Airships - Vastly Important for KSP

[JMBuilder]

Airship parts. These, at least for me, are a must-have. I'll be discussing why airship parts (including electric propellers and lifting cables) are so important for the game.

1. Floating bases

If you want a base that can easily be moved and redeployed no matter the terrain, airships are the key. Airship bases are especially important for Jool. To avoid calamity, time warping or shifting focus to another vessel would put any floating bases in locked geostationary positions. The airship would have to be stationary before you could do these things, though. Special SAS systems could help with this.

2. Mobile high-altitude launch platforms

Carry a rocket up to the edge of the atmosphere to launch to orbit. This way, rockets could be a bit smaller, and you could save money on large rocket stages.

3. Slow but easy cargo transportation

Move bulky cargo without the need for aerodynamic cargo bays. You don't even need to land. Just grab and go. It may take longer, but it's much simpler and doesn't use any precious fuel or oxidizer.

4. Construction

Putting together a tall structure or rocket and don't have the ground equipment to get the pieces high enough? Some precision flying with an airship can get the job done.

5. Science!

Study the atmospheres of planets without the need for fuel-guzzling spaceplanes. Collect surface samples from normally inaccessible areas.

Yes, I'm aware that there are airship mods, but I've always preferred stock parts. The addition of stock airship parts would be the best thing that ever happened in KSP for me.

[Motokid600]

I'm all for it, but a form of KAS would have to come beforehand or along with it. Either way in a list of mods squad should make stock. Airships is pretty low on that list. Next mod that needs to be incorporated imo is Distant Objects Enhancement along with a new skybox that doesn't look like preschool wallpaper. Does more for the game then anything else.

[WinkAllKerb'']

... in whenever ... if whenever ... if whatever ... if no if ... etc. ,'') (bis)

[Whirligig Girl]

Definitely. Some basic KAS functionality would be nice but I can still totally imagine an Airship with a long girder and a klaw picking things up.

[JMBuilder]

... in whenever ... if whenever ... if whatever ... if no if ... etc. ' date=''')[/size'] (bis)

What?

[tater]

I'd not call them even slightly important, and certainly no where near "vastly" important. When all the actually needed features are added, then this would be down the list someplace on new things to possibly add.

[JMBuilder]

I'd not call them even slightly important, and certainly no where near "vastly" important. When all the actually needed features are added, then this would be down the list someplace on new things to possibly add.

They may not be all that important to you, but they sure are to me. I'd much rather have a large airship than a ground base or rover.

[WinkAllKerb'']

(just sayin' that later on i'm also one that really enjoy to see boats, submarines, and airships + their related content things to be stock even if simplistic, also i say later on, because i think it's not the currents prios at all for now, even if it's 101.1% tip top mega cool to have more content linked to water and air but a "flow" modelisation will then be brought back into the table too & etc. & etc.)

[Angeltxilon]

The airship technology has been proposed many times as a phase in many projects of rockets.

Why not in KSP?

[Wjolcz]

Airships seem to be even worse idea than rovers in KSP (though I look forward to 1.1 and the wheel module revamp). I see literally zero uses for it. I'd rather have an electric propeller part instead of gas-filled balloons.

Ok, maybe low-density atmosphere testing like NASA did with their Mars Saucer, but otherwise you don't want to spend hours flying just to explore some other place and go back.

[Captain Sierra]

I cant say I see this as necessary in the stock game. I think the science system needs a SERIOUS overhaul before we look into more things to use on other planets. Science needs to be more than "land, run the action group all your instruments are bound to, take off". When that happens, I'd love to see this.

[Columbia]

I'd love the airship idea, but I think it should retain in mods instead.

[tater]

They may not be all that important to you, but they sure are to me. I'd much rather have a large airship than a ground base or rover.

Your OP says "vastly important." You need to demonstrate that this is the case. I'd not have bothered posting if the title was "Airships---a cool/fun addition to KSP" but "vastly important" requires some demonstration that this is the case. The world's 3 real manned space programs have managed so far with no airships whatsoever.

[WinkAllKerb'']

More different way to travels, more orginal design combination and arrangement.

Simply, wich tend to be interesting gameplay wise in KSP universe, whenever squad can spend time on thoose aspects & even if does not stick the real space programs choices.

imho regarding gameplay (airship, sub, boat) has lot of potentialS.

[JMBuilder]

I can barely read that...

Edited August 15, 2015 by JMBuilder

[Wjolcz]

More different way to travels' date=' more orginal design combination and arrangement.

Simply, wich tend to be interesting gameplay wise in KSP universe, whenever squad can spend time on thoose aspects & even if does not stick the real space programs choices.

imho regarding gameplay (airship, sub, boat) has lot of potentialS.[/color']

Give me examples of so called "potentialS".

And a different colour.

[Sampa]

I don't see the need for a stock version for airships. Like others have stated, you need to prove why they are needed. All i've seen are cool ideas.

[JMBuilder]

I don't see the need for a stock version for airships. Like others have stated, you need to prove why they are needed. All i've seen are cool ideas.

Here's a big thing: Fun. Airships would be fun. KSP is a game, and games are meant to be fun. KSP is fun, but could be even more fun with airships.

[WinkAllKerb'']

mostly: why don't you still play the tag game when the bell ring. ? because you watch the children playing it.

I can't do anithing for people who forgot about their childhood, sorry ... anyway it's not like there is any kind of hurry for now, but later on, definetely keep it might be a "strong value-added" for the game.

Edited August 16, 2015 by WinkAllKerb''
same goes for boat and sub things.

[Wjolcz]

I really hope SQUAD doesn't look at this thread and think it's a good idea.

[KSK]

I really hope SQUAD doesn't look at this thread and think it's a good idea.

I wouldn't go that far. If someone at Squad has the spare time and inclination to add airships to the stock game then why not? They'd be a bit like rovers, not terribly useful for most things but fun to mess around with. I agree with tater though - I don't see them as being vastly important to the current game.

[Starwhip]

The one portion of the idea that is a good one is electric props. I'd love them, and there have been others who have expressed interest in them.

As for airship parts (big floaty balloon things), those would only be useful in rather specific and rare cases.

[nothingSpecial]

There is a reason to add airships to stock KSP. This reason called Eve. Still, it is not a top priority, I suppose.

[WinkAllKerb'']

; ) anyway currently space and atmospheric environnements already had and continue to have a lot of love from squad. What need lot of love from them also is water biome and vehicules possibilities probably more prio than airship at first imho (procedural water biome / sub biome anyone xDr ?!? hehe).

wich include related science (eventually new device(s)), related contracts etc.

To me, same, probably not actually a top prio for airship, but later on ,a basic and simplified implementation (?i!i¿), when & if possible will definetly be a ++ ++ ++.

(and as always could also be an invitation to get more with the saids specialized existing mods).

Edited August 17, 2015 by WinkAllKerb''

[Columbia]

Give me examples of so called "potentialS".

And a different colour.

Your OP says "vastly important." You need to demonstrate that this is the case. I'd not have bothered posting if the title was "Airships---a cool/fun addition to KSP" but "vastly important" requires some demonstration that this is the case. The world's 3 real manned space programs have managed so far with no airships whatsoever.

The OP also says:

1. Floating bases

If you want a base that can easily be moved and redeployed no matter the terrain, airships are the key. Airship bases are especially important for Jool. To avoid calamity, time warping or shifting focus to another vessel would put any floating bases in locked geostationary positions. The airship would have to be stationary before you could do these things, though. Special SAS systems could help with this.

2. Mobile high-altitude launch platforms

Carry a rocket up to the edge of the atmosphere to launch to orbit. This way, rockets could be a bit smaller, and you could save money on large rocket stages.

3. Slow but easy cargo transportation

Move bulky cargo without the need for aerodynamic cargo bays. You don't even need to land. Just grab and go. It may take longer, but it's much simpler and doesn't use any precious fuel or oxidizer.

4. Construction

Putting together a tall structure or rocket and don't have the ground equipment to get the pieces high enough? Some precision flying with an airship can get the job done.

5. Science!

Study the atmospheres of planets without the need for fuel-guzzling spaceplanes. Collect surface samples from normally inaccessible areas.

Yes, I'm aware that there are airship mods, but I've always preferred stock parts. The addition of stock airship parts would be the best thing that ever happened in KSP for me.

And besides, airships could also be potentially helpful in space probes, such as acting as airbags, and for planet exploration.