the o-10 light mono propellant plane (is this a first?)

[lukeoftheaura]

I've been trying to make a mono propellant powered plane, and this is my end result.

it flies low over kerbin fine.

wondering if anyone else has done this or similar....

some screenshots:

in the hangar:

in flight:

craft file:http://goo.gl/WdZ01D

hope you guys enjoy!

[Alshain]

Interesting idea. I can't say I've ever tried it, but I wouldn't think you can get a whole lot of range out of it though. Short hops to the island maybe.

[GusTurbo]

Looks fun!

[lukeoftheaura]

I tried to fly it to the island, but I am rubbish at flying. Post a screenshot if you get there!

[Darnok]

Not first

Stock

with SP+

[Captain Vlad]

I hadn't built one before I saw this post, but the OP inspired me to tinker with the idea a bit. Made for a fun couple hours, kerbingamer, so thanks for that.

The final product of my efforts was the X-11. Initial problems included a long take-off run (center of thrust wasn't where it needed to be), insufficient range to reach the island (my goal) and other minor issues like turning to one side of the other while accelerating to take off. That's all stuff I could fix without any drastic modifications, so the final result still looks very much like the prototype.

One of my early test flights revealed that the thing was actually pretty buoyant!

The successful version, though, made it all the way to the island. I didn't use constant power though...I'd boost up to 2000 meters and glide down a bit, then repeat.

I misjudged how much altitude I still had to lose at the end though...it's one of my more common piloting problems...and didn't have any fuel left to turn around and try again, so I popped my chutes. I'd decided beforehand that any safe landing on the island was a success, though, so...I was happy.

I really wish they had powered landing gear wheels so I could taxi her into the hangar.

[lukeoftheaura]

I hadn't built one before I saw this post, but the OP inspired me to tinker with the idea a bit. Made for a fun couple hours, kerbingamer, so thanks for that.

Good one! I was just making this for fun. your parachutes idea is good, maybe I will add chutes to the v2.

[Rune]

I still remember the first craft I uploaded to the forums, the Arrowhead:

It was a three-stage spaceplane, with the command module being an independent, balanced by itself, RCS powered glider/escape pod.And the nuclear transfer stage was actually also balanced to fly by itself, I remember that. I was ridiculously proud of it, now I think why the hell did I build it.

Rune. Good 'ol 0.18 times! The command pods had no RCS, and reaction wheels were SAS units.

[Captain Vlad]

It was a three-stage spaceplane, with the command module being an independent, balanced by itself, RCS powered glider/escape pod.And the nuclear transfer stage was actually also balanced to fly by itself, I remember that. I was ridiculously proud of it, now I think why the hell did I build it.

That thing looks...fun.

[Rune]

That thing looks...fun.

It sure was! It got me into the whole spaceplane business, and even though I build much better now, that thing had a lot of originality in it. I almost sent a couple to Duna to serve as general-purpose planes. I now doubt they could have landed safely...

Rune. Come to think about it, I've been playing at this a while now.

[Captain Vlad]

Added some refinements to my little plane. Noticed that I was using up a good chunk of my fuel on the initial take off run, so I threw on four separtrons to give me a little boost up to lift off speed. Also put a battery on the tail for night flights and a ladder back there too so I could get the pilot back in the plane if he fell off while I was taking screenshots.

Here's my take-off boosters firing.

A nice shot of her in flight. Gawd that ladder is ugly, I'm still fiddling with ways to make it less horrible.

And here's Bill on his third or fourth, no-parachute trip to the island. I managed it on my second try without the boosters, but it was noticing where my fuel went on that flight that made me think of giving a little push on take-off. I initially tried using the launch escape tower. That...erm...that didn't work out very well.

If anyone wants to play with it, I can post the craft file.