BSC (Better Stock Crafts) - Aeris 3a - Yet another winner!

[DisarmingBaton5]

@Giggleplex777, I assume that is flameout spin-proof? The engines are angled inward a bit.

[antbin]

I've been really impressed by the quality of the Voting stage of this challenge and would be grateful if anyone would take the time to offer a critique of this build.

Hey, nice adaptation, my comments on the Eaglehammer:

• The Center of Lift is far behind the Center of Mass. This leads to:
  
• When taking off 'dead stick', the back lifts off first and the plane 'wheelbarrows' onto the front wheel and crashes. This can be solved by giving the rear elevators one notch of nose-up in the SPH (also helps with AoA stability) or otherwise moving the CoL a bit forward.
  
• I don't think you need that much roll authority, you could probably move the elevators closer into the body.
  
• I love the yaw rudder behavior! It's perfect.
  
• The emergency parachute tends to tear the aircraft in pieces. Some struts, maybe?
  

Nice plane!

[antbin]

Thank you everyone for the great contest - this was the biggest and most diverse turnout yet. I'm excited for the next one whenever you get back in the saddle Xeldrak. Very honored that y'all liked the plane!

In the spirit of 'after-the-fact revisions', I'd like to post a bug-fixed version for posterity. It looks pretty much the same, but has changes including:

• Staging works - the "rocket go now" space bar launches only the jet engine
  
• Abort works - the engine gets cut (and the gear drops!) when the parachute fires
  
• Extra struts to hold the wings on tighter for bumpy abort landings
  
• Action group 2 for the landing ladder - though I still like the 'parking brake ladder' combo.
  
• No more barometer - so it's even more balanced than before
  
• No more solar panel - maybe it was a gimmick all along?
  
• Can pull 5 Gs now (still fairly tame though). Moved wing back a bit, moved canards forward a bit (maybe a little less pretty now), and fidgeted with the intakes to angle them slightly better (flames out at higher altitude).
  
• And finally... I partclipped a small control surface behind the jet to give it some yaw authority. You asked for it!
  

So, the 'director's cut' edition:

>>To Aeris Kerbal 3b<<

Edited September 16, 2013 by antbin

[Rhomphaia]

Hey, nice adaptation, my comments on the Eaglehammer:

• The Center of Lift is far behind the Center of Mass. This leads to:
  
• When taking off 'dead stick', the back lifts off first and the plane 'wheelbarrows' onto the front wheel and crashes. This can be solved by giving the rear elevators one notch of nose-up in the SPH (also helps with AoA stability) or otherwise moving the CoL a bit forward.
  
• I don't think you need that much roll authority, you could probably move the elevators closer into the body.
  
• I love the yaw rudder behavior! It's perfect.
  
• The emergency parachute tends to tear the aircraft in pieces. Some struts, maybe?
  

Nice plane!

Congrats on the win, I'm liking the 3b a lot

And thanks for the review.

Taking your suggestions on board I replaced the forward winglets with slightly angled delta deluxes. This both reduces the wheelbarrowing and also, in combination with the repositioned rear elevators, reduces the roll authority without compromising the pitch too much.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much I can do about the parachute. the connections on the Mk2 cockpit don't seem to be very strong, and even with every part of the plane stitched together with struts the Mk1 cockpit pops off like a champagne cork if you open the parachutes low and fast. In the old version it still had winglets attached and I did once glide it to a safe splashdown on a test. the new versions winglets attach to the rear cockpit now though

Further development of the T has been shelved as the Eaglehammer - X Prototype is now in early testing, so bring on the BSC Aeris 4a challenge.

[AmpsterMan]

Hey Antbin, congratulations on the victory!

And since this thread seems to now be about posting our designs we come up with.

Here are some of mine

[Giggleplex777]

I have more!

Now available at Zepto Labs.

[AmpsterMan]

Nice one Giggle!

Looking at your design reminds me of something I don't like about the plane parts that I hope get's updated somewhat soon. There is like zero incentive to use anything but Ram Air Intakes and the Basic Jet Engine.

[Giggleplex777]

Nice one Giggle!

Looking at your design reminds me of something I don't like about the plane parts that I hope get's updated somewhat soon. There is like zero incentive to use anything but Ram Air Intakes and the Basic Jet Engine.

They just look good.

[Naten]

Snip, snap

You win an Interweb.

[briansun1]

I wounder when the next one will be.