VTOL Bridge Limbo

[hawkwing]

Partially inspired by Cupcake's wonderful exploits, I've been looking into jet VTOLs recently.

As such: a simple challenge for anyone interested in the art of wingless aircraft.

Take a VTOL of your design and fly it through the hole in the building over at the R&D facility. As a side challenge if the first proves too difficult to you: fly under the skyway at the R&D facility. (honorable mention only)

Rules:

• The use of rockets is discouraged and will limit you to an honorable mention.
  
• Control surfaces and wings are forbidden
  
• RCS may be used for rotation only. It may not be used for translation.
  
• If you bump the ground at any point in the flight other than take-off or landing, you must restart. (self enforced)
  
• Use of 3rd party stabilization aids such as mechjeb or Im a Cupcake Wannabe will limit you to an honorable mention.
  
• You must disclose if you used a joystick, keyboard, or other control scheme. There is no penalty for using any of these, this rule is just for informational purposes.
  

Dedicated Completionists:

• hawkwing : Keyboard
  
• burnoutforzai : Keyboard
  

Honorable Mentions:

moved my example flight to comments

Edited March 30, 2014 by hawkwing
moving my example flight from main post to comment section and added completion list

[burnoutforzai]

Keyboard... And a nice challenge but wish there could be a leader board and scoring. For example you could see how fast they go or in what time they do it in.

The kerbal on eva under the bridge is here

Edited March 30, 2014 by burnoutforzai

[jmiki8]

I may try this! I love your proof-of-concept, that VTOL with the four bars looks like a pig xD

[BagelRabbit]

I think that our challenges overlap more than a little... Mine is a bit more difficult though.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/73095-The-Three-Bridges-Cup!

I'll give this challenge my best shot, though. I have a feeling that my pathetic li'l VTOL might complete this challenge... with a whole lot of luck.

[hawkwing]

I'd considered adding a scoring system, but this was meant more as an introductory challenge. More advanced flyers can of course check out UpsilonAerospace's challenge, above. Also, Upsilon, there was no intention to overlap with your challenge, and I hope people can see that they are different. Your challenge allows wings, is a race, and contains 3 bridges. This isn't meant as anything more than a "can you do it?" challenge.

@jmiki8: Its actual name in the VAB was "Wasp". It looked a lot more like one, too, back when it still had a downwards angled cockpit and 6 legs. Sadly the tilted cockpit skewed the controls and made for difficult flying, so I trimmed it back to basics to complete and submit the challenge.

Also: moving my example flight down here out of the original post.

Here is my example flight, using keyboard controls.

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Edited March 31, 2014 by hawkwing
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