Built A Plane - Explode On Takeoff

[Zpike]

So ---

I built my first plane, just like one I saw built on a Youtube video by Quill.  I only have the starter plane parts so it got the basic gear.

I start the engines, taxi down the runway at full throttle, and blow up.  The log shows my take off then the landing gear making contact with the runway and after that the show's over.

I've tried attempting to fly up sooner, later, never, more power, less power, etc, with no joy.

Any suggestions?

 

Note to mods:  Any particular reason I always have to get my posts approved by mods before they go up?  It's kind of annoying.

 

Edited October 11, 2016 by Zpike

[Red Iron Crown]

Moved over to Gameplay Questions.

4 minutes ago, Zpike said:

Note to mods:  Any particular reason I always have to get my posts approved by mods before they go up?  It's kind of annoying.

It's an unfortunate necessity to prevent spambots from taking over the place. Now that you have three posts you should be able to post without restriction.

[ForScience6686]

Wait until you have the retractable landing gear.  The first set I've only successfully used on very light planes.  As far as spring settings, I've had a lot of success with reducing the spring strength and increasing dampener on the main gear.  This allows more sag to cushion touch down and prevent as much bounce, it can also help with side to side sway while on the ground.

[Kryten 2X4B 523P]

A pic of the plane would help - but at a guess, Id say that its way too heavy and youre going too fast down the runway. Are you using one or more full Mk1 Liquid Fuel tank as a fuselage pieces?

If you only have the early landing gear then they can only reliably take about 1.5 tons per wheel, anything over that and they start to get overstressed at speed.

So either drain the fuel out to lighten the mass of the plane, add more lift or add more landing gear.

Theres a ton of other things it could be, but without a pic its difficult to say.

[Zpike]

It sounds like I am way to heavy.  I didn't realize there was a weight restriction on landing gear and loaded up with everything I thought I would need on my survey trips.

I have a full liquid fuel fuselage tank with two engines mounted on the side.  I also have a full set of science gear, batteries, solar panels, etc.

I will lighten the load and see how I do.

Thanks for the advise!

 

[Kryten 2X4B 523P]

No worries - you might just need to drop the fuel out of the big tank (400 units) which will drop the weight by about 2.5 tons, and that might be enough to start. Two radial mk0 fuel tanks (50 units each) is plenty of fuel for the early, nearby survey missions.

Check the engineers report, it will tell you how heavy the plane is overall - I try to aim for less than 4.5 tons overall mass if using the starter landing gear, but less is better.

[EnderKid2]

quick question: are you using the tier 1 runway?

you know, the one that's very bumpy?

The first thing to know about early tech planes is: DON'T USE THE TIER ONE RUNWAY! taxi off to the side and take off of the grass.

[Zpike]

For those of you following my progress. ---

 

I upgraded my runway to a paved runway.

Increased my wing area by using the large wing pieces instead of the tiny small swept wings.

Used the empty fuselage pieces instead of fuel tanks.

Mounted my engines with one fuel tank each and an intake under each wing.

Created a "correct" plane like tail with both horizontal and vertical stabilizers.

Got rid of all nonessential equipment.

 

I got off the runway on the first launch of the new plane however I was unstable due to placement issues with landing gear, wings, tail section, etc.  I'm working on that now.

But It did fly!

 

Note:  If I could figure out how to attach an image I could show you my plane.

On 10/11/2016 at 7:22 PM, EnderKid2 said:

quick question: are you using the tier 1 runway?

you know, the one that's very bumpy?

The first thing to know about early tech planes is: DON'T USE THE TIER ONE RUNWAY! taxi off to the side and take off of the grass.

Excellent tip.