Rate my first (successful) aircraft: The Mk.II Rocket Jet

[Agent Chieftain]

I purchased the game just a few hours ago, and was looking for opinions on my first successful design.

Introducing: The Mk.II Rocket Jet!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529559937

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529559971

Has a takeoff speed of about 50m/s and can reach said speed in just under 6 seconds if starting at full throttle. Can reach a max airspeed of 1230m/s (approximately mach 2.6) before exploding.

I did a test trip to the island airport and back. Below details the journey.

First we begin with the takeoff!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560021

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560056

Then a view of the ocean from the cockpit!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560100

Coming in for the first landing...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560130

Landing successful!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560172

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560225

Leaving the island...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560261

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560302

The Mk.II, on it's way home!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560302

Coming in for the final landing...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560376

Almost there!...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560409

Whoops... Well, at least we survived. I'll just plant this here... And don't ask how I botched that landing at the last minute. I have no idea.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560442

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560471

Anyway, Redo! Redid did the circuit again for a successful end landing.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560509

Coming in, aaaaannd...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560548

Nailed It!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560585

Now to taxi down the runway and park it back at base.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560634

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560671

And thus ends the Mk.II Rocket Jet's maiden voyage(s)

[eorin]

It s a good looking plane For being Your first one.

[Vanamonde]

Handles okay with those non-moving tail planes?

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

Let me add the first picture for you:

[TheLeganderyHero]

I purchased the game just a few hours ago, and was looking for opinions on my first successful design.

Introducing: The Mk.II Rocket Jet!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529559937

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529559971

Has a takeoff speed of about 50m/s and can reach said speed in just under 6 seconds if starting at full throttle. Can reach a max airspeed of 1230m/s (approximately mach 2.6) before exploding.

I did a test trip to the island airport and back. Below details the journey.

First we begin with the takeoff!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560021

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560056

Then a view of the ocean from the cockpit!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560100

Coming in for the first landing...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560130

Landing successful!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560172

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560225

Leaving the island...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560261

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560302

The Mk.II, on it's way home!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560302

Coming in for the final landing...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560376

Almost there!...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560409

Whoops... Well, at least we survived. I'll just plant this here... And don't ask how I botched that landing at the last minute. I have no idea.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560442

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560471

Anyway, Redo! Redid did the circuit again for a successful end landing.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560509

Coming in, aaaaannd...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560548

Nailed It!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560585

Now to taxi down the runway and park it back at base.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560634

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=529560671

And thus ends the Mk.II Rocket Jet's maiden voyage(s)

It's pretty good starting plane, but the engine your using on that craft (primarily) only uses liquidfuel and oxygen to ignite, and your using a fuel tank that has both liquid fuel and oxidizer, the second not being used. This can affect balance and weight mid flight, you can either change out the tank for a liquid fuel one (Think it's called Jet fuel tank, or something like that) or you can use right click the tank in the editor and remove the oxidizer by sliding the green bar. If you actually want to use it in atmo, then you can set an action group (1-0) and simply change thrust mode. Also you should angle your wheels at 90 degrees, they tend to become very unstable on the runway like that.

[RocketBlam]

It's a fine looking aircraft.

Just a bit of advice for the future, though, which you will figure out on your own if your not careful: angling landing gear like that usually results in instability when on the ground, and veering off into weeds, structures, other Kerbals, etc. You generally want the gear to be as straight as possible (which results in its own challenges).

[Rath]

It's a fine looking aircraft.

Just a bit of advice for the future, though, which you will figure out on your own if your not careful: angling landing gear like that usually results in instability when on the ground, and veering off into weeds, structures, other Kerbals, etc. You generally want the gear to be as straight as possible (which results in its own challenges).

like having a really small gear base. On my K-27 rocket interceptor I solved this by landing upon a pair of single wheels qmg having landing legs to act a stabilizers on the side of the wings when it tilted a low speed.

[Monsterlunch]

Nice Design!

[Agent Chieftain]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I took them and used them to update my design into: The Mk.III Rocket Jet!

With this update, it now has the fuel to make it all the way to the other continent with a little bit to spare. With the extra weight, she's a little easier to handle at high speeds too, and can hold a straight and stable flight path without SAS using only minimal trim inputs. However, it still retains the ability for extremely swift acrobatic maneuvers.

[Castille7]

Off to a great start!

[otblock]

Pretty good. Just a tip, but the engine you are using, the RAPIER, is an SSTO engine. So either use it as an SSTO, or replace the liquid fuel with jet fuel tanks to increase efficiency. Still a great craft though.