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Amphibious VTOLSSTO Mk1 W/STABOJETâ„¢ technology (0.21.1)

Levelord
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Levelord

Levelord

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By request, I have made a few updates to the VTOLSSTO program.

With the recent changes in 0.21, VTOL aircraft designs had received a unique advantage in terms of stability. In 0.20, VTOL maneuvers could only be held stable from the torque of the cockpit alone, as vertical flight generates no lift for the control surfaces to use. With the arrival of 0.21.1, the ability to stack several Inline Reaction Wheels means that we have an unprecedented 70 units of torque available on the VTOL jet. (20 each from the 3 IRWs and 10 from the Mk1 cockpit).

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What does this extra torque mean for the VTOL?

* Extra hovering stability with SAS enabled

* Vectoring engines are not necessary. In fact, aerospike engines can be used in space easily, with the massive IRW torque providing the force to orientate the thrust direction of the entire craft.

What is Stabojetâ„¢?

Stabojetâ„¢ is a technology that we have purchased from MeticulousMitch and incorporated into our SSTO design. The VTOLSSTO's predecessor used cubic octagonal struts to inline the ramjet engines so that it became immune to flame-outs. Unfortunately, this technique proved disastrous as the Kraken loves cubic struts and would come devouring the craft whenever it would dock to anything... Explosively.

Stabojetâ„¢ eliminates the need for cubic struts and provides stability during flame-out events. Stabojetâ„¢ is robust enough that the craft can still fly on just a single engine should the other fail permanently.

So what else is there to this craft?

This VTOLSSTO has been designed from the ground up, to include a lighter frame and the ability to attach atomic engines (coming soon) to it's body. The Mk1 prototype weighs in a mere 24.82t compared to it's ancestor that weighs in at 29.49t. This optimization was in response to the fact that at least 300 units of fuel is spent getting to orbital speeds on jet engines alone, and it would be pointless carrying the equivalent amount of oxidizer from the normal fuel tanks. This gives the Mk1 prototype better VTOL control and allows for a wider range of trust to affect it's ascend/descend speed, thanks to the lighter MK1 fuel tanks.

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The Mk1 is also compatible with the hyperspace ring, updated to 0.21 and useful for interplanetary flights to Laythe. It is also fully re-usable, provided you can re-fuel it in space.

Will the original VTOLSSTO be scrapped?

Nope. It'll just take time for me to re-arrange and update it for service in 0.21. The Mk1 may have the superior tech, but the original had the style.

Without further delay, I shall leave you with the Mk1 .craft file here: Stabojetâ„¢ VTOLSSTO Mk1 Download

Hotkeys:

1 - Toggle Aerospike engines

2 - Toggle Stabojetâ„¢ horizontal ramjet engines

3 - Eat snacks (does nothing)

4 - Toggle VTOL engines

Also, please enjoy the boring test video showcasing some of it's features and stability:

-=Mk2 Update=-

With more research that went into the base design, the craft returns with VTOL engines rebalanced for the new LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine! Aesthetically, it's not too bad either!

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The craft has proven to be so steady, that even when the cockpit and nosecones broke off (in an unfortunate hill accident), the remaining body continued to fly in a stable configuration. Earning it's Stabojetâ„¢ name adequately. Since that part is uncontrollable, it flew off until it ran out of fuel.

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Anyway here's the download link, ENJOY!

Stabojetâ„¢ VTOLSSTO Mk2 Download

Edited by Levelord
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Rune

Rune

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Awesome! Just one minor suggestion. You di know that by the time you light it on a SSTO, the aerospike is just a poor T/W chemical engine, right? I mean, the other chemical engines already get 95%+ of their vacuum isp over 10k meters. And T/W matters quite a bit.

Other than that minor detail, awesome job as always! :)

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Levelord

Levelord

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Awesome! Just one minor suggestion. You di know that by the time you light it on a SSTO, the aerospike is just a poor T/W chemical engine, right? I mean, the other chemical engines already get 95%+ of their vacuum isp over 10k meters. And T/W matters quite a bit.

Other than that minor detail, awesome job as always! :)

Interesting, I had not thought of that. Luckily, the Aerospike engine can be easily switched out for the LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine. So I could technically get more T/W without needing the gimballing engines of the heavier LV-T45 Liquid Fuel Engine.

Actually, BACK TO THE RESEARCH LABS! :D

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Rune

Rune

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Interesting, I had not thought of that. Luckily, the Aerospike engine can be easily switched out for the LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine. So I could technically get more T/W without needing the gimballing engines of the heavier LV-T45 Liquid Fuel Engine.

Actually, BACK TO THE RESEARCH LABS! :D

Exactly what I implied :). You might lose 10~20s isp, but thrust goes waaay up to 215 vs 175kN, and for less weight at that. Spend a bit of the weight in fuel, and you will see both delta-v improvements, and an easier and faster, while staying closer to prograde, climb to orbit.

R-SUV is not liable to any aesthetics loses this search for efficiency may get you, mind you.

Rune. Is very glad to be of help!

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BolkoB

BolkoB

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Dear Levelord, as usual - awesome job, your planes is my favorites and your design is like Mona Lisa ) can you please make a model of this plane as in 0.20 with 3 ppl and with rocket power VTOL to use it on dune for example

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  • 4 weeks later...
Levelord

Levelord

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How do I slow my horizontal speed for a VTOL landing? The wings completely mess me up whenever I try to because the lift keeps me going forward...

Pitch upwards slightly and reduce a bit of thrust on the VTOL engines.

Strange. When all fuel used-up, all engine off, the ship "keep floating"!!!

Do you mean it doesn't descend or something? That's weird. :o

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Levelord

Levelord

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Levelord your ship is exactly what Shuttlecraft Systems Inc. is looking for. Mind if you submit your shuttle there? Mind if we tweak it? Interested in joining?

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/41898-Shuttlecraft-Systems-Inc-%28SSI%29-NOW-HIRING!

Sure go on ahead, and modify it to your heart's desire. :)

I'm always interested in seeing improvements on the designs of my crafts.

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  • 3 weeks later...
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