Can't lift off?

[Dizzle]

Hey guys.

For some reason, whenever I try to build a spaceplane, I can't seem to get it off the runway. At my fastest, I've gotten them to 120m/s, but they just are never able to lift off. The center of lift is just behind the center of mass, and it has control surfaces, but it just won't work.

The goal I had in mind for this design was to sort of re-invent the Aeris with more rocket fuel, could it be that it's too heavy? I'll post screens in a while, in the meantime, any common causes for this problem? I believe I've heard mention of a "sticky runway" issue before.

[gompasta]

Perhaps you simply need more lift? It would be useful to see screenshots of it. Make sure your rear landing gear is higher from the ground than the front, so you pitch up slightly on the runway.

[Flixxbeatz]

Don't worry. We've all been there

Load → SPONTANEOUS DISASSEMBLY

Load → Spacebar →RUNWAY EXPLOSION

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → VEERS OFF RUNWAY

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → Runway end → FAILS TO TAKE OFF

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → Runway end → Take-off! → EARLY FLAMEOUT

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → Runway end → Take-off! → Transition altitude → NOT ENOUGH THRUST

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → Runway end → Take-off! → Transition altitude → Sufficient thrust → NOT ENOUGH FUEL TO ORBIT

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → Runway end → Take-off! → Transition altitude → Sufficient thrust → REACHED ORBIT! → NOT ENOUGH FUEL TO DE-ORBIT

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → Runway end → Take-off! → Transition altitude → Sufficient thrust → REACHED ORBIT! → De-orbit successful → STALL SPIN DURING RE-ENTRY

Load → Spacebar → Runway roll → Runway end → Take-off! → Transition altitude → Sufficient thrust → REACHED ORBIT! → De-orbit successful → Good re-entry → MESSED LANDING

[Dizzle]

Some screens.

Edit: Also, the nose indeed points upward on the runway.

[Johnno]

I've had similar issues, mine was from poor landing gear placement. If you put your rear landing gear too far behind the CoM you'll have a hard time taking off. Try moving them closer to CoM. You may need more lift as well though, I can't tell just from pictures, I'm more of a trial and error kind of guy.

[Dizzle]

Moving the gears worked, thanks.

Calling it quits now though, it spins out at about 16-18km and it pitches up on its own, getting worse the higher the altitude. Tbh, I think I'm done with spaceplanes altogether. They're more fun if you can get them to work, but they're way too hard to be even close to worth it.

[Rickenbacker]

The uncontrolled spin is because the CoG moves when you use up fuel, making the plane tail heavy (never a good thing in an airplane, if you want to control it ). It's indeed hard to create good spaceplanes!