The Delta Kite. A hybrid wing and lifting body design.

[Jakalth]

This aircraft is completely stock with no modded parts and no mods used other then Kerbal Engineer Redux. (I like the constantly updated delta-v and twr readings while building)

 

The Delta Kite was an experiment to see how close to a true hybrid wing and lifting body design I could get in KSP.  During it's initial test flights, this craft surprised me with how well it could fly.  And after only a few modifications, I have the craft you see here today.  The Delta Kite is a long range... aah... experimental aircraft!  Yeah.  It's powered by 2 Wheezley turbofan engines mounted in engine nacelles above the tail of the aircraft.  It's total mass is only 33 tons when normally fueled, but that weight goes up a bit if fully fueled and heavy.  This craft is a medium sized bomber/passenger type aircraft, but flies like a smaller fighter type aircraft.  It's surprisingly maneuverable and pretty nice to look at.

Spoiler

 

With how much "wing" the Delta Kite has, it's capable of lifting off the runway at fairly low speeds.  In fact, you can start pulling up at as low as 80m/s on the runway.  Speaking of runway, who needs the whole thing when only half is all you really need.

Spoiler

 

Once in the air, the twin wheezleys can push the craft up to a top speed of Mach 0.76, or 260m/s at low altitude when flying with a normal fuel load.  At low altitudes, the Delta Kite can perform some high G maneuvers, maxing out at 14.3G while pulling up into a steep climb, or about 10G in a sharp banked turn.  It's fully capable of performing a complete loop at altitudes below 900m without risk of hitting the ground.

Spoiler

 

It's optimum service ceiling is at about 10Km running at 200-215m/s.  At this height, it has a predicted flight time of up to 11 hours while flying heavy, or about 6-7 hours with a normal fuel load.  The delta Kite carries over 3600 units of liquid fuel, but can be fuel up to carry over 4200 units if longer range is needed.  While fueled heavy, it is not as maneuverable but is still capable of performing some tight turns and loops if flown at a higher latitude for safety.

Spoiler

 

With a standard fuel load, the Delta Kite is quite good at gliding, so landing the aircraft is quite easy.  It's stall speed, while still full of fuel, is as low as 40m/s at just above sea level, or about the height of the grasslands around KSC.  Slowing the craft down is another matter though.  The Delta Kite is very good at maintaining momentum so it does not slow down quickly on its own.  Using the wheezleys in reverse thrust mode is your best bet to slow the craft down to landing speeds( 60-80m/s is easiest for runway landings, close to 40m/s  for grass landings).  Otherwise, just shut down the engines while a ways out from the space center and glide her in, bleeding off speed with turns and short, sharp, pitch maneuvers.

 

Enjoy!

Download: Delta Kite

 

After doing some more tests I can confirm this.  With a heavy fuel load(the wings full of fuel as well), the Delta Kite can stay in the air for over 2 days or about 13 hours strait without refueling.  She's able to perform 2 consecutive equatorial circumnavigations and still have plenty of fuel left over as long is she's flown economically and at an altitude of 10,000m.  Pretty crazy for a craft not actually designed for endurance flights.

Edited July 5, 2016 by Jakalth

[Dfthu]

Wow! That thing looks awesome. I just love that wing design.

[Van Disaster]

"Hybrid wing and lifting body" is generally known as blended-wing, if you want to browse more

[Jakalth]

Yeah, that name was stuck somewhere in my head, couldn't quite find it...