[0.22] The Halstang Series Prototyped Aircraft/Spacecraft

[Bandock]

Thanks to the introduction of suspension to landing struts and improvements to SAS, I have developed a working prototype of is currently known as the Halstang series craft.

Behold the Halstang-I!:

Download Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24250760/KSP%20Ships/Halstang-I.craft

Others might've already achieved this, but I thought I would share this design that could be the future of horizontal landers. Be aware this one will not travel far, but great for playing around.

For anyone needing to learn how to fly craft like this, here is how:

By keeping the heading on the horizon, you will lift upwards. Pitching down will allow you to move forwards or speed you up. Pitching up will allow you to move backwards or slow you down. When flying this particular craft, use SAS to allow easier control of the craft. Also the reason why reaction wheels have been installed on different areas of the craft.

Edit: Be very careful about overthrottling. It will cause it to tilt until I build an improved version of it.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Bandock
Additions to the post.

[barrenwaste]

You are using rockets here, try using jets, much more efficient. You can attach them easily enough by clipping (don't need to turn part clipping on in the debug) four octagonal struts through the fuel tanks. Also, try using straight jet fuel. That will lighten the load and allow for longer operational windows. If you are trying for a ssto, I'd really suggest you get into the part clipping, as the more you can hide the smaller and more balanced you can keep it while achieving utility.

[Bandock]

Reason why I use rockets is in the event there is no air (though I have thought about adding jets for a hybrid design). Plus, I already made several upgrades to the design that likely lead to working craft. Plus, it may even lead to a proper hybrid.

Edit: Looks like I hit a limit to the point where it no longer lifts up properly (at least for the prototype). However, this definitely was a greater attempt at the experiment than before. This should enable some form of transportation for Kerbals using that particular method of landing. I'll experiment with Jet/Rocket versions sometime to see how they fare.

Edit 2: Here are the newer designs of the class:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24250760/KSP%20Ships/Halstang-II.craft

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24250760/KSP%20Ships/Halstang-III.craft

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24250760/KSP%20Ships/Halstang-IV.craft

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24250760/KSP%20Ships/Halstang-V.craft

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24250760/KSP%20Ships/Halstang-VA.craft

Technically, none of them use jets still. However, they each use different amounts of fuel and thrust. Though I have not been able to achieve orbit with any of these yet, they can go quite some distance.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Bandock
Additional info.

[Ojimak]

You are using rockets here, try using jets, much more efficient. You can attach them easily enough by clipping (don't need to turn part clipping on in the debug) four octagonal struts through the fuel tanks. Also, try using straight jet fuel. That will lighten the load and allow for longer operational windows. If you are trying for a ssto, I'd really suggest you get into the part clipping, as the more you can hide the smaller and more balanced you can keep it while achieving utility.

The main problem with jet VTOLs is that the slow response time to throttle inputs makes piloting (especially precision landings) more difficult.

Be very careful about overthrottling. It will cause it to tilt until I build an improved version of it.

If you're still having unbalanced fuel drain issues, I threw together a simple imgur album showing how to easily build a craft with balanced fuel drain.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

-Ojimak

[Bandock]

The main problem with jet VTOLs is that the slow response time to throttle inputs makes piloting (especially precision landings) more difficult.

If you're still having unbalanced fuel drain issues, I threw together a simple imgur album showing how to easily build a craft with balanced fuel drain.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

-Ojimak

Very nice design. Yeah, I once experimented with trying to balance the fuel to try eliminating the tilting issues. Due to some of the newer features introduced in 0.21 and 0.22, it's a bit more feasible now (provided you use SAS' reaction wheels). While it is still prone to tilting due to fuel imbalance, the new SAS system helps a bit in that regard.

I actually didn't start experimenting with designing such a thing again till I was working on a way to deliver rovers without tilting over the rocket earlier (though I actually accomplished that once in 0.21 or 0.20 somewhere).