Quite possibly everything you could ever want from a dropship/lander... Oh and it does Tylo too!

[Cupcake...]

UPDATE: 17/2/2015 - The new mk2 version of the Gecko has been added to the download folder. This new model also comes with a general purpose launch vehicle.

CRAFT FILE:

http://goo.gl/Sq41y3

I was rather hoping to be a further along with my Jool 5 challenge before I released this, but alas real life has conspired against me. It also sounds like there's quite a radical shakeup in store for 1.0 so I thought I'd better let you guys enjoy the craft while it still works! Anyway, let me present the Gecko quite possibly the best lander I've ever made!

It's capable of landing on Tylo from a 15k orbit and getting back again with fuel to spare. Not only that, you've also got enough grunt to take some cargo down as well!

Speaking of cargo, the Gecko lets you transport large loads down to the surface with ease. The two main cargo ports are mounted right on the center of mass/thrust ensuring your cargo remains stable at all times.

A low center of gravity and large wheel base will let you land on gradients so steep even your Kebals will have trouble standing!

Fully fueled the Gecko puts out around 5k of Delta V with a very high T/W ratio. Seeing as it works on Tylo you can be sure it'll work just about everywhere else (apart from Eve). With a bit of tinkering it can also be adapted to work on Laythe.

At the end of a mission you've got more then enough thrust to make a powered landing back on Kerbin, no chutes needed here!

CONTROLS:

1 - Toggle Engines

3 - Toggle Nav Lights

5 - Detach Drop Tanks

9 - Toggle Ladder

ABORT - Release Cargo (Map To Cargo As Well)

OWNERS MANUAL:

Like my previous designs the Gecko features a horizontal cockpit for suborbital flying/landing and a vertically mounted docking port for orbital piloting. When performing burns with the navball the top docking port must be selected, this also applies if using Mechjeb. If you're not used to VTOLs and would rather fly the Gecko like a regular rocket the top docking port can be used for whole missions if need be. SAS should be left on at all times.

The Gecko comes with a small amount of RCS fuel for docking. The tank is located just bellow the bottom cargo port and can be filled with extra RCS fuel if desired.

Due to some weird KSP bug it's recommended to keep the Gecko's fuel system separate from the mothership/launch vehicle/other vessels. You can do this by mounting a steel plate/decoupler between the Gecko and the other vessel and transferring fuel manually if need-be.

LV GUIDE:

• Enable SAS, set control to the top docking port and make sure your throttle is at maximum before launching.
  
• Once the first stage is empty detach it and pitch over to 45* on a 90* heading.
  
• Once your apoapsis reads around 40k pitch down towards the horizon and build up speed.
  
• Once your apoapsis is at 80k cut the engines and coast out the athmosphere.
  
• The last Mainsail stage will have more then enough DV to circularize and almost get you to the Mun.
  

TYLO GUIDE:

Start with the Gecko fully fueled at a stable 15k orbit. The landings are actually pretty straight forward, and as long as you keep your descent speed below 100 m/s you shouldn't have too much trouble. On takeoff pitch over rapidly and keep as low to the terrain as possible (without crashing into it).

Hope you enjoy the craft and let me know if you have any Qs.

Cupcake...

Edited February 19, 2015 by Cupcake...

[Yukon0009]

You.....Created......A Single stage to tylo. With cargo.

+rep

[Cupcake...]

You.....Created......A Single stage to tylo. With cargo.

+rep

Thanks for the Rep! I should point out however that you do need to get the Gecko to a stable Tylo orbit using another rocket, you can't fly it there straight from KSC. Although saying that single stage to Tylo missions can be done!

Cupcake...

[Majorjim!]

Damn man. Good things really do come in small packages!

[Cupcake...]

Damn man. Good things really do come in small packages!

It does seem to go quite well for it's size. It's just a shame Squads nerfing the 48-7s engine, I've got a nasty feeling the performance is going to blunted quite a bit by the time they're done.

Cupcake...

[Majorjim!]

It's just a shame Squads nerfing the 48-7s engine, I've got a nasty feeling the performance is going to blunted quite a bit by the time they're done.

Cupcake...

Yeah I read that too.. It's a shame but we will adapt and overcome!

[Cupcake...]

Yeah I read that too.. It's a shame but we will adapt and overcome!

We shall and we must!

Cupcake...

[eddiew]

How... do you get such a lot of capability in such a tiny vessel? O_o

...gotta try some of these dropship design shenanigans... ¬_¬

[problemecium]

Tylo SSTOs are a rare thing? Someone should have told me sooner so I could post mine...

[Cupcake...]

How... do you get such a lot of capability in such a tiny vessel? O_o

...gotta try some of these dropship design shenanigans... ¬_¬

Be careful they're very addictive!

Cupcake...

[Techpriest93]

This looks amazing, and apparently preforms amazingly as well! Awesome!

[Foxster]

Another excellent craft CC!

Just a thought...Wouldn't it be best to use the fuel in the drop tanks first? I was trying to get it to Kerbin orbit (I know its not designed for that but it looked almost capable) and so wanted to stage off the drop tanks but things got messy with balancing the fuel mass. I added some fuel ducts but it didn't look as lovely anymore.

Edited February 7, 2015 by Foxster

[Cupcake...]

Another excellent craft CC!

Just a thought...Wouldn't it be best to use the fuel in the drop tanks first? I was trying to get it to Kerbin orbit (I know its not designed for that but it looked almost capable) and so wanted to stage off the drop tanks but things got messy with balancing the fuel mass. I added some fuel ducts but it didn't look as lovely anymore.

In an ideal world yes! Unfortunately, I've been doing battle with the fuel system in KSP and lost. For some reason if you go from one drop tank to two outboard tanks back to one center tank the fuel system gets corrupted. That's the reason the drop tanks are plumbed straight into the center tanks. It is possible to get around the issue by having two drop tanks or two seperate fuel supplies on each side, each one feeding one of the outboad tanks. Trouble is things start getting a bit bulky and ugly if you do that. Anyway, I hope this makes sence!

Cupcake...

[Cupcake...]

Good news everyone, the Gecko Mk2 is out now for your flying pleasure!

The ships been rebuilt from scratch in .90 and is in fact the first dropship I've managed to make using the new build system. As a result the craft file is a lot more stable with non of the symmetry bugs that plagued that previous version. Other improvements include a reworked fuel feeding system that lets you detach the drop tanks earlier and a new RCS sub system that uses Vernor engines. What used to be the RCS fuel reserve now serves as an emergency fuel supply giving the new model a slight increase in DV.

Two sets of auxiliary mounting points will let you trick your Gecko out with all manner of trinkets, including parachutes for nervous flyers.

Last but not least I've included a general purpose launch vehicle in the download folder that has more then enough grunt for Duna or even Jool missions. Remember, the Gecko puts out around 5300m/s of Delta V so you could actually fly to Jool and back from low Kerbin orbit!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new version, and as always let me know if you have any Qs.

Cupcake...

Edited February 17, 2015 by Cupcake...