The Air, the drag, and the lift

[KASASpace]

Okay, I'm no programmer, but how hard would it REALLY be to add the aerodynamics code?\

To me drag should be:

1. Check the orientation of craft

2. Check prograde marker

3. Compare the two

4. check speed

5. check surface area of the stuff going into the air

6. calculate the total drag

Thus the drag would be a factor of everything it is a factor of in IRL, not concerning wind, though. But that'll be added later, I hope.\

And what is the lift code? Someone explain this to me, please.

[RocketPilot573]

At the moment, a box literally flies better than anything else. As nosecones only add weight, and in some cases even more drag. So yea, better aerodynamics would be nice...

[Sapphire Snow Leopard]

I don't know how much of an improvement Ferram Aerospace Research makes to the stock aerodynamics, but it certainly helps and makes the fairings worthwhile (a naked spacecraft will slow down a launcher with FAR installed). Squad hasn't talked about a core game feature for some time, just improving career mode, so I doubt this'll be added anytime soon.

[Deathsoul097]

The reason Squad isnt working on what you call "Core features", is because they are focusing on a core feature of the game. Career mode. and nothing is planned outside career mode until after at least 0.28, IIRC. Better aerodynamics is something squad wants to do (and is on the WNTS list, but this is a disscussion, so that makes no difference), and in the mean time there is FAR (Whic is, AFAIK, the most accurate representation of a real atmo out on the forums). However, FAR isnt perfect, and makes planes exceptionally hard. (For me at least, nothing I ever build is stable, even when following the tried-and-true COM infront of COL, or using daihedral, or placing COL above or below the COM.) I think it may be best to have a sort of difficulty settings, controlling the atmo types (Real or kerbal) and perhaps the drag types. (Therefore getting all of the benefits of FAR without it making planes uber-hard)

(Also, people, I dont see why you are sooooo doom and gloom about resources. Fellipe said they scrapped "The current model" for implementing it, not that they scrapped resources all-together)

[technicalfool]

At the moment, a box literally flies better than anything else. As nosecones only add weight, and in some cases even more drag. So yea, better aerodynamics would be nice...

Ahem. Nosecones now have a drag value a lot lower than they used to? Admittedly I still have yet to play 0.23, but in 0.22 the nosecones were definitely tweaked in that direction.

[Eric S]

The reason Squad isnt working on what you call "Core features", is because they are focusing on a core feature of the game.

Pretty much this. The reason that they haven't done it yet is because it isn't trivial (even FAR, which is more complicated than your description is really only an approximation) and they have other things that they consider more important. When they run out of things to do that they consider more important, they'll get around to it.

[Bobnova]

Nosecones have directional drag now last I heard. They tend to pull back to a 0 AoA.

[vetrox]

I find far is good for rockets but i find it makes planes too twitchy. The sas doesnt cope very well and it really isnt geared for keyboard use.

Now if I had a joystick FAR might make sense to me.

[Einsty]

While on the toppic of air, I would like to add that wind could make things more interesting. And some take-offs more cra-, I mean more spontaneous landings.