Eve Circumnavigation Challenge (Expanded)

[Fengist]

This challenge is an expanded version of the Eve Kethane Challenge. In the original challenge, Kethane was the preferred method of propulsion. In this expanded version, and in hopes of getting more people to attempt it, you may complete the circumnavigation in any way you can. Baloons, helicopters, electric engines, ions, rapiers, rockets... are all valid propulsion systems.

Goal: Circumnavigate Eve.

Leaderboards will be kept for both stock and mods.

Categories will include:

Circumnavigators - just accomplishing this feat earns you a place on the leaderboard. In this category, refueling stops are perfectly legal.

Non-stop Circumnavigators - Complete the circumnavigation without refueling.

Timed Circumnavigation - The top 10 times for completing the circumnavigation will be in their own leaderboard.

Rules

1. No infi-gliding, no part clipping.

2. Your aircraft must be piloted.

3. Maximum cieling: 75,000m. 96,000m is the upper extent of the Eve atmosphere. This ceiling insures you don't go into LEO.

4. No player modifications. All mods must be as provided in the distribution. You may use hyperedit to place yourself on Eve.

5. Prior to beginning your circumnavigation you will be required to land and come to a complete stop on Eve. Upon landing, you will declare you starting point by taking a Kerbal EVA and planting a flag. This Kerbal can come either from your aircraft or from a base already established there but your aircraft must be at that location. You must provide a screenshot of the flag planting. Flag, flight stats, aircraft resources and plane must be visible to some degree.

6. Your circumnavigation not need take the shortest path. Once you choose your general direction you must continue in that direction. If you choose to fly east to west, you can only reverse direction in order to make fuel stops (should you realize you have to reverse course because you can't make it to the next one) and once fueled, you must continue back on the east to west path. You can of course fly north or south in this example in order to reach fuel stops. The goal is to circumnavigate. That means around. No flying east, then north over the pole then south and then back east. You can do a polar circumnavigation if you choose.

7. Fueling en-route may be either the aircraft fueling itself or from a base. To clarify, you can either pack your own Kethane drills or have a vehicle meet you and fuel your aircraft. No unlimited fuel or other such nonsense which defeats the spirit of this challenge.

8. Your aircraft must land back at your starting point with all the parts it left with. Losing parts anywhere along the way is a disqualification. You must provide a screenshot of the end of flight stats and the starting point flag.

9. Non-stop circumnavigators must provide a beginning and end flight stats screen shot to qualify.

10. Stock entries must be fully stock. No jeb, engineer. No mods. Just stock.

11. Please list any mods used.

12. Any other silly rule I haven't thot of that prevents defeating the spirit of this challenge.

Notes

All those who have completed the Eve Kethane Challenge are grandfathered into this challenge in the modified circumnavigators category. If you've completed it or wish to complete is separately, you will automatically be included in this challenge. If you wish to re-submit. Please do. I redid this challenge because I wanted to attempt it non-stop in the modified category. I'll be submitting my entry in a few days.

Fly safe and enjoy the view.

If you wish to test Kethane jet engines on Kerbin prior to venturing to Eve, here's a pre-filled 1000 unit Kethane tank. Simply unzip to your GameData directory.

1000 unit prefilled Kethane tanks

[Circumnavigators] (Stock)

[Circumnavigators] (Modified)

automcdonough | Landed on Eve backward but flew around it forward. (Kethane Challenge)

Fengist | Because the OP has to do his own challenge! (Kethane Challenge)

Spartwo | Handicapped accessible plane. (Kethane Challenge)

nhnifong Includes a 30 minute narrated slide show of the attempt... umm wow. (Kethane Challenge)

Voculus Using Spaceplane+ mods. (Kethane Challenge)

[Non-Stop Circumnavigators] (Stock)

[Non-Stop Circumnavigators] (Stock)

[Fastest Circumnavigators] (Stock)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

[Fastest Circumnavigators] (Modified)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

And how bad is flying on Eve?

Signature sized.

Edited July 17, 2014 by Fengist

[Spartwo]

Hooray Ion engines! I will regain my honor in a VTOL because Eve landings are hard at night.

Ima gon quote what's left of mine.

postcards from the journey

Kethjet2(imaginative right)

Extras:

-Kethane jets are most efficient at 11.2km

-I'm ready for the Duna edition.

-The OP was right views are stunning during the day.

-I started to like Sigfield so plans for a rescue are underway.

-Nomnomnomnom landing gear:/

[Fengist]

Hooray Ion engines! I will regain my honor in a VTOL because Eve landings are hard at night.

Ima gon quote what's left of mine.

LOL, I still have my original one parked there.

[2001kraft]

I can has rover???

Or is this aircraft only?

[foamyesque]

Aw, no staging?

[2001kraft]

Aw, no staging?

Looks like the challenge wants you to make a small aircraft with wings (I'll just use my exploration rover+wings+engine of some sort), and go all over around Eve close to the surface collecting samples in mid air...

Which is do-able I guess

[Right]

No mechjeb or engineer (or other informational mods) is going to require one to fly for 25 minutes in the orbital map view to prevent breaking the 75k ceiling. Are you sure?

[Fengist]

Well, the original challenge was to fly around Eve. But, since I'm currently driving around it... go for it.