratulation on the ... revival? rebuild?

Anyway, have some rep!

[Dman979]

Nice job on this one! How long have you kept this ship running for?

[Rune]

Another great Rune craft! Congratulation on the ... revival? rebuild?

Anyway, have some rep!

Thanks! I like to call it update, even though at this point it has very, very little to do with the original.

Nice job on this one! How long have you kept this ship running for?

Well, TBH, no idea, let me check... holy boop! 0.21! But I also found my Base Pack's first iteration is from 0.19!

Rune. I feel old now...

[Dman979]

With a September 2012 join date, you should feel old. But I feel old, too. But you're feeling older.

[SHiftER2O]

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go playing more with this

[eddiew]

Heh, thought it was dragging on a long time without a new Rune build This one looks like it might work really well - or possibly better - in nuFAR...

Ack, 1111 posts... now my OCD won't let me comment ever again! D:

[Guest]

Looks like you forgot the "roll" on the control surfaces. But the craft looks cool

[Rune]

Heh, thought it was dragging on a long time without a new Rune build This one looks like it might work really well - or possibly better - in nuFAR...

Ack, 1111 posts... now my OCD won't let me comment ever again! D:

I don't abuse occlusion (or, more properly, the lack of it) on this one, so that may very well be true! Besides, it has margins all the way to Sunday, so if nuFAR is harder in any category, it might make do anyhow. The area ruling doesn't suck either, eyeballing it... no coca-cola shape, but no sharps bumps either. In any case, you will have to tell me

Looks like you forgot the "roll" on the control surfaces. But the craft looks cool

I don't get that. Plenty of roll control in there, even without the reaction wheel torque which would be more than enough anyhow. In fact, all control surfaces are tuned and chosen with great care so you get more than enough control, but not enough that you can stall her, and they all induce stable movements when triggered.

Rune. If it's dumbed down in any way form previous versions, it's in the fact that RAPIERs now draw fuel as I made them draw fuel earlier, otherwise it's still quite deceptively "simple".

[eddiew]

I don't abuse occlusion (or, more properly, the lack of it) on this one, so that may very well be true! Besides, it has margins all the way to Sunday, so if nuFAR is harder in any category, it might make do anyhow. The area ruling doesn't suck either, eyeballing it... no coca-cola shape, but no sharps bumps either. In any case, you will have to tell me

I actually find nuFAR easier than stock, with regards to getting spaceplanes into orbit. The rapier:weight ratio becomes more favourable, and there's less issue with punching through mach 1. Touch wood, nothing I've tried yet

has needed a turbojet. And it really isn't as restrictive as people think. And clipping is totally OP in it what with the voxel modelling

If there's a bit of White Dart that generates wave drag, it'll be the cut off at the back end. The backs of two rapiers is a pretty blunt thing - but I suspect it's powerful enough not to be a problem

[ryan234abc]

Thank god you remade this. I used this on many missions as a personal default transporter for cargo, crew etc. With the new aerodynamics, it flew like a brick with less lift then a skyscraper, and that was something given its amazing capabilities before. Tried it now, it works a treat. Now time to see that Spatha thread eh? Thanks again Rune. Your the best!

[Rune]

Thank god you remade this. I used this on many missions as a personal default transporter for cargo, crew etc. With the new aerodynamics, it flew like a brick with less lift then a skyscraper, and that was something given its amazing capabilities before. Tried it now, it works a treat. Now time to see that Spatha thread eh? Thanks again Rune. Your the best!

Thanks! Reading replies like this really makes my day. Hope you like them, and just so you know... there is still more to come!

I actually find nuFAR easier than stock, with regards to getting spaceplanes into orbit. The rapier:weight ratio becomes more favourable, and there's less issue with punching through mach 1. Touch wood, nothing I've tried yet

If there's a bit of White Dart that generates wave drag, it'll be the cut off at the back end. The backs of two rapiers is a pretty blunt thing - but I suspect it's powerful enough not to be a problem

http://i.imgur.com/IIEKgNe.jpg

has needed a turbojet. And it really isn't as restrictive as people think. And clipping is totally OP in it what with the voxel modelling

TWR of 1.3... at sea level. Yeah, I might have overdone things a bit... When you really get going it is more like 3 But when I found out the sad reality that no <1 TWR plane would ever break the Mach barrier in 1.02, I decided that my entry-level SSTO was going to shatter it. You hardly notice a bump when going over it at 10kms, and I actually just pitch down not to get out of atmo too quick.

- - - Updated - - -

Rune. The price, of course, is that it's payload fraction is abysmal. But who cares, when you only burn cheap fuel, and it's still 60 parts?

[eddiew]

TWR of 1.3... at sea level. Yeah, I might have overdone things a bit... When you really get going it is more like 3

I think my butterfly tops out about 1.3, tbh - somewhere around 0.59 on the runway. The magic of nuFAR That said, I bet it would handle better in stock - required a very active hand on the controls all the way from 10 to 35km - that's just not a thing I can use as a go-to lifter

[Captain Sierra]

Took her out for a test flight. Damn she gets toasty on ascent! Almost incinerated it.

[The14th]

Hi Rune!

A lot has changed since I was last on the forum, but it warms my heart to know that the White Dart series lives on!

[HafCoJoe]

Awesome Rune!! I think I'll download and see what all you did there (see what I did there? HA! GOTEM). ^-^

[Rune]

Took her out for a test flight. Damn she gets toasty on ascent! Almost incinerated it.

She is vigorous for sure! It was the first 1.02 SSTO, and one RAPIER clearly wasn't enough, so I said: what the boop, let's see what this high TWR deal is like!

Awesome Rune!! I think I'll download and see what all you did there (see what I did there? HA! GOTEM). ^-^

Errr... I'm afraid I don't see it actually :oops: Maybe something got lost in translation? I am an ignorant savage from land where english is not the official language after all...

Hi Rune!

A lot has changed since I was last on the forum, but it warms my heart to know that the White Dart series lives on!

Thanks! I plan to be around for a long time yet. Even if my page is forever slightly outdated.

Rune. Yeah, I don't post as often now. I tell myself it's because now I have a quality standard to uphold! (And a job. Actually two.)

[A_name]

I just stumbled upon this post while working on a design that's quite similar. However, mine can't even break the sound barrier with only the 2 rapiers. If I add a couple of turnojets I make it to orbit fine but the extra weight leaves me with only about 600 m/s of deltav.

[SHiftER2O]

I just stumbled upon this post while working on a design that's quite similar. However, mine can't even break the sound barrier with only the 2 rapiers. If I add a couple of turnojets I make it to orbit fine but the extra weight leaves me with only about 600 m/s of deltav.

Care to share this design of yours? Maybe we can take a look at it.

A lot of factors can come to play. Part count, airframe, intake amount, weight and TWR, flight profile, you name it

[A_name]

Care to share this design of yours? Maybe we can take a look at it.

A lot of factors can come to play. Part count, airframe, intake amount, weight and TWR, flight profile, you name it

I'm at work now but will upload later. Thanks!

[SHiftER2O]

I'm at work now but will upload later. Thanks!

Well, you don't need to upload the craft now, just some pictures and we could do a quick eyeball scanning

Edit : Did not see the "I'm at work" part, ignore this message.

Edited June 11, 2015 by SHiftER2O

[Vagani]

Well, you don't need to upload the craft now, just some pictures and we could do a quick eyeball scanning

But he wont have pictures if he's at work... XD

[Rune]

I just stumbled upon this post while working on a design that's quite similar. However, mine can't even break the sound barrier with only the 2 rapiers. If I add a couple of turnojets I make it to orbit fine but the extra weight leaves me with only about 600 m/s of deltav.

Yup, seeing some pics would help me a lot telling you how you can improve your ship.

[SHiftER2O]

Rune, would it be okay to feature this SSTO in the Project Raven page?

[Rune]

Rune, would it be okay to feature this SSTO in the Project Raven page?

Mmmm... I'm curious, how would that go? Because my forum time is extremely limited these days... But yeah, in principle, I don't have anything against other people using my stuff for awesomeness.