Skipper SSTO Mk1 My First Functional SSTO

[mike9606]

Today I got the SSTO Variant of my Skipper aircraft into orbit.

It uses the old jet/rockets combo that was used before the R.A.P.I.E.R engine existed, the reasoning for this is that the original Skipper Mk1 was capable of getting up to around 62km and possibly higher with only it's single Ram Air Intake and Turbojet. Yes this aircraft only has 1 intake. It is powered by 1 Turbojet and 2 small Rockomax orange stack engines. It is very tight for fuel as in orbit for the first test flight it only has 460 m/s of Delta-V. There is a Mechjeb module on it, but I only have used it to keep the aircraft pointed at the node during the orbit insertion burn. Joezer Kerman is now officially the first kerbal to reach space in a SSTO in my save now.

Edited July 10, 2014 by mike9606

[Voculus]

Congrats! When I finally managed to get a plane from the runway and into orbit, it felt like a great accomplishment. Now watch the SSTO/Spaceplane bug sink its hooks into you, as you create ever larger and more complex SSTOs.

By the way, you check out the excellent Space Plane Plus Mod. Gorgeous models and details, and not so many parts that it will tax your system.

[mike9606]

Congrats! When I finally managed to get a plane from the runway and into orbit, it felt like a great accomplishment. Now watch the SSTO/Spaceplane bug sink its hooks into you, as you create ever larger and more complex SSTOs.

By the way, you check out the excellent Space Plane Plus Mod. Gorgeous models and details, and not so many parts that it will tax your system.

I'll probably make some SSTOs with that mod, but I'm waiting for a certain adapter that will be in a update for it that will allow me to have a turbojet and 2 small orange rockomax engines together.

[mike9606]

Due to a mechanical failure during landing the aircraft flipped on it's side and the cockpit was destroyed. A memorial will be made for the Pilot. R.I.P. Joezer Kerman.

Edited July 10, 2014 by mike9606

[mike9606]

Well does anybody know why upon touchdown the aircraft would flip onto it's side like it did?

[aphenine]

I can't tell you for certain, but there are two suggestions. I know on take-off, craft tend to flip if they're front heavy or if the front landing gear buckles.

The front landing gear might not be strong enough when you touch down and the forces can cause it to buckle to the side, spinning the front out and sending the craft into a flip.

Or, the fuel you're burning might have come from different tanks, leading to a completely different weight distribution on landing that might not be stable.

[mike9606]

I can't tell you for certain, but there are two suggestions. I know on take-off, craft tend to flip if they're front heavy or if the front landing gear buckles.

The front landing gear might not be strong enough when you touch down and the forces can cause it to buckle to the side, spinning the front out and sending the craft into a flip.

Or, the fuel you're burning might have come from different tanks, leading to a completely different weight distribution on landing that might not be stable.

The craft was symmetrical, but upon touchdown it flipped onto it side. The front did not blow out. It simply flipped onto its side.

[aphenine]

Yeah, but did it flip around an axis defined by the line running between the single (front?) landing gear to one of the double (rear?) landing gear? If it did, then that's the dead giveaway. You might not even have time to notice the landing gear going, or the weight distribution could have caused that (or just some residual velocity). Some of my designs have gone that way If it didn't flip on that axis, then it's something else.

[mike9606]

Yeah, but did it flip around an axis defined by the line running between the single (front?) landing gear to one of the double (rear?) landing gear? If it did, then that's the dead giveaway. You might not even have time to notice the landing gear going, or the weight distribution could have caused that (or just some residual velocity). Some of my designs have gone that way If it didn't flip on that axis, then it's something else.

What happened was I touched down, the aircraft bounced a bit, and it flipped onto it's side after one of the wings dipped down. I think it was caused by a narrow wheelbase.

It simply flipped onto it's side and went off to the right a little.