Kerbol Impulse

[Zild]

...because Kerbals are green!

Inspired by The Wrong Brothers thread and recent talk in the news about Solar Impulse 2 (an entirely electric-powered plane intended to circumnavigate the globe), I decided to try my hand at Kerbol Impulse - an entirely electric-powered plane intended to get into orbit.

Unfortunately, with the stock parts I could not get very far (2000m altitude manned, 2500m unmanned). The lack of electric motor for atmosphere really is limiting me here.

Has anyone had even a modicum of success with electric-only planes or rockets?

Has anyone found any good, modern-technology based mods that expand the options for electric only?

Save Kerbin - go green!

[Javster]

I assume you used ion engines? Try the Firespitter propellers.

[Madrias]

Firespitter Propellers, Interstellar Mod gives you reactors and generators, plus some energy-gobbling engines.

Oh, and I'd done a round-the-world with an electric Firespitter propeller-propelled plane. Took 6 hours, flown full manual. Album here: http://imgur.com/a/lRkTh

Edited June 11, 2014 by Madrias

[cantab]

Getting a stock ion glider into orbit is TOUGH, but it has been done. There's a thread in the challenges forum for it. If you allow staging it might be made easier.

[Zild]

Took 6 hours, flown full manual.

This, more than anything else, is the reason I have started looking for a different challenge! A time warp that suited this kind of task would be very welcome...

Getting a stock ion glider into orbit is TOUGH, but it has been done. There's a thread in the challenges forum for it. If you allow staging it might be made easier.

I was originally going to post about this to the challenges forum, but thought it would be way too hard (read: impossible). I will have to search for that...

I will try Firespitter propellers and a "half of Saturday whilst reading a novel" mission, thanks!