Rockets before Planes?

[Whirligig Girl]

Some people jokingly mention that we have rockets before planes in KSP, and that's why it almost makes sense for tech tree to be wrong. Here's a proper explanation.

There were already airplanes when the KSC was built. But the KSP didn't need airplanes yet, because they weren't powerful enough, being merely propeller planes. Hardly space material. Spinning wings generating thrust was hardly the way of the future. Then advances in propulsion were made by C7 Aeronautics, when the Jet engine was invented. the KSP invested in this technology, and when it was developed, used this for planes. The jet engines were more useful to them than propellers. Aero-Space was born.

There is evidence of planes coming before the space program: the old island airfield.

EDIT: I could have sworn I put this in General KSP discussion. Also I forgot about the part where Maxmaps said on Squadcast that Mk1 Aircraft Parts might be earlier in the tech tree.

Edited January 15, 2015 by GregroxMun

[Alshain]

I'm not sure anyone was looking for a "logical" explanation. I've cracked jokes about landing on the Mun and then someone invented the wheel but those are just jokes.

The biggest issue is if I want to make a program that focuses on airplanes, why should I have to build a rocket to start it? There is no good reason even in career that I should be forced into starting with rockets first. Some will argue one way or the other based on realism and what we did on Earth, but this is Kerbin, not Earth, so none of that matter. The tech tree should allow for either option. Start with planes and build more and more powerful planes as the game progresses. Or start with rockets and do the same. Or mix and match. That is the chief complaint I see from spaceplane enthusiasts on the forum.

I've been using the per part tech tree mod, I had my reservations at first but I was wrong. I'm thoroughly enjoying it because I can do my program how I want (it does need a little balancing though).

Edited January 14, 2015 by Alshain

[Patupi]

Heck, I think that's a less of a problem than the fact they invented a complex, bi-propellant, liquid rocket engine before a ladder I can (just) understand why the complex extendable ladders don't come immediately, but the rungs should be in one of the earliest TLs in my book.

[Superfluous J]

I like the "We have them but they're not space rated yet." This doesn't work for the rung ladders (or most of the structural parts but we can hand wave the structural parts by saying we refused to use them until the tech was good enough to make them lighter) but it does work for plane parts.

And as to why you need a rocket first, well they didn't know what Space was like yet