Kerbin Circumnavigation 1.0.4/1.0.5 - Aviator Challenge Continuation

[Noname117]

I'm wondering if several of us should agree to attempt a circumnavigation on purely the new tiny jets as soon as 1.1 comes out?

[Death Engineering]

I'm wondering if several of us should agree to attempt a circumnavigation on purely the new tiny jets as soon as 1.1 comes out?

Definitely! Does it get more Kerbal than this?

[Sharkman Briton]

Username checks out.

[Xannari Ferrows]

Definitely! Does it get more Kerbal than this?

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

I kinda want to see this done now, but I'd have to permit CFG editing to do it. Definitely looks safe.

[Alphasus]

Is mechjeb allowed?

[Xannari Ferrows]

Is mechjeb allowed?

Affirmative

[Alphasus]

Is the mechjeb part allowed on my craft?

[Xannari Ferrows]

Since that is the only way to get the modules on, only the AR202, not the pod.

[Alphasus]

Ok, thanks.

[GraviTykillz]

Lordy Lordy Look who's under 40 !

One Love

Halfway

Final Time! (and i mean it! Im done!)

Had to give the landing a couple of attempts as i wanted a runway landing:cool:

Stock except for Kerb Paint and Chatter.

But thats it..im done:huh: Final Time 39:52

On to other challenges, wonder how many times i could go round..and I am looking forward to doing a circumnavigation with the new jets comming out. or maybe a drive around minmus

Edited August 25, 2015 by GraviTykillz

[Xannari Ferrows]

Lordy Lordy Look who's under 40 !

One Love

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/432697227732135729/A770AB159166CD880F071897DF33D2B888551248/

Halfway

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/432697227732136920/483E4FE1EA777862A0029532DF2A903F6299A277/

Final Time! (and i mean it! Im done!)

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/432697227732137905/90377305ABB94625949AC534BB3B730A91C878BD/

Had to give the landing a couple of attempts as i wanted a runway landing:cool:

Stock except for Kerb Paint and Chatter.

But thats it..im done:huh: Final Time 39:52

On to other challenges, wonder how many times i could go round..and I am looking forward to doing a circumnavigation with the new jets comming out. or maybe a drive around minmus

Join the club! 40 is apparently something special...

This looks like a silly design I would build, and I think I actually have before. It's weird how that works.

[zolotiyeruki]

I see I'm not the *slowest* circumnavigation, but it appears I'm close. There's probably enough fuel in there to make a second orbit, but I only discovered the challenge after completing this run. Yeah, I coulda made it more efficient and/or with less wing, but I wanted to use basic jet engines and go for a Rutan Voyager-style layout. It's a bit light on the TWR--I could barely get it above 8000m.

Here it is at the end, with 30% fuel remaining:

Craft file

I also built this, which made the trip in about 1h10m, but I lost the screenshot, so it doesn't count. It also had well over 30% fuel left after one cirumnavigation.

Craft file

While I'm here, did anyone else have issues with MechJeb's Spaceplane Guidance up in the upper atmosphere? It seems like I can't get it to hold an altitude once I go above 18000m--it just wants to pitch the nose straight up.

[Noname117]

Even with my basic jet circumnavigation times being broken quite massively now, I can still take solace in the fact that I still have the lowest in-flight circumnavigation.

[Joshwoo70]

I see I'm not the *slowest* circumnavigation, but it appears I'm close. There's probably enough fuel in there to make a second orbit, but I only discovered the challenge after completing this run. Yeah, I coulda made it more efficient and/or with less wing, but I wanted to use basic jet engines and go for a Rutan Voyager-style layout. It's a bit light on the TWR--I could barely get it above 8000m.

http://zolotiyeruki.com/ksp/2015-08-25_00001.jpg

Here it is at the end, with 30% fuel remaining:

http://zolotiyeruki.com/ksp/voyager_complete.png

Craft file

I also built this, which made the trip in about 1h10m, but I lost the screenshot, so it doesn't count. It also had well over 30% fuel left after one cirumnavigation.

http://zolotiyeruki.com/ksp/2015-08-25_00003.jpg

Craft file

While I'm here, did anyone else have issues with MechJeb's Spaceplane Guidance up in the upper atmosphere? It seems like I can't get it to hold an altitude once I go above 18000m--it just wants to pitch the nose straight up.

using your craft and pilot assistant.. i can go up to 1000 m/s and complete circumnaviagation quickly

[MunGazer]

While I'm here, did anyone else have issues with MechJeb's Spaceplane Guidance up in the upper atmosphere? It seems like I can't get it to hold an altitude once I go above 18000m--it just wants to pitch the nose straight up.

I haven't used mechjeb at all yet for atmospheric autopilot, learning kOS right now but.. about your nose pitching up, at high altitudes and speeds, CoM/CoL issues can be more severe, that is, if your center of lift is too close to or in front of your center of mass, even fly by wire may not be able to shove the feathery front end back down despite its best efforts. Does your little pitch control indicator show that it is trying to fight against the nose coming up? If so, then the aforementioned thing is likely your problem. If not, then I have no clue what the problem would be. Once your AoA hits a certain point, and that hammerhead starts catching all that air, game over.

Edited August 26, 2015 by MunGazer

[Nefrums]

Here is my failed attempt at the speed record. 39:22

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Apparently 1740 m/s is not enough

[Noname117]

I haven't used mechjeb at all yet for atmospheric autopilot, learning kOS right now but.. about your nose pitching up, at high altitudes and speeds, CoM/CoL issues can be more severe, that is, if your center of lift is too close to or in front of your center of mass, even fly by wire may not be able to shove the feathery front end back down despite its best efforts. Does your little pitch control indicator show that it is trying to fight against the nose coming up? If so, then the aforementioned thing is likely your problem. If not, then I have no clue what the problem would be. Once your AoA hits a certain point, and that hammerhead starts catching all that air, game over.

https://youtu.be/dsx2vdn7gpY

Thank you for the answer, but I don't recall ever saying anything close to that. I haven't touched mechjeb in years! Are you sure you attributed that quote to the right person?

[MunGazer]

Thank you for the answer, but I don't recall ever saying anything close to that. I haven't touched mechjeb in years! Are you sure you attributed that quote to the right person?

Really sorry about that man, I think I corrected it. Typing all this on my mobile phone; I was cutting and pasting trying to get the quote trimmed down and grabbed your name tag instead lol. Apologies.

[Xannari Ferrows]

Here is my failed attempt at the speed record. 39:22

http://imgur.com/a/xvx7q

Apparently 1740 m/s is not enough

I really would've preferred an F3 window at the end, but everyone gets a 1 time pass.

6 RAPIERs... Someone please explain this for me. It seems like overkill, but overkill is good in most situations. Why do I feel conflicted?

Please take this while I ponder my life choices.

http://www.datainterlock.com/Kerbal/circumnavigator%20resized%20velocity.png

[ExaltedDuck]

Here is my failed attempt at the speed record. 39:22

http://imgur.com/a/xvx7q

Apparently 1740 m/s is not enough

1740 is plenty. My now-2nd-place plane (Pequod, on page 34 with a 38:44) was cruising around 1733-1735, IIRC. It would hit as high as 1750 on its way down, but that was only for about half a minute at the end. With a properly steep climb (doubtless with careful throttle control) and a late descent (more of a controlled crash, really), I have no doubt that your craft can claim the record.

Edited August 27, 2015 by ExaltedDuck

[Castille7]

You go first

Testing new plane :

http://i.imgur.com/HAvOKXw.png

Nice craft design!

[nicky4096]

nefrums, if you steal my spot.....

[GDJ]

Here is my failed attempt at the speed record. 39:22

http://imgur.com/a/xvx7q

Apparently 1740 m/s is not enough

Bull-Poopy. You're only one second faster than me and I was doing 1722 m/s.

It's all about the take-off's and landings. THOSE you need to get faster and smoother on. Once you're in the air speed and altitude only count for 10% of your time.

I MAY have to come back.....

Edited August 27, 2015 by GDJ

[zolotiyeruki]

I haven't used mechjeb at all yet for atmospheric autopilot, learning kOS right now but.. about your nose pitching up, at high altitudes and speeds, CoM/CoL issues can be more severe, that is, if your center of lift is too close to or in front of your center of mass, even fly by wire may not be able to shove the feathery front end back down despite its best efforts. Does your little pitch control indicator show that it is trying to fight against the nose coming up? If so, then the aforementioned thing is likely your problem. If not, then I have no clue what the problem would be. Once your AoA hits a certain point, and that hammerhead starts catching all that air, game over.

CoL/CoM wasn't the issue, it was MechJeb being useless I had no problems bringing the nose back to prograde after MJ would mess things up.

using your craft and pilot assistant.. i can go up to 1000 m/s and complete circumnaviagation quickly

Which craft? The lawn dart or the one with big wings?

[MunGazer]

Ok roger that z about mj.

Meanwhile, I have a question about kOS. I've been working on a fully automated circumnav just for the fun (not going to be an entry, may share it though if I get it finished). My coding methods are a bit crude and my math isn't good enough to fully implement my own pid loops, but I've got most of the trip down.

I've automated the first part of the descent just fine, but I'm having trouble with locking the steering to a specific lat lng position on the approach to the runway. The plan was to have the plane fly there, then to the runway, the result being good alignment.

However, although the aircraft aligns itself with that geoposition I defined, it rolls 90 degrees to the left and tries to stay aligned with it on it's side. Of course, that's bad and I want it to simply pitch down toward that point and keep the wings level such as it does with the heading function. Any ideas what the problem could be?