Using Mechjeb, How do I land at runway?

[lyndonguitar]

I just made a spaceplane and I tried to land it on the runway however It's very hard and I cannot do it somehow, Now I'm trying to use the mechjeb spaceplane guidance and I dunno how it works, from a kerbin equator circular orbit, what do I do to land? help

Here's my pics

[thes50]

To be honest, the best bet would be to do it manually. Standard deorbit procedure, try and do the burn from roughly the other side of the planet to decrease the amount of dV needed then just fly it in manually once you're in atmosphere.

[Jas0n]

Also, to come down right at the KSC, put your Periapsis about 30km above the Korea-like peninsula (the continent across the ocean eastward of KSC).

[Fredonia]

Not sure how with MJ 2 as I'm waiting for them to iron out all the wrinkles, but whatever the MJ 2.0 equivalent of the ILS(Instrument Landing System) is. I understand that in MJ 2.0, you can choose which runway to land at. What I do, is bring up target autopilot, select Target KSP, then hit, "Land at Target" I abort that once in atmo, and bring up the ILS and activate it, then just sit back and watch it come in. Although, it's been a while since I last did that, so... It's worth giving a shot at least.

[Van Disaster]

With my shallow deorbits that would drive me face first into the hills west of KSC I tend to bring the plane down to 3km at the hills & attempt to get it subsonic, and then either check the ILS to see if I'm lined up or just click the autoland - which will put you in a nerve-wracking dive for the deck, possibly. Even then it likes to either nosedive into the runway or chop the wheels off at the runway start so I never leave it totally automated.

I usually deorbit to put perapsis about 15km over KSC which gives me the chance to use a variety of descent profiles; I've recently started to deorbit earlier & try an even more gentle re-entry to practice for when things start exploding if you mistreat them. It's possible to bounce off the upper atmosphere with the right AoA ( and FAR, anyway )

[lyndonguitar]

I still can't do it!!! help!!! Do I just glide? Do I turn on the engine? do I need to put jet engines??? My plane has only a rocket engine

anyone has a video of them landing a spaceplane with mechjeb?

jeez this is harder than rendezvous and docking. Looks like I might stick to capsules for now

Edited May 8, 2013 by lyndonguitar

[RoboRay]

Some things are just easier to do yourself than to hand off the MJ. If you have wings, it's not like you need precise targeting... you should be able to glide some distance if you don't have an perfectly on-target reentry. And if you've got a jet engine and some fuel, you can reenter pretty much anywhere on or near the landmass KSC occupies and just fly to the runway.

[lyndonguitar]

I am getting close, I am landing on the runway now, the only thing left is to stop crashing on the runway, The autoland keeps on pointing down too much and the nose always hits the runway, how do I stop this? what does the autoland glidescope mean?

[Van Disaster]

The ILS panel should be explained in the help - I did notice from a brief try of MJ2 that it lacks a lot of the info MJ1 has though. If you're nosing into the runway then tap S to keep the nose up/flare a little, it won't turn the autoland off. Well it shouldn't.

[SalmonellaDingDong]

Just land it yourself. The computer keeps crashing it, so you might as well learn.

[lyndonguitar]

My ship keeps on spinning now arghh, my spaceplane doesn't have jet engines, only a powerful rocket, is that why?

note: I am trying both autopilot, manual and mixed, and I still can't do it

[3_bit]

Mechjeb 2 has spaceplane guidance. I recommend putting your periapse at 10k and have it be right over KSC. You'll be deorbited not far away, and can use your jet engines to get to KSC. Might as well be a normal aircraft flight.