SSTO X-Wing

[dna42]

Hello there,

just wanted to share a little X-Wing lookalike i built - it is theoretically a VTOL and an SSTO, but i'm not able to keep it stable for the whole ascent and it seems to take foreeever.

(Hint: Flying was tested with FAR installed, would be interesting to see how it fares in stock)

Actiongroups:

1 - Vertical repulsors, 80-90% thrust should get you hovering, you will need rcs to keep it stable, though

2 - Main Jets

3 - Aerospike

4 - 'Lasers' (the antennas expand)

link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19376207/x-wing.craft (~170parts)

some pictures:

X-wing on the Runway

Vertical Takeoff

Repulsor and Rocket assisted acceleration

Sadly after playing around for a bit it seems to nosedive alot, although COM and COL match pretty good - any Advice?

[sgt_flyer]

try to angle a bit your control surfaces in the hangar, maybe it'll help to counteract the nosedive

[Tex_NL]

CoM and CoL match up pretty good in the SPH perhaps. And therein, most likely, lies your problem. Your fuel supply (weight) is near the tail. After 'playing around for a bit' you've spend a good deal of your fuel causing the CoG to shift forward, making the entire craft nose heavy and very eager to re-acquaint itself with the tarmac. If you bring your fuel tanks as close to the CoG as possible their loss in weight will have less impact on the CoG location.

[dna42]

Hm, i'll try. I already changed the front tanks to be structural already before uploading, didn't seem to help much. But I'll try the suggetions about angling the control surfaces when i get the time. thanks!

[SDIR]

Also play around with trim. Is a total life saver for take-offs and landings.

[krunchysock]

This is awesome -- hope you get it working.

[dna42]

Finally found the reason for the nosediveing at high speeds/altitudes: the VTOL-Jets on the bottom create huge drag off-center when at high speeds.

Currently thinking about replacing them with the small rockomax radials, but i would need >34 of them, killing my fuel reserves and my Framerate - any ideas how i could know where my center of "drag" is ?

[xXx_Space craft master_xXx]

Can U Make A Modded Version With BD Armory?

Edited February 12, 2017 by xXx_Space craft master_xXx

[Tex_NL]

Unlikely since he has made only three posts and has not visited the forum in two and a half years!
Most likely he has not thought about this thread at all in the last four years.