LBT 'Sea Stray' SC-HLC-320X Tandem Rotor Helicopter (Feline Utility ROTORs)

[SchwinnTropius]

For the past month or so, I've been getting back into KSP and studying the Breaking Ground robotics. Most notably, I've been studying Kerbal helicopters since I seem to be unable to successfully launch and land  horizontally-launched ground- and aircraft. The Feline Utility Rover parts are the most interesting to me for rover parts, but since I can't really drive (by personal ability) in this game about spaceflight, I needed to get a little creative about how to handle various missions that don't necessarily need rockets. Through the study of two guides on these forums as well as Youtube, and my own personal practice, I have arrived at a Flying Cat Science Bus.

 

Introducing the Sea Stray from Leaf Blade Technologies; a tandem-rotor helicopter designed to do science at altitude, on terrain, and even in water.

 

Can comfortably cruise at about 30 m/s; faster than that and operation can get a little "squirrelly". Tends to slide a little at cruise, but a decent Pilot and SAS can keep the craft on its flight path. This slide is what gave the craft part of its name.

 

Currently, service ceiling tested to 6200 m/s, but maximum range has yet to be tested; helicopter has been tested on Kerbin near KSC and Woomerang, but no where else yet. Additionally, the Sea Stray has only been flown using a joystick; keyboard remains untested.

Sea Stray 3200 available on KerbalX here.

 

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As with any good-enough craft, there's always room for improvement. Adding and adjusting lights and rebalancing the fuel led to the adjustment of the aft rotor assembly, which significantly improved the Sea Stray's flight characteristics. The helicopter can now cruise safely up to 40 m/s but can be pushed to beyond 50 m/s with strong and daring piloting skills.

Val scaring the soil out of Bob.

 

Sea Stray 3201 available on KerbalX here.

 

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DLCs Making History and Breaking Ground are both required.

 

Required Mods:

-Feline Utility Rovers: for the base body parts.

-HullcamVDS: to provide pilot-less first-person view.

-Snacks: construction was balanced around the presence of stored Snacks in the Truck Cab; while it technically can be loaded without Snacks (probably), the helicopter might fly better with the Snacks present.

Recommended Mods:

Ferram Aerospace Research: helicopter has been flown under FAR; currently untested in Stock Aero.

Rocket Sound Enhancement Default: gives rotors and helicopter blades some much needed sound.

FreeIVA: the craft cutely bobs in the water while you putz about inside the craft.

 

Edited January 20 by SchwinnTropius
Grammatical error, better spacing, more Recommended Mods, 3201 inclusion, .gif of flight