Longer runway?

[Daniiren]

I often have a difficult time landing spaceplanes on the runway and I finally realized why - the runway is only 2500m long. Would it be reasonable to ask for a longer runway? 2500m is short for any commercial runway on earth, and most spaceports have runways in the ~5000m range. I'm not saying we should double the existing runway length, but maybe add an extra 1000 or 1500m on - enough to make life a bit easier.

[JumpsterG]

Some taxi lanes leading to/from the beginning and end of the runway would be nice, too. Currently, I can't to get a landed plane back to the start of the runway without tugging it with a rover, driving it on the grass, or recovering and relaunching. Not a big deal, obviously, but would be nice.

[frizzank]

I have to use parachutes to slow down...

[BubbaWilkins]

The runway is already plenty long. Try adjusting your landing path so you actually hit the start of it while flying at near stall speed. Landings should generally take less distance than taking off.

[SargeRho]

I think the current one is fine, actually. Taxiways, and perhaps a north/south runway would be nice though.

[JoCRaM]

Some taxi lanes leading to/from the beginning and end of the runway would be nice, too. Currently, I can't to get a landed plane back to the start of the runway without tugging it with a rover, driving it on the grass, or recovering and relaunching. Not a big deal, obviously, but would be nice.

looking at the new graphics for the runway, something appeares to be due to happen at the start and middle of the runway, but not at the end...

[astropapi1]

I have to use parachutes to slow down...

If they don't split your plane in two or bring it to a halt on it's nose.

[RocketPilot573]

The current runway is more than long enough, with the current brakes any plane can stop with only 1/4 of the runway.

[UberFuber]

If they don't split your plane in two or bring it to a halt on it's nose.

It would be nice if the parachute doesn't automatically cut itself the moment you touch ground. Would make stopping heavier aircraft a lot easier (even in real-life space shuttle have chutes that deploy after they landed to slow them down).

[pa1983]

The current runway is more than long enough, with the current brakes any plane can stop with only 1/4 of the runway.

Yea I agree. I can land a 100 ton spaceplane at less then 1/4 the runway. Its all about making a good design. I remember when I could not land, I remember when I feelt the runway was to short for take off. Now my crafts lands and takes off in so short distanses its not even funny and that's wit a twr of 2:3.

Check my videos in my signature for examples. Almost all my vids feture take off and landing at the start and end.

No the runway us long enough for an A380. Learn to use wings instead of building flying bricks. Plane is not a rocket.

[SilverWarior]

I think that adding AirBrakes and Flaps could help a lot with landings and takeoffs.

But othervise corect landing approach is most important. In real life most planes usually use about 15 degreese descent angle and are almost stalled during whole time. They always use fully deployed flaps to increase the aircraft lift and help with air braking.

But since there are no flaps implemented in KSP using 15 degreese descent agnle and nearly stalling could be potentially dangerous as it probably won't result in smoth landing. So having a bit higher speed an lower descent angle is probably more advisable. But this also requires a bit more runway lenght to come to full stop due to larger landing speed.

[minerman30]

Traditional runways are actually less than 2500 meters, as most are less that 6000 feet. The current runway is fine.

[B787_300]

This has been suggested many times, you are supposed to search and read the what has already been suggested thread before making a post...

[Vonar]

The Space Shuttle had a main landing runway that was 4,600 meters long, it would be reasonable to lengthen the runway at KSP to match that length.

Other former Shuttle landing facilities on the planet are as long as 11,000-plus meters so asking for a longer runway length is not unreasonable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_shuttle_landing_sites

Edited November 9, 2013 by Vonar

[astropapi1]

The Space Shuttle had a main landing runway that was 4,600 meters long, it would be reasonable to lengthen the runway at KSP to match that length.

Other former Shuttle landing facilities on the planet are as long as 11,000-plus meters so asking for a longer runway length is not unreasonable.

This is Kerbin, not Earth. A 4.6km flat runway would have problems with the planet's curvature. Ever thought of that?

[RocketPilot573]

The Space Shuttle had a main landing runway that was 4,600 meters long, it would be reasonable to lengthen the runway at KSP to match that length.

Other former Shuttle landing facilities on the planet are as long as 11,000-plus meters so asking for a longer runway length is not unreasonable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_shuttle_landing_sites

True, but real-life brakes are pitiful compared to KSP brakes. You can still stop in like 100 meters.

[pa1983]

Not to mention that you can descend at 20 degree angle at 40m/s then pull up and land just fine. Just a mater of lift. Most of my spaceplanes can easily do 20 degrees down befor landing and land at 40m/s so stopping is not even hard. Its painfully easy making it look ridiculous. I would love more realistic breaks with ABS, drogue chutes and airbreaks. Looks like crap when a 200 ton spaceplane jumps up and down from locked breaks

I can tell from my experience that people creating threads like this have just started building spaceplanes and what they are building is basically a flying rocket. They dont do much flying as they are going ballistic. Landing that is like landing a brick. So learn to use wings.

Only time its remotely hard to stop is landing on Duna horizontally due to the low atmospheric pressure.

[vexx32]

This is Kerbin, not Earth. A 4.6km flat runway would have problems with the planet's curvature. Ever thought of that?

Even at a 1/9th scale, Kerbin can easily accommodate a runway of that size.

[Sochin]

Some stats for you, the runway at Cape Canavarel (SLF) is 4572m long and one of the shuttle releif landing sites (RAF Elvington) 3000m long both runways had very high runway strength criteria. You might want to look at the White Sands facility two 11000m strips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_shuttle_landing_runways

[TheBadAstronomer]

Although I'm not having your problem, perhaps you could land on the grass next to it. It is quite a bit longer than the runway.

[Wjolcz]

I'd love to see the runway a bit more expanded. Maybe with a helipad and 2 more runways, so we could easily choose which direction we want to approach it or lift off from. Just like on Heathrow or San Francisco Airport.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Veeltch

[boomerdog2000]

You guys can actually hit the runway?

Just kidding, the current runway seems fine to me(when I can hit it). Landed many a B9 spaceplane on it/near it.

[Sathurn]

To this guy complaining about runway length: Are you actually touching down within the first 10% of the runway? Are you using your brakes? If your avoiding your brake because of tumbling go to your actions menu of your planes design and remove wheels that are forward of the cg. So that braking will only use rear wheels.

[Outlander4]

As other people said, the runway is more than enough for our needs. I'd like to have a second parallel runway and a North-South runway though.

[wasmic]

A parralel runway would be cool, and the same with helipads and taxiing roads, now that wheels with steering are coming. But I do not think that a longer runway is needed.