Lifting body aircraft in KSP?

[WhiteWeasel]

It it possible to design one?

And no I do not mean placing aerodynamic parts in an unconventional manner in the SPH.

[numerobis]

The only stock parts that have lift are aerodynamic parts. So no, you can't make a lifting body out of non-lifting parts.

[Accelerando]

It is possible if you install Ferram Aerospace, which introduces a more realistic aerodynamics. How one would proceed from there, though, I am not sure.

[Geschosskopf]

It is possible if you install Ferram Aerospace, which introduces a more realistic aerodynamics. How one would proceed from there, though, I am not sure.

Fairings are light and have lots of lift when you use FAR, so you could probably rig up something with the fairings in KW, NovaPunch, or even pFairings to get something that looks like the picture.

[WhiteWeasel]

The only stock parts that have lift are aerodynamic parts. So no, you can't make a lifting body out of non-lifting parts.

I did not mean no aerodynamic part, I meant clustering wings in a box shape around a fuel tank to generate lift does not count.

[AmpsterMan]

KSP engines are fairly powerful. I imagine placing standard canards behind the center of mass and advanced canards in the front of the center of mass could allow for such a thing to work theoretically.

EDIT: Just cooked this up, not exactly what you are looking for perhaps but I think it is the closest one could get to a lifting body in the vanilla game seeing as only aerodynamic parts provide lift.

EDIT2: Here is the craft at it's cruising speed and altitude. At this rate it can probably circumnavigate the world and then some.

Edited October 15, 2013 by AmpsterMan

[lammatt]

i think...

enabling part clipping and stack millions of control surfaces INSIDE a fuel tank can make it looks like a lifting body craft.

[Dispatcher]

Someone would (might) be able to create a mod vehicle with multiple .cfg file values; essentially allowing a 3D model of a lifting body to possess the attributes of command pod, fuel tank, lifting surface and engine; all in one .cfg file. I do not know if it would need some code (.dll) files as well. I'm only capable with modeling, texturing and .cfg files. For all I know, there might already be such a mod available from the Space Port. More knowledgable forum members will probably have useful information about that to post in this thread.

[Darkeldar]

Another lifting body fan here, that would like to see something like them in KSP.

[Tw1]

EDIT2: Here is the craft at it's cruising speed and altitude. At this rate it can probably circumnavigate the world and then some.

Not quite the same, but a while ago I made this Jet rocket thing as an experiment. If flown right, I can get half way and then a bit, with the one tank.

It had a 3 to 1 intake to engine ratio- a second jet is behind that one.

[iamaphazael]

Someone would (might) be able to create a mod vehicle with multiple .cfg file values; essentially allowing a 3D model of a lifting body to possess the attributes of command pod, fuel tank, lifting surface and engine; all in one .cfg file. I do not know if it would need some code (.dll) files as well. I'm only capable with modeling, texturing and .cfg files. For all I know, there might already be such a mod available from the Space Port. More knowledgable forum members will probably have useful information about that to post in this thread.

Can be done fairly simply with a .cfg edit and a custom model. No plugin required.

[xzxvrx]

I remember a completely stock lifting body being done a few weeks ago, but I cant recall where it is at...

Because bro, do you even generate lift?

[Dispatcher]

Can be done fairly simply with a .cfg edit and a custom model. No plugin required.

There is another consideration: IVA viewing. Interior modeling is possible of course, but I think the ability to view active instrumentation (inc. the nav ball) would require some kind of code.

[BeefTenderloin]

I remember a completely stock lifting body being done a few weeks ago, but I cant recall where it is at...

Because bro, do you even generate lift?

Are you meaning this?

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/52012-BPI-LB1-Inline-Wing-Technology-Aircraft

[iamaphazael]

There is another consideration: IVA viewing. Interior modeling is possible of course, but I think the ability to view active instrumentation (inc. the nav ball) would require some kind of code.

Nope. There are pre-built "props" that are included with the PartTools scripts that are used to export projects from Unity into KSP. All one needs to do is set up their interior model, and create an interior space config file that spells out which components you want to have in your cockpit, and where to put them

[Dispatcher]

Nope. There are pre-built "props" that are included with the PartTools scripts that are used to export projects from Unity into KSP. All one needs to do is set up their interior model, and create an interior space config file that spells out which components you want to have in your cockpit, and where to put them

Hey, that's nice. I've not done any IVA modeling yet and didn't realize the Part Tools had that capability. The only parts I've done for public consumption so far are linked in my sig line. Thanks iama.