[0.20.0 ]K-2D "Kraken Lady"

[Mustangrande]

Having always been a fan of the U-2, I decided to fool around and come up with something similar. The end result flew so well, that I figured I'd share it with the community.

The K-2D "Kraken lady" is a two-seat, single engine, long-range reconnaissance aircraft. In test flights, it was capable of taking off, climbing to a cruise altitude of 25,000 meters, (82,000 feet MSL) circumnavigating the globe and landing back on the KSC runway, using less than half of its fuel capacity. Test flights brought it to altitudes in excess of 30,000 meters, and surface speeds in excess of 1300 meters per second.

Stats are as follows:

Loaded Weight: 15.1 Tons

Maximum Tested Altitude: 32,000 Meters

Recommended Cruise Altitude: 25,000 Meters

Cruise Speed: 1,200 Meters per Second (surface)

Time to Cruise Alt: Approx. 8 minutes

Range: Global

Takeoff Speed (Loaded): 20 Meters per Second

Stall Speed (Loaded): 10 Meters per Second

TWR: 1.52

Mods Needed: Procedural Wings, Mechjeb, B9 Aerospace

Due to the high lift of its wing, the K-2D requires very little power during takeoff and no power at all on final approach. Takeoff is level, with the aircraft lifting off of the runway at 20m/s. Low power is recommended during takeoff, as high power settings can cause a severe nose-up tendency unless corrected with trim.

A long, slow and shallow final approach is recommended when landing. Due to the high lift of the wing, the plane tends to "bounce" following a steep approach. It also has a tendency to float down the runway, though its low landing speed means that once on the ground, the brakes will quickly bring it to a stop. Speed going into the flare should be about 13 m/s. Level the plane off and hold the wheels just a few inches above the pavement. The plane will eventually settle as the speed bleeds off.

Due to the wide wingspan, the wings should be kept as level as possible on final to prevent a wing strike. Any corrections should be made with the rudder.

At high altitudes, trim or Mechjeb Spaceplane Guidance should be used to keep the plane under control. At low altitudes however, the aircraft is responsive and nimble, whilst remaining stable and easy to fly.

NOTE: This plane can experience prolonged shock heating under certain conditions: particularly during descent from cruise altitude and during high speed cruise in the 18-20KM range. Users of mods that simulate re-entry heat may need to take this into account.

This aircraft has not been tested with FAR. If anyone decides to try it out with Ferram, I would appreciate any feedback or results you can provide.

DOWNLOAD: K-2D "Kraken Lady"

Edited July 29, 2013 by Mustangrande
Additional Craft

[Flixxbeatz]

That wings.

[Mustangrande]

*Searches frantically for a "Dem Wings" picture with Jebediah in it.*

[MassiveEffectz]

If you can edit it to a bicycle landing gear design ( or perhaps using orver wheels which are lighter) and reducing some air intakes, it can increase performance. Ill see if I can edit it to be improved and ill test it out with ferams later today and ill get back to you.

[Mustangrande]

The "modified bicycle" gear arrangement is mainly intended to make takeoff and landing easier. While the wings are protected by gear, allowing that gear to touch will generally result in a severe pull in that direction. Two pairs of wheels mean that you don't have to balance the plane along the centerline.

I'll likely play around with removing air intakes as well. I was mainly interested in "air hogging" my way up to the highest altitude I could manage for testing. For cruising at 25000, less air will be needed, and some weight savings could be had.

I'm also playing around with a modified version that uses a Sabre engine to achieve LKO.

[Mustangrande]

I trimmed what I could from the K-2D, and came up with the K-2E, which uses the bare minimum number of air intakes for sustained full-throttle cruise at 25,000m. The wings have also been redesigned to eliminate the "porpoising" problem on descent, in which the K-2D would skip off of the air as it increased in density. This change has resulted in HIGHER TAKEOFF AND STALL SPEEDS.

DOWNLOAD: K-2E

Additionally, I've finished the K-2S, which is space-rated to 70KM, thanks to its SABRE-S engine and solar panels. The K-2S also has a set of speed brakes, designed to help the pilot bleed off velocity during descent and approach.

K-2S ORBITAL MISSION PROFILE:

Activate MJ spaceplane guidance and activate a hold of 90 degrees and 25000 meters.

Activate engine and increase throttle to full.

Allow the aircraft to climb to cruise altitude.

Once at altitude, allow the craft to level off and increase speed.

Once shock heating occurs, change the alt-hold setting in MJ to 40000m. Be ready to switch the SABRE engine to LFO mode. Monitor Intake Air, and when it drops below 0.2, press the 1 key, to switch engine modes.

Deactivate Spaceplane guidance and activate Smart ASS Pro-Grade. Monitor orbital info until apoapsis reaches 75km, then cut engines.

Circularize at apoapsis.

Deploy solar panels with the 3 key.

Be sure to orient the ship pro-grade, retract solar panels, and switch engine modes after the deorbital burn, to ensure a stable return to atmospheric flight.

DOWNLOAD: K-2S

[MassiveEffectz]

K-2e notes

you need to strut down the wings or else they flap so much

And you were right about the pitch up tendency. Ferrams mod tended to snap the plane in half many times in flight. Mainly due to the bug of stuck landing gear in the ground.

also you have wayyyy too much fuel. Also i tested it out with a front air intake, B9 of course, and it increased max alt to 26-27.5 km i belive.

Edited July 30, 2013 by MassiveEffectz
clarification

[Mustangrande]

I'll see what I can do. I'm going to make a duplicate install with FAR, and do some more testing with it. Any chance of you posting a craft file with your changes?

[MassiveEffectz]

All i did was a few minor changes. Havent really messed with the fuel fuselages, due to the com/col being very near the front (due to me messing around). Ill see what i can ravel up. I really dont know how to post craft files other than email or making a [.code]

 thing