Start With Landing Struts Extended?

[TheCoolSideofthePillow]

Is there a way to start on the launch pad/landing strip with STRUTS extended? A mod, perhaps?

I'm working on some sci-fi type ships with VTOL and hovering, and it would be better if I could start them in their landed state rather than launch them like a rocket or plane.

[I.R.L.]

Not that i'm aware of, you could just use launch clamps to hold them up ,then extend the struts. But maybe you already did that, idk.

[TheCoolSideofthePillow]

I hadn't even thought of using the launch clamps to hold it up to extend them... XD

[Uberick]

Yup, just put the clamps on it and lower the legs.

You can even drop the lander from the clamps to test the legs.

I use this technique extensively to "drop test" various landers and rovers to determine how resistant they are to impact.

[Vanamonde]

Unless the ship is big, the landing legs are probably strong enough to stand the thing up when you extend them.

[CalculusWarrior]

Yup, just put the clamps on it and lower the legs.

You can even drop the lander from the clamps to test the legs.

I use this technique extensively to "drop test" various landers and rovers to determine how resistant they are to impact.

Exactly what I am doing for my Dres Science Mission at the moment. You get the advantage of testing the strength of the legs as well as the ground clearance.

[Tex_NL]

AFAIK toggling parts in the VAB/SPH is a planned feature. Until it is implemented it is not possible to start with legs and ladders deployed or landing gear retracted.

However, a mod like B9 does have this feature for it's own parts.

[Kerba Fett]

AFAIK toggling parts in the VAB/SPH is a planned feature. Until it is implemented it is not possible to start with legs and ladders deployed or landing gear retracted.

However, a mod like B9 does have this feature for it's own parts.

I'd like to know more about that last statement. I sometimes use the landing legs from the latest b9 pack and would love to know how to start with them deployed.

[Tex_NL]

Actually, the B9 landing legs are the only B9 parts that can NOT be toggled before launch.

Since many of the new B9 parts do have this feature I wrongly assumed the landing legs would too.