Plane parts: Do you use them and what for?

[Bloody_looser]

Several last patches introduced a ton of plane parts, 1.1 will bring even more. If it goes this way we'll soon have more plane parts than rocket ones.

So, I have several questions: do you use them and how? Do we actually need that much and even more?

I tried to represent all possible options for usage of plane parts in the poll. Fell free to comment and discuss. But try to keep it civil.

Note: Using LF only tanks for nukes only falls into the first category.

Edited August 22, 2015 by Bloody_looser

[Wjolcz]

I use them for... planes...?

[Kuu Lightwing]

And spaceplanes! And I need more and even bigger spaceplane parts!

[gmiddlemass]

Seems like a bit of a pointless poll to be honest but each to their own.

I use them for planes... Both atmospheric and space versions

[Hagen von Tronje]

I use them constantly. Lately, more than rockets - and rovers MUCH more than either.

I use them for plane things, as you might expect. Sometimes that's just making and flying a plane for pure pleasure, sometimes it's to do something useful. Planes are absolutely the easiest method of getting around the surface of any body that can support them if you can make one that operates there and get it there, and they're a lot of fun to fly as well.

There's what, three stock jet engines? Zero stock props or rotors. Conspicuous gaps in parts, like the lack of any Mk2 cone, lack of landing lights on most gear and none integrated into cockpits nor any separate lights for aircraft, no ladder really made for aircraft or cockpits with integrated ladder (c'mon, of course kerbals would use a rolled up rope ladder to get out of a spaceplane, and for that matter I have to imagine so would NASA rather than use a telescoping ladder made for lunar landers), etc etc. Very few options for truly large wing structures that won't turn flappy.

Needless to say I'd be more than happy with tons of new stock airplane and spaceplane parts!

[qromodynmc]

If there was no plane parts, I'd probably stopped playing ksp loong time ago..

Other than that, I love making atmospheric planes and sstos, they bring more fun to going orbit and coming back, you have to pilot your craft all day long, not like rockets. This is just my opinion.

[_stilgar_]

I use them for my VTOLs and as a structural elements for my long range ship modules.

[Mikki]

I build SSTO`s occasionaly, i am waiting for 2.5 m Stock Turboramjet/ R.A.P.I.E.R.s, until then Nertea`s Mk4 Parts fill the gap for me.

[Bloody_looser]

And spaceplanes! And I need more and even bigger spaceplane parts!

I build SSTO`s occasionaly, i am waiting for 2.5 m Stock Turboramjet/ R.A.P.I.E.R.s, until then Nertea`s Mk4 Parts fill the gap for me.

Pretty much this. Announced big turbofans and small jets won't contribute to space stuff in any way.

[Goddess Bhavani]

Finned or winged payloads require larger wing area on the first stage of a rocket to maintain stability - wings in the right places pretty much makes the design unflippable no matter how unbalanced the stack looks.

The new plane wing parts definitely look very nice when applied to rockets, like early generation surface to air missiles, and never-flown winged booster concepts.

[Feradose]

I use planes way more than rockets. I do atmospheric flights, SSTOs to everywhere, multistage planes, vtol belly landers with wings for no-air bodies. Rockets are only for when I need to do something Fast and Furiously like putting a 10m diameter full station in orbit on a single flight.

All I need are electric props (or resistance heated jets) and lighter than air vehicles.

I do not know which option from the poll suits me. I do not inspect cacti in misery, but I soar through the skies of all atmospheric bodies. Jool included.

[Pecan]

While most of the interest of KSP for me is in space, I think we have to applaud Squad here, for all the additions they've made to 'plane construction.

Lots of people have pushed for more and better atmospheric flight over the years and Squad has responded. If the demand hadn't been there they would have concentrated on space.

For aircraft there's a pretty clear selection of Mks 1, 2 and 3.

We have had OMS engines and all the other extras for rockets as well so I do see the 'plane parts as extras rather than replacements.

Don't forget you can delete parts you never use if they cause you any problems.

[EladDv]

i want more options...

[Bloody_looser]

I do not know which option from the poll suits me. I do not inspect cacti in misery, but I soar through the skies of all atmospheric bodies. Jool included.

The fourth one, I think.

i want more options...

Such as?

[EladDv]

all of the above- because i use them for planes a lot but also for space ships and SSTOs and motherships

[hazard-ish]

I use SSTOs way more than conventional rockets for almost all purposes so wing parts make up the majority of most of my ships part counts. I'm not a fan of the 'Big S' ones though, I tend to stay away from those.

[Sharpy]

I don't build many planes but I frequently use airplane parts for structural elements of lightweight craft. Tail cones or structural intakes instead of beams, wings instead of structural plates, the cockpits where impact resistance is important... and oh, MK3 parts for everything heavyweight. I hardly ever use the Kerbodyne parts as MK3 parts provide about the same dry:weight ratio at vastly superior durability. These large tanks are very fragile. OTOH I'd been "decoupling" unwanted engines by backing the craft into an MK3-based lifter hard enough to break these engines.

Plus they look cool.

Oh, and most of my space stations are MK2-based. MK2 passenger module is only 2 tons for 4 kerbals. I don't remember when I used the hitchiker can last time.

[GoSlash27]

I use plane parts for my SSTOs. I occasionally use plane parts on my rockets for stabilization. I use plane parts for planes. I occasionally use plane parts for other purposes.

Basically, I use plane parts wherever they prove useful. I have no problem with having more of them made available to me.

Best,

-Slashy

[theend3r]

I build SSTO`s occasionaly, i am waiting for 2.5 m Stock Turboramjet/ R.A.P.I.E.R.s, until then Nertea`s Mk4 Parts fill the gap for me.

TweakScale?

[Pixel of Life]

I used to build a ton of planes. Then the new SAS happened. FAR just can't handle it, even with Pilot Assistant installed. Wobble-wobble-kaboom. Tweaking the PID controller values doesn't seem to help.

[GoSlash27]

Seems like a bit of a pointless poll to be honest but each to their own.

I use them for planes... Both atmospheric and space versions

gmiddlemass,

It's not pointless. It's a push poll.

Best,

-Slashy

[RainDreamer]

Hm...what if I use plane parts but treat it like a rocket? Like staging and stuff. It is not the most efficient way to go to orbit, but it can look pretty cool having my small orbiter stage off a larger plane and launch up to orbit, Pegasus style.

[Fiddlestyx]

Option 6 - I use all the parts on ALL THE THINGS.

[Just Jim]

Hmmmmm.... what don't I use them on???

[Spartwo]

I almost use plane parts more in rockets than rocket parts.

Definitely if done by splitting my ships into 2 piles of rocket and aircraft parts counting them.