The better intake?

[Branjoman]

Hello, I am trying to build a Mk 2 Cargo Space-plane, but am not sure what intake is better at high altitudes and/or higher speeds - the shock cone or the ram. My craft has 4 rapiers and currently 2 shock cones and 2 ram intakes. Can anyone shed light on the matter?

Edited May 30, 2015 by Branjoman

[Dman979]

I would try replacing the shock cones with the rams. Test that. Then replace all the Rams with the Cones. Test that. It should work. See which one suits your design better.

[Ferdoni]

The RAM has 1.0 intake over an surface of 0.1 and the Shock Cone 0.9 over a surface of 0.09. So they are equal but the RAM has an scale advantage

[Teilnehmer]

What about the drag they produce?

[Ferdoni]

What about the drag they produce?

Both 0.3. But that means that the Ram has more intake per drag, 1 per 0.3 drag and the Shock Cone 0.9 per 0.3 drag.

[Mastikator]

The RAM has 1.0 intake over an surface of 0.1 and the Shock Cone 0.9 over a surface of 0.09. So they are equal but the RAM has an scale advantage

The RAM also has 200 degrees heat resistance advantage. So you can go faster.

[Ferdoni]

Plus the RAM is only 10 kilo while the SC is a baffling 25 kilo.

Conclusion, the difference is minimal but the RAM is the better intake

[Mastikator]

It's kinda weird how the SC is later on the tech tree, it offers no benefit. It's not even cheaper.

[Ferdoni]

It's kinda weird how the SC is later on the tech tree, it offers no benefit. It's not even cheaper.

Now saying it... very odd indeed

[n0xiety]

Actually the fact that SC has more mass and less surface area means it heats much slower and conducts more to other parts it is connected to then the Ram. I tested this and when going fast the first to explode on my plane was ram intakes. But while using the SC the first to explode was the advanced nosecone which took a while. I must say the Ram is not for long fiery flights the 200 degree resistance doesn't help much. I actually use engine pre coolers half clipped under the craft. They never explode and give good enough intake for the rapiers. 2 of them gives enough close performance to ram + you get to stash more fuel. If you plan to exit the atmosphere really quick always use the ram tho.

Edited May 29, 2015 by n0xiety

[A_name]

Relevant thread.

[TheBrisbyMouse]

Personally, I say screw those two. What I do is have RAPIER>Precooler>Preecooler>Pointy Fairing. Aerodynamic, heat resistant, and gives you all the air you need.

[A_name]

Personally, I say screw those two. What I do is have RAPIER>Precooler>Preecooler>Pointy Fairing. Aerodynamic, heat resistant, and gives you all the air you need.

Why fairing and not a nose cone? Do you just close it on itself?

[Master Tao]

Both 0.3. But that means that the Ram has more intake per drag, 1 per 0.3 drag and the Shock Cone 0.9 per 0.3 drag.

Ignore the drag coefficient in the part configs – the game does since 1.0. There are new values that affect the shape-based drag cubes. If you want to see how they compare, you'll need to look at the actual drag values using the Aero debug menu.

[TheBrisbyMouse]

Why fairing and not a nose cone? Do you just close it on itself?

Nosecones melt at 2000 degrees, fairings melt at 2400. Yes, I drag it out as far as one tapered section can go and close it.

[A_name]

Nosecones melt at 2000 degrees, fairings melt at 2400. Yes, I drag it out as far as one tapered section can go and close it.

Nice thinking outside the box! I'll try this.