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THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE BEACHCRAFT
THE DAUGHTER OF THE EMBRACER
WINTEROWL AIRCRAFT EMPORIUM’S ULTIMATE PRIVATE PLANE
The Lexie with its cargo inventory on display in the SPH.
- The first and most important thing I did was switch the Embracer’s Wheesley engines with Panthers and the air intakes with those more suitable for supersonic speeds. After that, I installed airbrakes, removed the antenna (and the thermometer this time), and programmed a flaps action group.
- Other than that, everything else on the plane remained the same.
The Lexie flying high over Kerbin after settling at a cruising altitude. It was also at this point where the aircraft had left the dark side of the planet and entered the sunny side.
Only 5 minutes of flight down, and the Lexie is flying at over Mach 2 at an altitude of 19 kilometers.
Description
WinterOwl’s number-one business (and recreational) jet, the Embracer, had been regarded by most private aircraft owners as “My go-to plane for private flights.” However, with the rise of supersonic transports, WinterOwl was at risk of being left in the dust if it did not keep up – all puns intended. So, just like when the Embracer was designed, the award-winning airframe was kept while the engines were replaced with models that were previously used in other supersonic planes. Airbrakes were also installed so that the plane could slow down during landing, since the increased speed would undoubtedly lengthen the landing distance.
And hence the Lexie was born.
Unlike its grandmother and mother, the Beachcraft and the Embracer respectively, the Lexie was not exempted from the Incapacitated Pilot Act due to the “Supersonic Civil and Commercial” clause. In other words, all Lexies that were not grounded had to be equipped with probe cores, an autopilot model made at or after the time of MechJeb 1.09’s release, and Kerbnet. What critics of that law refuse to acknowledge is that, before Kerbin’s legislature even began discussions on it, there was a steadily-increasing public demand for better contingency plans in case kerbal pilots were incapacitated for any reason. The most vocal of these protests were from families and friends of pilots and passengers that died in crashes due to such events taking place – with the second-most vocal being pilots that passed out or had medical emergencies mid-flight and were lucky to survive.
Though spaceplanes appear to pose a threat to the Lexie in the aircraft market, it is relatively secure due to its lower price tag and the fact that not everybody is qualified for space travel – even orbital flights. As of now, it is still WinterOwl’s number-one private jet.
A stock aircraft called Lexie. Built with 66 of the finest parts, its root part is probeStackSmall.
Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.12.4.
POV: you’re flying so high up you can see Kerbin’s curvature from the cockpit window.
Details
- Type: SPH
- Class: aircraft
- Part Count: 66
- Pure Stock
- KSP: 1.12.4
And just like that, the Lexie is back in the dark side of Kerbin. Too bad I didn’t get a nice glow shot.
The full HUD on when the Lexie has 50 fuel units left (and perfect timing with the shot, too) and requires an immediate landing.
- The aircraft is less than 100 km from the KSC and I was very high up, so I can get away with gliding the rest of the way. If I had to use engines, they would be in subsonic mode.
RECOMMENDED CRUISE
Altitude: 18.9 km (~62k ft, which is Class Echo (E) airspace)
- FUN FACT: Class Alpha airspace goes from 18k ft ASL to 60k ft. Above that is Class Echo airspace -
E
for Everything Else.
Velocity: 775 m/s (~1734 mph)
- Afterburner: ON
Expected flight time: ~1 hour, 20 minutes
EXPECTED RANGE
Approximately 3,690 km before immediate landing necessary.
- I was 76 km away from the KSC flying WESTWARD TOWARDS IT when I had 50 fuel units left (out of 1,370). I rounded the range down to add a safety net, albeit a slim one.
- If you’re do it right, you CAN do a full circumnavigation flight around Kerbin.
Podnand Kerman checking out the moon after landing at 2-7 KSC, and with only 43 fuel units to spare.
- Had he spent less time trying to settle for a cruising speed and altitude, he could have spared more fuel and end up with a longer expected range.
