Jump to content

Need help with a spaceplane design


Recommended Posts

I'm having trouble with my spaceplane that's designed to get into LKO and glide back down. While still on jet engines and going about 700m/s at about 13km it begins to flip and I don't know why. I think it might be because the thrust is too far forward, or because the thrust is not aligned with the center of mass but I don't know. I'm trying to keep it minimal; with similar designs it flew better but the LVT-30 wasn't powerful enough.

Skylark.jpg

The file is here: http://m.uploadedit.com/b018/1374747452804.txt

Just rename it to .craft

Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There might be folks who have placed engines below the CoM like you have and gotten it to orbit, however, I've noted this as a big no-no. I figure if you move those jets up to be flush with the fuselage then you shouldn't flip out in the upper atmosphere or at high speeds.

I think the LV-T30 should be sufficient for such a small plane, in other words I'm not sure what you are getting at by saying it wasn't powerful enough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Putting the jets in line causes the thrust to impact the wings, and the jet sections are meant to be jettisoned when the rocket fires up. If they're clipping other parts then I think they'll break them off as soon as they become separate from the main craft. I'd have to move the canards forward which would move the center of lift too far forward.

I had a design like this but with more wing surfaces and engine nacelles behind the intakes, and the jets were further back where the rocket engine is. It was almost perfectly symmetrical but when I switched to the rocket at flame-out altitude the ship would slow down and there wasn't enough fuel overall. On this design I haven't had a chance to try the rocket, it's why I'm trying to have as few parts as possible. I tried adding more fuel and engines but then I couldn't get it above 10km.

I'm finding the whole spaceplane thing very hit and miss right now. It was easy with B9's SABREs but I'm trying to stay stock for .21.

Edited by SnappingTurtle
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can move the wings up to the top of the craft and then have the engines move up to line up with the middle

Other than that you can also attach the wings to the engines and then put the engines where the wings are now, but then you wouldn't be able to ditch the engines because you'll lose the wings

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...