''Nearly"' perfect JET BOMBER VTOL

[128MB]

Yes, JET engined VTOL. I'm trying this for months and finally got it right.

A nearly perfectly reliable stable hovering capable missile firing jetfighter!

Offcource this is still KSP and i crashed it about 27 times into the VAB

Inspiration is the old Harrier! I love that thing.

How it fly's ? The Entire plane is balanced to 1 single basic jet engine on the bottom.

At full throttle (150kN), the plane is in a state of "near lift-off"'.

Using RCS thrusters and SAS it then can take off and hover as long as you want!

Transition to the 2 turbojets when going fast! Not earlier!

Using staging controls, 2 pairs of missiles can be fired.

After that the missile struts can be ejected, also in emergency or fast flight the 2 large radial RCS tanks can be dumped.

VTOL engine is bound to action 1, FWD Thrust bound to action 2

In Emergency, the ABORT buttons shuts off all engines and shoots out 4 parachutes

It's not totally finished, it doesn't fly forward all that well because of the weight and low lift, and the landing gear is very very ugly.

Have fun!

Download link!

http://www.2shared.com/file/P6dNjrNr/Harrier_bombs.html

Edited August 11, 2013 by 128MB

[jaredkzr]

Looks great! I'm trying it out now!

Edit: It's a very nice jet! It has some balancing problems when the fuel starts to get low but other than that it handles pretty well!

Edited August 11, 2013 by jaredkzr

[128MB]

Back from vacation!

Hey thanks jaredkzr.

Yes the handling changes with the fuel, but i just had to share this plane, i found i quite magical for it being so easy to hover anywhere.

[Dispatcher]

Really really cool! After all that hard work, its nice to start to have it pay off in satisfaction.

[128MB]

I have been working on the jet, it now has a bi-wing configuration, 2 rudders, MUCH better landing gear a bit of extra aesthetic bits and pieces. I ditched the parachutes BUT added 2 large missiles!

I was able to fly it around the big mountains, drop all the bombs, go supersonic, land VTOL on the tiny airport island and then do a normal landing and taxi'd to the hanger, then the fuel ran out

Here is a new picture, when finished i will upload the file.