How many lift units do I need?

[rpayne88]

Question says it all. I want to get a 50 ton plane, which will later be a shuttle, off the ground carrying a 15-20 ton payload. I currently use FAR.

[Dispatcher]

That may depend on your preferred throttle setting(s). Here are some general tips. Some people like to fly everything at full throttle, from runway to (almost) landing. Others tend to use lower settings. The higher the setting, the less lift surface area you may need; the lower the setting, the more surface area. If you intend to glide (say, after running out of fuel), you'll need more wing area; if you are gonna drop the plane for a glide test with full tanks, you'll need the most wing area.

I hope that helps!

[LeadMagnet]

I normally use 3 lift stages, no matter what I'm sending up. Stage 1 has max power to get to 10Km-ish, Stage 2 to 100Km orbit (but I always drop it early to force it's re-entry), Stage 3 to finish off the orbit then go where ever. I have a load (well, did pre-0.21 update that killed saves ) of stage 3's, which has large and small docking ports on them, which I can use to re-fuel other vessels.

[DeathSpank]

I normally use 3 lift stages, no matter what I'm sending up. Stage 1 has max power to get to 10Km-ish, Stage 2 to 100Km orbit (but I always drop it early to force it's re-entry), Stage 3 to finish off the orbit then go where ever. I have a load (well, did pre-0.21 update that killed saves ) of stage 3's, which has large and small docking ports on them, which I can use to re-fuel other vessels.

What kind of rockets, engines, and how much fuel do you have for each stage?

[rpayne88]

This is not a rocket I am designing. This is a spaceplane that will ultimately become a shuttle. I am testing it's aerodynamics by launching it from the runway. How many units of aerodynamic lift do I need to lift 70 tons off the runway going 165m/s?

[LeadMagnet]

.....How many units of aerodynamic lift do I need to lift 70 tons off the runway going 165m/s?

That, I have no idea. There is this post that kinda answers that the thrust/lift/weight ratio question. If it was me, and I was having lift problems, I'd attach a bunch of small wings attached to small pylons them eject them when at higher altitude.

What kind of rockets, engines, and how much fuel do you have for each stage?

Stage 1, two big orange tanks stacked vertically with a mainsail then six large SRB's on radial mounts.

Stage 2, 2 x200-32 stacked vertically with a mainsail.

Stage 3, 1 x200-16 with 6 T200 (with LVT45) radially mounted (so the stage will allow stage 2 to attach) with the engine nozzle flush with the bottom tank (so stage 2 sep doesn't break them off), I then add 2 COT and 2 COT Jr to the T200 so I can suck what fuel may be left.

I have seen much better designs, more efficient as well, but this works for me and I do like the look!

[DeathSpank]

Ill will try it out!! Thank you very much!