Electric propellers

[M3tal_Warrior]

Take my like!

[Francois424]

I managed to mod a piece from firespitter and all that... but I would prefer a stock propeller as well.

I think that would be a superb new part to add to the mix for all the mentioned reasons.

Plus, with all the new biomes coming all over the place, it kinda makes sense.

Count me in.

[Wahgineer]

Maybe we could also add regular, fuel-and-atmo engines to use on our first planes on kerbin. Then we get jet engines and, eventually, the electric propeller. Also, they should throttle quicker than jet engines.

[Capt Snuggler]

I really would love electric propellers!

I would want a copter style variable pitch prop in "tiny" or .625 size, also a ducted fan as a radial part.

would be great if the copter stile prop was foldable.

Edited October 24, 2014 by Capt Snuggler

[herbal space program]

On the one hand, I think they would add an interesting new dimension to gameplay, but on the other I think it might be hard to implement them without making them OP. It would have to take a LOT of electricity to generate significant thrust, or else jet engines would become useless. Still, having a way of getting off of Eve other than landing something that looks like a heavy Kerbin launch vehicle would be sweet...

[LethalDose]

Agree with the OP. Would like to see electric props in stock.

On the one hand, I think they would add an interesting new dimension to gameplay, but on the other I think it might be hard to implement them without making them OP. It would have to take a LOT of electricity to generate significant thrust, or else jet engines would become useless. Still, having a way of getting off of Eve other than landing something that looks like a heavy Kerbin launch vehicle would be sweet...

I don't think it would be hard to balance at all. First, the props would be much more dependent on atmospheric atmospheric pressure/density than the jets. (I believe I've read this is true for rockets IRL, but it's not how it's implemented in the game). Also, even at sea level, the props should have less thrust and a less favorable TWR than jet engines.

That's all you need.

And they won't be much help for getting off Eve. These parts aren't for spaceflight, they're for surface travel, like rovers.

Edited October 25, 2014 by LethalDose

[Nemrav]

I'm amazed nobody screamed necro

But really that doesn't matter, the topic isn't dead..

Earlier it appears that I mentioned what work had been done by the devs concerning props..

so here they are :

Still think its a good idea

[robopilot99]

Yes please these would be fantastic.

[zxczxczbfg]

I think stack-mounted pusher and puller propellers (or simply one type of propeller with a pusher/puller tweakable option), plus some kind of radially-mounted ducted fan, would be awesome. Equally awesome would be a tweakable option to set the size of said propellers, scaling their thrust and power consumption appropriately.

[mattinoz]

Yep electric props would have some cool uses but wouldn't we also need some retractable wings to go with them?

[LethalDose]

Yep electric props would have some cool uses but wouldn't we also need some retractable wings to go with them?

One does not require the other. Helicopters and quad-copter drones use electric props but don't need retractable wings, and players have already built gliders for Duna and Eve without retractable wings.

[Joonatan1998]

Propellers could be nice, but they could make eve return too easy.

[Capt Snuggler]

Propellers could be nice, but they could make eve return too easy.

they could be heat sensitive like electric motors in real life. if they operate at full throttle for too long they could overheat.

with the higher gravity and temperature on eve and you could quickly have a cooked motor...

Edited October 26, 2014 by Capt Snuggler

[Vallius]

I'd be all for this! It would give me a real reason to use science points on space-plane technology. It's seems kind of ridiculous how much of the tech tree is dedicated towards parts that have no use beyond Kerbin and Laythe.

[Ricardo79]

I would also appreciate stock propellers, both air and water types.

Agreed They are "a must have" technology. Including early on the tech tree as that part is lack of athmosphere usable and aerodynamic parts.

Ok now oceans I can live with it but no air???? that's a shame.

[Rath]

A solar wing would really help (Ive gone as far as making subassemblies of wings with solar panels)

[DevoidLight]

Propellers would be great for an early game plane part. I'm sure more ingenious players could find uses for them off world or on the oceans but I'd just like aeroplanes to be viable a bit earlier in the tech tree. For newer players the Kerbin Exploration contracts are quite difficult without planes or rovers, propellers would let us start off with the close by green locations at least.

Edited February 24, 2015 by DevoidLight

[Renegrade]

+1 from me for electric props. That's my favorite part of Firespitter. These things have been discussed as exploration options for planets with atmosphere, it's not an unreasonable thing.