JX-42 Vector - The VTOL SSTO Interceptor [0.25]

[Levelord]

Hello Kerbonauts! Since the release of 0.25 I've been retrofitting the JX-42 with the stock equivalent parts to the parts in the SP+ mod in 0.24.5. I've decided to re-create the thread to take advantage of the new [stock craft] tag and attempted to re-balance the many features that the update 'broke'. For example, the landing gear is no longer massless and requires re-balancing on the craft itself. A link to the previous thread can be found here.

I've been working on a replacement for the aging Amphibious VTOLSSTO and VTOLSSTO Marin fleets with new design goals reached. The only mod needed is Spaceplane Plus, and seeing as it's going to be incorporated into the game by the next update, this will eventually be a stock craft.

Goal #1 - Achieve a lighter weight than the Amphibious VTOLSSTO [✓]

Goal #2 - Achieve a faster flight to orbit [✓]

Goal #3 - Be able to land on uneven terrain and SSTO to orbit from Duna [✓]

Goal #4 - Be able to land in water and SSTO from Laythe [✓]

Goal #5 - Increase VTOL control ability [✓]

Goal #6 - Compatibility with the Marin interplanetary transfer vehicle [✓]

Goal #7 - Use air intake rules to prevent flameouts on either engines and prevent the need for air hogging. (Yes, there are no asymmetrical flameouts on this jet.) [✓]

Goal #7 - Probe control autonomy [✓]

Goal #8 - No CoM shift regardless of full or empty tanks, maintaining permanent VTOL balance [X] (0.25 adjusted several mass values and requires significant rebalancing. Update on this TBA)

Goal #9 - Stock conversion come 0.25 [✓✓✓]

DOWNLOAD HERE (0.25)

Controls:

1 - Toggle NERVA

2 - Toggle Dual RemJets

3 - Toggle Basic VTOL Jet

4 - Toggle Rockomax 48-7S (to be used to fine tune VTOL landings)

8 - Cut parachutes

9 - Deploy parachutes

0 - Extend antennae

Here are the craft dimensions.

Size comparison to the old VTOLSSTO. It is now lighter and more efficient.

Marin Interplanetary ring compatability.

Duna landing safety chutes (notice final landing speed, chutes slow down horizontal speed while Rockomax 48-7S slow down descent and allows for gentle horizontal landings.)

JX-42 Vector escorting the Marin VTOLSSTO to the alternate KSP airbase.

Future variants in testing:

Edited October 10, 2014 by Levelord

[astropapi1]

This is beautiful. I remember the old ship quite well, but this one looks way better!

What kind of flight profile does it follow to archieve orbit?

[BolkoB]

man, this craft awesome...but i cant load it cause there is some parts which is not actually STOCK. Can you please share stock craft ?

[Levelord]

man, this craft awesome...but i cant load it cause there is some parts which is not actually STOCK. Can you please share stock craft ?

Strange. What parts are non-stock? Have you used the big download link here?

edit: Figured it was an outdated file. The links have been updated for the proper one. This includes the one in this post.

Edited October 10, 2014 by Levelord

[Nik_601]

That's a masterpiece) These VTOLs are magnificent!

[JackCY]

That's for stock KSP fakeaerodynamics right? Not usable with FAR. CoL is in front of CoM and the whole balance relies on SAS.

[Levelord]

That's for stock KSP fakeaerodynamics right? Not usable with FAR. CoL is in front of CoM and the whole balance relies on SAS.

Pretty much. I have a version for stock aero and a version for FAR in 0.24.5. I haven't added FAR to 0.25 yet, so I haven't made a FAR compatible one. This download is for stock aerodynamics only.

It's recommended to use SAS (because what kind of silly pilot would not want to use it. ) but the SAS inputs are miniscule. However 0.25 has changed some mass values for a few parts, so the CoM shifts ever so slightly when the fuel is drained. I've been testing out several variants and the latest one looks promising.

[Levelord]

This is beautiful. I remember the old ship quite well, but this one looks way better!

What kind of flight profile does it follow to archieve orbit?

Almost missed you comment there! The flight profile I use is a 45 degree pitch and level out at around 25km. Then I make a slow ascent up to 30km while gaining about 2000m/s velocity. At around this phase the intakes and engines are at their limits, so I switch them off, fire up the NERVA and pitch up 40-45 degrees up to push out of the atmosphere to circularize.

[The14th]

Awesome.

I really liked the old Amphib and Marin, and this looks like a very worthy successor!

Also really great that it's still compatible with the Marin's IP stage.

[Dan100]

Strange. What parts are non-stock? Have you used the big download link here?

edit: Figured it was an outdated file. The links have been updated for the proper one. This includes the one in this post.

when i click the download link it takes me to a page saying the dl link has been removed or never existed? could someone give me a (stock) dl link, i really want this plane.

[Levelord]

when i click the download link it takes me to a page saying the dl link has been removed or never existed? could someone give me a (stock) dl link, i really want this plane.

Try to right click and 'save-as'.