KerbalX

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: aircraft
• Part Count: 34
• Mods: 2
• KSP: 1.12.5

Mods

• Squad (stock)
• TweakableEverything

Aircraft Characteristics

Crew: 1

Dry Mass: 3,099 kg

Wet Mass: 7,039 kg

The KT-10A Lark is one in a series of trainer aircraft I’ve built with different series’ representing different categories such as the 10 Series representing small aircraft meant for subsonic operations.

The Lark is a small jet with a pair of side-mounted engines meant to operate at subsonic speeds (below 384 m/s at ASL) at intermediate ranges of approximately 2,040 km although I recommend missions that don’t exceed 1,836 km to provide you with a considerable fuel reserve. It is also designed to be fairly easy to fly with takeoffs handled with minimum pilot input.

The Lark can theoretically operate up to a maximum ceiling of 10,075 meters but your rate of climb will steadily decrease until it no longer becomes efficient to attempt to reach that altitude. The service ceiling of 8,960 meters allows for a higher altitude flight, still remains efficient in terms of both fuel and lift, and clears the tallest of the peaks on Kerbin. The cruising altitude of 4,521 m/s allows for max speed and long-range level flying with both fuel and lift efficiency – it also meets the needs of most uses for the aircraft.

Takeoff Procedure

The normal takeoff procedure starts with both flaps being retracted, SAS activated (always), and then throttling to full before starting the engine. When you reach approximately 50 m/s you should deploy both flaps which, in theory, should get you airborne. If you aren’t taking off then give it a small amount of pull back on the stick and you definitely get airborne.

You should continue as an ascent for at least 50 to 100 meters before raising your flaps and landing gear in case of a sudden loss of lift upon takeoff. It is after that point you can safely adjust your speed and rate of climb through pilot input.

Approach and Landing Procedure

There are many different approach and landing procedures depending on your choice of field and runway so I’m going to cover the approaching and landing on KSC Runway 027 which if you take off from KSC Runway 090 it’s simply turning around and going for a (mostly) straight-in approach.

Your KSC Runway 027 approach should begin at an altitude of approximately 1,222 km (1,151 km AGL) and about 22 to 30 km from the KSC at a speed of about 101 m/s with flaps deployed. You should begin a 3 degree descent along with the goal of reaching 176 m (105 m AGL) about 2 km from the runway and gradually reducing speed to about 70 to 80 m/s with minor adjustments to your throttle and heading to stay on the glide slope.

The final approach begins at about 2 km from the end of the runway at which point you should be at an altitude of 176 m (105 m AGL) and at a speed of approximately 60 m/s with both flaps and landing gear deployed. You should avoid completely killing the throttle since you are already very close to stall speed which could cause you have an accelerated plummet into the runway.

When you are within about 10 meters above the runway you should flare up by slightly raising your nose so that the rear wheels hit the ground first to avoid a violent wheelbarrow impact with the ground. Once all your landing gear wheels have touched the runway you should immediately kill the throttle and start applying the brakes. If you have done everything correctly you should be sitting in the middle of runway in one piece.

Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.12.5.