New Version: Dispatcher's Self Flying Planes (Mostly & a Rocket) V. 1.1

[Dispatcher]

Now version 1.1 Removed all solar cells & most ladders. Moved thrusters on space planes. Adjusted some wings and added some control surfaces on some planes for improved flight behavior. How is it possible to have self flying planes, you ask? These planes are designed to take off, reach altitude, fly until out of fuel (and most glide down to finally safely ditch or land). They work in KSP v. 0.21 (and probably in earlier versions too). Only stock parts are used and most assembly is normal (minimal use of shift S or whatever to adjust part fit). These are not modded and craft files are not edited. So aerodynamics and (dynamic) mass balancing are the key design factors.

Why make such planes? I wanted to make planes which anyone could use to learn to fly in KSP. I decided that if a plane could fly without a pilot, such a plane would be good for beginners as well as more experienced pilots to fly. These should be no harder to fly than any other KSP plane. Perhaps easier!

The planes:

Air Wasp (Experimental) – mixed engine jet uses rocket fuel.

Crazy Ivan – rocket plane (name from “Hunt for Red October†novel and movie, due to runway behavior)

Hammerhead – turbojet

Hawk V. 1.1 – mixed engine jet uses ... jet fuel. Adjusted lift surfaces.

Last Shadow – single engine jet. Adjusted control surfaces.

Mosquito – ramjet

Nova Hawk – mixed engine jet. Better for experienced pilots. Kept ladders.

Shrike – turbo ramjet

Wasp – rocket jet. Note: as in the original, fire both stages at launch from runway. Only fire first stage from orbit.

There is also a rocket:

Hubris of Debris – concept demonstration craft. It shows staging techniques, various kinds of jet, liquid (even solid if you can find them) multistage boosters, “asparagus†fueling, jettisoning some fins; all in one craft. The payload is also staged. Unlike most of the plane designs, either use SAS or fly it manually!

For some photos, see the previous version post:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/46009-Dispatcher-s-Self-Flying-Planes-%28Mostly%29-and-a-Rocket

Users of the original version should see improved flight behavior. Try the improved version!

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/dispatcherplanesv1-1/

Note: any landing which your Kerbal can walk (or swim) away from is a good landing!

Edited August 16, 2013 by Dispatcher
Added note at bottom.

[spaceman1999]

Picture please

[Dispatcher]

Picture please

From the start of this thread: "For some photos, see the previous version post:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/...9-and-a-Rocket"

You would scroll down and see these:

Mosquito:

Wasp:

Hubris of Debris:

Thanks for the interest!

Take care and happy ... uh, Kerballing?

Edited August 16, 2013 by Dispatcher
Reposting pictures here.