The tower buzz challenge

[Hary R]

Hi all,

Welcome to the tower buzz challenge.

We all like to fly as close as possible to the spaceplane hangar as relatively high speed, I want you to do it in a different way. In fact, I've created a plane that have the ridiculous ability to make a u-turn around the tower and land back on the runway. Here is the challenge, you have to create a plane that can do the same.

- take off heading 90°

- turn at the SPH tower (the closer, the better)

- land on the runway heading 270° (try to stop before the end of it but that is not mandatory). 

It's time based and the reference time is the one on the demo video (37s), timer began at soon as your engine is started and end when your plane stopped. mod are allowed.

The video was mad without FAR so if you use FAR let us know.

Rules:

- All engine allowed

- no landing with chute (drag chute allowed)

- plane only, your craft must have wings and take off horizontal (vertical landing is allowed)

- you must turn around the SPH tower (as close as possible)

- mods are allowed (I don't think there are mod that will make you go faster or turn faster around the tower but if there is, i'm curious to see)

- timer began at soon as your engine is started and end when your plane stopped (in game time) addition: try to have an install that have ingame time and real time are the same or at least as close a possible.

- FAR and stock aero are different they have a different leaderbord, you have to tel us if you did it on stock or with FAR

final note, I want a video to validate your time.( and i want to see you do the same).

here is the demo

Stock aero rank

1- Nefrums (17s)

2-Hary R (19s)

3-swjr-swis (24s)

4-FungusForge (24s) (validated)

 

 

...

FAR Rank

1- Darren9 (16s) 

2-

3-

A little honorable mention for michal.don how have make the run in 19s but yous guys tel me if you think he really buzz the tower or not.

ps : yes, that plane generate a lot of lift ( to a ridiculous point it still fly a 20m/s).

Edited January 23, 2016 by Hary R
clarifying the rules

[zolotiyeruki]

Interesting!  A couple questions:

1)mods allowed?
2) any restrictions on what parts can/cannot/must be used? A couple of fleas, a carefully aimed Mk1 pod, and a parachute could conceivably give you a *very* fast time, but would probably not be in keeping with the challenge.
3) is the leaderboard based purely on time?

This is your challenge, but you may want to clarify the intent with rules like:
1) only air-breathing engines
2) no parachutes
3) only stock parts + informational mods

[Hary R]

1- all engine allowed including modded part (i'm not sur if there is a plugin mod that allow a plane to turn extremly fastly )

2- you can use drag chute but no landing with chute (we have to make it fair)

3-  yes it's time based, the faster, the better.... and some cookie for those who get as close as possible to the SPH tower.

 

There, i've updated the OP to make the rules clear.

Edited January 14, 2016 by Hary R

[Nefrums]

I gave this a try stock.  got 23s.

 

 

Edited January 14, 2016 by Nefrums

[Hary R]

Wow! That will be hard to match, nice. and that was close to the tower. time validated 23s

edit, it could have been faster if you didn't miss the break botton.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Hary R

[Nefrums]

Yes it is a bit hard to fly with wasd and in the middle of the turn hit "x" to kill the engine and then hit the brakes and land without anything braking.

To be able to turn fast you just need to have high Lift/mass ratio.  Jeb liked that 24 G turn 

 

Edited January 15, 2016 by Nefrums

[Hary R]

Indeed.

I've tried a similar design to yours and was back on the runway after 15 s of flight, unfortunately i crashed. i'll try some more to night, i'm sure it can be done within 20 s

edit: just noticed that my original plane made the run in only 37 s but due to scatterer mod, my game was very slow.

maybe I should try that plane again with a less modded install.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Hary R

[FungusForge]

I'm gonna have to rebuild my Icarus fighter prototype. I ended up scrapping it because it was so maneuverable unstable that the BDA AI couldn't actually fly it. That, and it'd spend the better part of its flight almost at a stand still. Chances are I'll either drop onto the SPH roof or I'll smash into the tower.

E: I have a submission!

Now, I am aware the video is 58 seconds long, but this is because my install is nearly at half speed. If you watch the mission clock I stop at 24-26 seconds.

So if we are going by system time I'll have to retry after pruning the ever-loving Keezus out my install and trying again. If this is going by the in-game Mission Time then I think I get runner-up for stock aero.

Edited January 15, 2016 by FungusForge

[Hary R]

I think that to make it fair, speed (of the game) should be the same for everyone, it become easier when the game is slow. 

I count on the mission (in game time) so for this time i will put you on the leader bord  as temporary n°2, if you can have a run where ingame and real time tic at the same rate, i will validate your time. I see 24s from start to complete stop

By the way, I've never thought of using drag shut to turn. 

Edited January 15, 2016 by Hary R

[michal.don]

Hi, this is my unconventional attemps at this challenge, which was able to make it in 19 seconds (about 20th try, this thing isn't easy to fly). Vector-powered (moar power), drogue chute braked thing called unoriginally "Towerbuzz". I hope I understood the rules correctly, that I am able to use drogue chutes for braking, but land like a plane. If that's not the case, sorry for wasting your time 

 

Edited January 15, 2016 by michal.don
the video didn't show as I wanted it to, so trying to fix that....

[FungusForge]

3 minutes ago, Hary R said:

I think that to make it fare, speed (of the game) should be the same for everyone, it become easier when the game is slow. 

I count on the mission (in game time) so for this time i will put you on the leader bord  as temporary n°2, if you can have a run where ingame and real time are the same, i will validate your time. I see 24s from start to complete stop

Fair enough. I'll be returning shortly then.

[Hary R]

17 hours ago, michal.don said:

Hi, this is my unconventional attemps at this challenge, which was able to make it in 19 seconds (about 20th try, this thing isn't easy to fly). Vector-powered (moar power), drogue chute braked thing called unoriginally "Towerbuzz". I hope I understood the rules correctly, that I am able to use drogue chutes for braking, but land like a plane. If that's not the case, sorry for wasting your time 

https://youtu.be/fX33CVLy22w

yes the vector can make it fast, your in game clock seem to tic at a slow rate, your video is 29s long but you in game time is 19s. And you are a little to far from the tower 

Due to the fairness i've put an addition to the rule but you try is to great to be ignored: honorable mention. By the way but i'lle leave the othes to say if you really buzz the tower or not. i'll review other entries tomorow, I have to go home for now.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Hary R

[michal.don]

4 minutes ago, Hary R said:

yes the vernor can make it fast, your in game clock seem to tic at a slow rate, your video is 29s long but you in game time is 19s. And you are a little to far from the tower 

Yeah, my computer unfortunately isn't able to play it real time, so I can't do much about that. If the distance to the tower is an issue, I can work on that a little bit more. Anyway, the challenge is really fun, thanks Hary R,

Michal.don

[FungusForge]

Fast as I could get it. Not entirely sure whether my computer or Bandicam (which has crashed my heavily modded install before) is to blame for that. At any rate I now have this committed to muscle memory so there's that.

E:

I'm entirely certain Bandicam is to blame one way or another. The mission clock is yellow in the clip, which is generally a sign of lag. When I tested without Bandicam running that clock was green, so I don't think I can actually manage a 100% real time submission.

Edited January 15, 2016 by FungusForge

[Mister Dilsby]

54 minutes ago, FungusForge said:

Fast as I could get it. Not entirely sure whether my computer or Bandicam (which has crashed my heavily modded install before) is to blame for that. At any rate I now have this committed to muscle memory so there's that.

Whoa, like street drifting but with chutes!  

[Fluburtur]

That sounds fun, I will try it when I get back home

[Hary R]

16 hours ago, FungusForge said:

Fast as I could get it. Not entirely sure whether my computer or Bandicam (which has crashed my heavily modded install before) is to blame for that. At any rate I now have this committed to muscle memory so there's that.

E:

I'm entirely certain Bandicam is to blame one way or another. The mission clock is yellow in the clip, which is generally a sign of lag. When I tested without Bandicam running that clock was green, so I don't think I can actually manage a 100% real time submission.

real time is not mandatory, as long as your in game time an real time are close one another, it's good, you time is valided as you can't do anyting about the lag

Edited January 16, 2016 by Hary R

[Hary R]

16 hours ago, michal.don said:

Yeah, my computer unfortunately isn't able to play it real time, so I can't do much about that. If the distance to the tower is an issue, I can work on that a little bit more. Anyway, the challenge is really fun, thanks Hary R,

Michal.don

Ok mine also can't so of course that won't be the issue, mission time is what count, it's just have to be as close as possible to real time so your was good but see bellow

Being close to the tower is a part of the challenge so try to be closer and your entry will be validated.

 

I've got 19s yesterday, Can't do any better,

 

Edited January 16, 2016 by Hary R
Adding the video and gloriously taking n°1 for stock

[FungusForge]

Holy moly, I could hardly even dream of 19 seconds. Well done.

[Hary R]

53 minutes ago, FungusForge said:

Holy moly, I could hardly even dream of 19 seconds. Well done.

thanks it was not easy, try it up until midnight for that one good result.

[zolotiyeruki]

What do you all use for capturing video of your runs?

Also, another clarifying question:  does the craft need to be kerballed?

[Nefrums]

17s  

 

https://youtu.be/iop3Tn524CE

Edited January 16, 2016 by Nefrums

[Hary R]

On 16/1/2016 at 0:08 AM, Nefrums said:

17s  

 

https://youtu.be/iop3Tn524CE

Wow, impressive.

And he take his crown back.

On 16/1/2016 at 5:46 PM, zolotiyeruki said:

What do you all use for capturing video of your runs?

Also, another clarifying question:  does the craft need to be kerballed?

I use bandicam but others might use something else.

No, any plane, even drone, are good.My 19s craft was a UAV for exemple.

 

EDIT: No FAR attempt yet?

Edited January 18, 2016 by Hary R

[Darren9]

I might have a FAR attempt, no boosters or parachutes yet - I might add some to go faster later Does it matter which way around the tower? I measured it at 25 seconds from starting moving to stopping if it qualifies.

 

[Hary R]

13 hours ago, Darren9 said:

I might have a FAR attempt, no boosters or parachutes yet - I might add some to go faster later Does it matter which way around the tower? I measured it at 25 seconds from starting moving to stopping if it qualifies.

 

No,  i dosen't, you juste have to turn around the tower and be close to it.

I count 25s too but my rule was from engine start to plane complete stop. So you final time will be 31s for now as your engine was already ignited at the start of your video . 

Edited January 19, 2016 by Hary R