Flying Wing

[Tex_NL]

I've been messing around with blended wing body designs for a while now. I previously had some success with a medium sized unmanned rover carrier but now I scored a big one: KerbOilWingBody-1. It has an insane amount of lift and really wants to fly. Above all it is incredibly stable, it doesn't even need (A)SAS. I seriously went AFK to grab a cup of coffee without turning on the SAS.

I've strutted the crap out of it to make it rigid but everything is hidden inside the extra thick wings.

Stock version: KWB-1.craft

Mod version: KWB-1a.craft (See later post for details.)

Edited April 21, 2013 by Tex_NL

[Gojira]

Aw man that's awesome! craft?

[Hazard1556]

Sounds cool, I'll give it a go when I get the chance!

Edited April 21, 2013 by Hazard1556

[Tex_NL]

Made it slightly more user-friendly (if that was even possible ) You can now leave it outside the hanger without the risk of it running out of electricity, it has a few batteries and 2 RTG's. As usual hidden in the wings.

Simply throttle up and pitch up gently at roughly 50 m/s. Pull up to vigorously and you'll risk a tailstrike.

Though it is capable of flying at 20km and fast enough to trigger re-entry effects it flies best at lower altitudes.

(.craft in OP)

Edited April 20, 2013 by Tex_NL

[Tex_NL]

New advance vesion now available: KWB-1a

Stock version still available in OP.

Most notable changes: 10 fuel bombs, second cockpit to seat another pilot/bombardier, 1 less air scoop so watch your intake at high altitude and MechJeb autopilot.

Required mods:

MechJeb to serve as auto pilot on long duration missions.

ISA MapSat for easier navigation.

KSPX Parts Expansion for the 'payload'.

Optional mod:

Kerbal Crew Manifest to add a second pilot and access the rear cockpit (hatch obstructed). Plane can be flown perfectly with just 1 Kerbal on board.

The new and improved cockpit.

The 'deadly' payload.

Test drop on the offshore airstrip.

1 out of 10 ain't that bad.

[ReconXPanzer]

Looks Cool

I know, How about you try making something like a Horten Ho-229/Gotha Go-229 or a YB-49 - I'd love to see those in KSP

[Tex_NL]

I've already tried designs like that and all ran into the same problem; very unstable flight. Extending the wingspan and sweep them more to the rear will move the CoL too far behind the CoG. Compensating this shift by either adding or moving weight to the rear can totally ruin the design. I won't say it can be done but it is a delicate dance between drag, CoG, LoT, CoL and aesthetics. Even the simple act of adding a single pair of fuel bombs added some drag and lowered the CoG ever so slightly below the Line of Thrust making the entire plane suddenly 'nose heavy'