SAS, Spaceplanes and you!

[7499275]

Hey guys!

Got kind of a noobish question here... Is there any reason no matter what plane I use (Stock KSP, Mod, stock parts) No matter what it is if I give it a pitch up about 10 degrees and turn ASAS on it will slowly (quickly sometimes) descend and lose altitude. I don't know how to overcome this and it is kind of annoying for those long flights up too orbit or around the planet when you have to manually fly the whole thing with no time accelertaion the whole way!

And lastly is there a way to turn time acceleration on when normally it will not let you? Like a rover moving over the ground I can't time warp, or throttled a rocket up I can't, anyway to overcome this?

Thanks in advance guys!

[Aqua667]

For the plane problem try using avionics(but they're crap in space). All they do is point you prograde. For your warp problem do alt < or alt > for physics warp, but large crafts will shake themselves apart.

[Sma]

You can do limited time warp with alt+, and alt+. As for planes, I have limited experience, but the avionic package works better than asas. Also I generally use both SAS and ASAS on everything I build. Also I'd imagine a slow descent might have something to do with fuel being burned, though I could be wrong.

I've been thinking about modifying my one successful plane (it has yet to go into space though, but working on it) by pitching the wings up slightly, to hopefully increase it's lift just enough to counteract the slow descent. Speaking of which, I have problems trying to keep my plane level, it'll either dive of climb by more than 10 m/s. Guess I just need more air time.

Lol I see Aqua beat me to it by a few minutes on the time warp thing, as well as avionics package. I must have been typing when it was posted...

Edited June 28, 2013 by Sma

[7499275]

On the main plane that I need to fly really far it is well balanced after burning half of its total fuel and can still be controlled well manually but when it comes to ASAS it just screws it up. So the avionics package? Is that the small tiny nose cone piece on control tab? I've never used it but will give it a try here in just a few moments.

For the time warp, thanks guys didn't know.

And also thanks for the speedy replies!

[AnalogAddict]

I recommend trying to use Alt+ or Alt+[W] to adjust your trim. If you slowly pitch down, Alt+S a couple of times and see if that levels it out. As your fuel is consumed you might want to adjust this pitch more. You may reset your custom pitch by Alt+[X]

[Sirrobert]

On the main plane that I need to fly really far it is well balanced after burning half of its total fuel and can still be controlled well manually but when it comes to ASAS it just screws it up. So the avionics package? Is that the small tiny nose cone piece on control tab? I've never used it but will give it a try here in just a few moments.

For the time warp, thanks guys didn't know.

And also thanks for the speedy replies!

Yes, it's the little cone

[Panichio]

I've been wondering forever about the slowly descending nose when ASAS is on. I could also have all three types of stabilization computers and it would do the same. I end up just using MechJeb to hold me at a certain pitch.

[RocketPilot573]

The same thing happen with the avionics package. I think the issue i that they spam the control surfaces so much that the plane starts to slowly go off course until it's in a dive.

[7499275]

I haven't went and tested it yet but I'm getting told the avionics fixes that problem then getting told the exact opposite

[SpaceGremlin]

Try setting your trim (alt + [w,a,s,d,q,e], alt + x to zero it out). If your plane is properly trimmed, the ASAS/avionics won't have to fight so hard to maintain its attitude. If you end up maxing out your trim and still can't maintain level flight, you need more control surfaces.

[7499275]

Okay, tried ASAS SAS Avionics and mechjeb... Hands down mechjeb is the only one that worked...

[Vanamonde]

Isn't that simply that the SAS system allows a slow drift, allowing the inherent balance of the plane to assert itself? I've always assumed that in space, there are no little forces strong enough, or at least not consistent enough, to make the effect evident.

[MR4Y]

Problem is that ASAS, Avionics and SAS can affect speed when toggled because of the infiniglide glitch. Also, pretty much all of those stabilization systems are useless when you use them on planes.

[entaran]

Generally downwards pitch is because you have a pair of intakes mounted off centre which are creating drag and pulling the plane nose down/up. I'm guessing you have some radial intakes under the fuselage and no matching ones above the fuselage.