Why do intakes always go assymetric

[llamatoes]

I have been seriously designing aircraft for the first time in KSP, and for some reason, intakes always go faster on one side than the other, meaning that it is very likely to tilt, but this is a good warning for flameouts, but it Is irritating a small way, is there a way to remedy it?

[Torham234]

They don't usually do that, try checking if every part has symmetry, its easy to forget one small strut that imbalances the aircraft, if you have multiple jet engines, one always flames out first, make sure to throttle down when the engine sounds like its going to die, I also used only one punctuation.

[llamatoes]

I do something similar, you can always tell, as it veers over to the side, so you must throttle down.

[GROOV3ST3R]

In the game file, you can find this:

RESOURCE_DEFINITION

{

name = IntakeAir

density = 0.005

flowMode = ALL_VESSEL

transfer = PUMP

As far as I can understand, this means that all air flows through all of the plane, regardless of where it was taken in.

It is not the intakes that cause this issue, it is the air and fuel flow through the engines. I think it was deliberate that one flames out quicker than the other - in the real world no 2 engines are exactly the same, one WILL give out quicker than the other. Of course, to avoid flame-out you can simply reduce throttle That reduces the need for fuel and, by extension, air.

you can also tell when an engine is about to flame-out by it's pitch - it will change slightly, you will notice next time it gives out.

If you don't want any tilting or instability when engines run out of air, use only one centrally mounted engine. That way, it simply stops and the craft is completely unaffected. With 2, you can't avoid it im afraid Add more ram intakes and nacelles.

[Torham234]

It also helps to pack avionics package on the plane. If you have a good yaw control (bigger planes can use 2 -3 vertical stabilizers) the autopilot can usually save the plane from uncontrolled spin, if you throttle down fast enough. It will start to veer from side to side, but the autopilot will stabilize it to give you enough time to react.

[llamatoes]

I do have avionics, as I am a ok pilot, but nothing special

[CalculusWarrior]

Yeah, I would suggest sticking with only one engine for your spaceplane, its surprising how well it does even with one engine. Then your spinout problem is solved automatically!

[llamatoes]

Not so much the spinout the problem, more that I have an SSTO that can make orbit ( the numbers say it can), but in practice, I am only really good enough to fly around the world, not make orbit with a spaceplane.

I'll try again tommorow

[NKL]

I have been seriously designing aircraft for the first time in KSP, and for some reason, intakes always go faster on one side than the other, meaning that it is very likely to tilt, but this is a good warning for flameouts, but it Is irritating a small way, is there a way to remedy it?

Apart from what the others said (symetry check and everything), a good way to get rid of flatspin flame-out induced, is to understand that the FIRST jet engine to flame-out is the LAST one you set.

You have to make plane with odd numbers of jet engine. And by doing this, you'll have an even better warning without a flat spin

[Levelord]

Apart from what the others said (symetry check and everything), a good way to get rid of flatspin flame-out induced, is to understand that the FIRST jet engine to flame-out is the LAST one you set.

You have to make plane with odd numbers of jet engine. And by doing this, you'll have an even better warning without a flat spin

I had two solutions for this.

My VTOLSSTO had inline jet engines, meaning one in front of the other. But that required some creative use of octagonal struts.

My second *better* solution was to use Stabojetâ„¢ technology. The engines can flame out but the craft won't do a flat spin due to the thrust going through the CoM.

Stabojetâ„¢ technology showcased at 1:15.

[NKL]

StaboJet is SO MARVELOUS. Srsly.

[mellojoe]

I have been seriously designing aircraft for the first time in KSP, and for some reason, intakes always go faster on one side than the other, meaning that it is very likely to tilt, but this is a good warning for flameouts, but it Is irritating a small way, is there a way to remedy it?

Struts.

I don't see where anyone has mentioned this yet, but use STRUTS. If you have two side-by-side engines, you can get a slight deflection one way or the other. This causes one side to spool up faster than the other, causing assymentrical thrust. But strutting the two together, and strutting them both to a central core can seriously help with that.

((edit))

I didn't realize how old this thread was before it got necro'd. I'm assuming Llamatoes had solved his issue from last year.