Space Plane and Fuel Truck

[Capt Snuggler]

Hi all, this is my first thread and first craft upload. The X3 Mk5 "Stratopigeon" and "Chugger" Fuel Truck. Hope you all like it.

The X3*mk5 “STRATOPIGEON†with Fuel Truck

by Snuggler & Jim Aerospace Labs

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/x3-mk5-stratopigeon/

Introducing the X3-mk5 “Strato-Pigeonâ€Â.

Please take the time to read through this owner’s manual before attempting launch.

*WARNING*

â— This manual is not a substitute for professional flight training.

â— Do not operate this vehicle without proper training and instruction.

â— Snuggler Jim Aerospace Labs, accepts no responsibility for damage, loss, injury or death due to improper use of this vehicle.

â— Vehicle is not intended for interplanetary use.

â— Vehicle is not intended for aquatic use.

â— Caution, parts maybe extremely hot. To prevent injury, do not put any part of your body in or near the engines.

***1. Controls:

â— AG1 = toggle turbojet engines

â— AG2 = toggle ram intakes (keep closed below 10,000m to reduce drag)

â— AG3 = toggle rocket engines (engage after speed greater than 1300mps and alt above 23,000m)

â— AG4 = cut chutes (chutes are used during re-entry to prevent tumble or overshoot)

â— AG8 = Taxi mode

â— AG9 = extend commun-o-trons and open docking port shield

â— AG0 = extend ladder

1.1) To enable Taxi mode right click and raise forward landing gear or press AG8.

*Caution: Do not exceed 5mps. Make sure all engines and RCS are disabled and ladder is stowed. Extend forward landing gear before powering up engines.

***2. Ascent Plan:

2.1) press [2] to close ram intakes. (optional)

2.2) press activate SAS

2.3) press [space] to activate turbo jets

2.4) Max throttle for take off

2.5) @ 100mps pull up slowly and lift off runway

2.6) press [G] to raise gear

2.7) raise heading inclination to 40° up and begin climb

2.8) @ 15,000m lower heading inclination to 20° up

2.9) press [2] to open ram intakes

*monitor your intake air*

2.10) @ 20,000m alt lower heading to 1° ~ 3° up (level off

2.11) @ 1200mps press [3] to fire rockets then immediately [1] and [2] to shut down air breathing engines

2.12) pull up heading to 40° up and raise apoapsis to 80,000m ~ 100,000m13) when desired apoapsis is achieved, plot circularize maneuver node (or turn off your nav computer and use the force)

2.14) perform circularize burn and Congratulations, You are in orbit!

***3. Descent Plan:

3.1) Transfer the backup fuel from little doughnut tanks behind ram intakes, into nose tank.

3.2) when you are above the “Gulf of Retro-grade†burn retro-grade at 50% until your coarse is pointing to the “Sea of Scrap†just west from the little airfield island.

3.3) point nose pro-grade

3.4) press [3] to disable rockets

3.5) flip craft up-side-down (optional)

3.6) point nose 70° down and prepare for re-entry

3.7) hit staging [space] to deploy chutes if needed (*check rockets are still disabled)

3.8) press [1] to activate turbojet engines

3.9) @ 8000m alt press [4] to cut chutes

3.10) throttle to 50%, level off and fly back to KSC

*Note: flight characteristics may have changed after re-entering atmosphere.

***4. Trucking:

4.1) press [1] and [G]

4.2) drive

4.3) not too fast!

4.4) if you cant back a trailer, your not a man.

Thank you for choosing Snuggler & Jim.

*Special thanks to MajorJim for helping me perfect the truck and test all this. cheers buddy, you're still dangerous but you can be my wing man any time.

Edited October 14, 2013 by Capt Snuggler

[Majorjim!]

Bull****! you can be mine!

[Majorjim!]

Anyone flown this? Played with the tanker?

I HIGHLY recommend you do. Its a fantastic SSTO and perfect refuel truck. Fly missions back to back!

MJ

[inigma]

I love the refuel truck. I'm thinking about adding a refueling station next to the landing strip at KSC fitted with various adapters meant to refuel different ships. The truck could come in real handy in refueling the station.

[Majorjim!]

I love the refuel truck. I'm thinking about adding a refueling station next to the landing strip at KSC fitted with various adapters meant to refuel different ships. The truck could come in real handy in refueling the station.

Great idea! Its perfect for that. You can design new haulage for the tanker too! Like this:

MJ

[Capt Snuggler]

Great idea! Its perfect for that. You can design new haulage for the tanker too! Like this:

MJ

now in a perfect world, there would be a docking port on the side of the tanks you see in the background in this picture. you could just drive the truck, rover, lander right up and dock with it. top up your fuel and then carry on with your business.

... come to think of it, when was the last time someone had a close look at those tanks?

[Tankbuster32]

The Stratopigeon kinda looks like an F-4 phantom. +1 rep!

[Capt Snuggler]

The Stratopigeon kinda looks like an F-4 phantom. +1 rep!

funny you mention that, i was trying to make a phantom replica when i started.

[xoknight]

Are those drop tanks?

[Mordecai]

But... do you also have a fuel truck for the fuel truck?

[PlasmaticInc]

Can you attach a payload to the little docking port on top and reuse it like that?

[Capt Snuggler]

Are those drop tanks?

they are BUT i know what you are going to say. they are removed in the final release because they are not necessary and they count as a stage so that would make it not an SSTO. i mostly thought they looked cool.

But... do you also have a fuel truck for the fuel truck?

...im working in it.

Can you attach a payload to the little docking port on top and reuse it like that?

Yes, I have taken up a small payload that way, Also with the under side port on the "A" model. small probes and satellites. I have brought satellites back down too. But its best to only use the top side port for returning. Its VERY hard to land with cargo attached to the underside.

[Psykikk]

hey nice plane. tried to rebuilt it (more fun than simpy downloading it) but couldn´t even get it to reach enough height / speed....

I am surely missing something....

[Capt Snuggler]

hey nice plane. tried to rebuilt it (more fun than simpy downloading it) but couldn´t even get it to reach enough height / speed....

I am surely missing something....

I totally support this! best way to learn new stuff.

upload a pic! I am by no means an expert (this is my first working SSTO) but i would like to see if i can spot whats wrong. I tried to avoid air hogging with mine but its still a little bit "hoggy" with 4 ram intakes, 2 regular intakes and 2 radial scoops feeding two advanced engines.

Also i thought it was worth mentioning, in 0.22 its even easier to fly. the SAS seems to have been tweaked, it behaves very nicely in the ascent and descent now.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Capt Snuggler

[Majorjim!]

Dude, upload the new one. And your Mun rocket and SUPER KEWL lander!

MJ

[Metriximor]

Hey, I am currently doing stuff with a lot of mods, and I need a big truck, like the one you got there, unfortunately, your truck is on spaceport which was shutdown for the new one, could you get me another download link, because that truck would make my life much easyer

[Majorjim!]

I will contact Snuggler and ask him to send you a link.

MJ