KerbalX

Description

A mod aircraft called F-30 Wyvern Mk2. Built with 72 of the finest parts, its root part is Mark2Cockpit.

Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.0.4.

The F-30 Wyvern is my entry into Agonarch’s KSP Kollaborative Warfare Subscriber contest. The contest is for dogfighter aircraft. Guns only, no missiles. And it is an elimination bracket style contest. For more details, rules, and submission guidelines, see the video linked below. With the Wyvern my design priority is maintaining energy, lift, and turning capability. Or in other words - the E-M theory of fighter design as outlined by John 40 Second Boyd. Plenty of engine power to gain or maintain energy, low wing-loading to help maintain energy in a hard turn. The Wyvern has a TWR of over 2 and can accelerate very VERY fast. Even if it loses significant speed in a turn or stalls out, the engine power will let it recover and regain lost energy very quickly. I didn’t include turrets in the design because I felt that with the Wyvern’s ability to turn, it might be redundant. But we shall see how it fares in the contest!

My Wyvern Mk1 design had some issues which I’ve noticed other than just the ones with the A.I. pilot. Enough that I decided that a Mk 2 version was needed to replace it before the contest starts proper. Part of the problems stem from me slapping the design together in a rush and simply modifying an older design for the contest. (A design that was SO old it actually pre-dated the Mk 2 series of stock parts!)

The main issue being that with 2 different types of guns, the A.I. will only choose one to fire. I debated whether to go with just the 30MM Gau (and make the plane a 2 point version for Agonarch’s contest) or add more 20 MM Vulcans. And though the GAU tempted me greatly, after numerous tests with different configurations, I decided that going with 4 Vulcan cannons spread between the nose and the wings afforded me a greater volume - and spread pattern - of fire. (There was NO way I was going to add more than the 2 GAU I had already on the plane! It was already at the limits of balance I was willing to compromise with as it was!)

Also at issue after I noticed how often the AI tries to joust is sheer survivability in impact. Ironically the plane I was testing against (a design from another author on Kerbal X that I modified for testing purposes) was MUCH better than the Wyvern at surviving impacts, losing a wing, and keeping on flying and fighting! The main problem I could see was that the Wyvern Mk 1’s main delta wings were all of a single large part. And if that piece is destroyed - well - no more wing! And also the Mk 1 body sections have almost no lift factor of their own. So losing a wing meant the Wyvern was toast.

So the Mk 2 version of the Wyvern is an attempt to address these issues. Part of the main body is now composed of Mk 2 segments that have better lift factor. And the wings are now made of more than a single segment. If one gets destroyed, it’s possible for the Wyvern to survive and keep flying. In addition, there are hidden wing roots that also contribute some lift factor. It raises the part-count slightly, but it may be worth it. I foresee the possibility of the new Wyvern losing 1/3 of it’s mass in a collision or to fire and still maintaining the ability to fly if not fight.

So all in all I think I’ve improved on the designs firepower and survivability. Hopefully I am correct!

Video Link below for Agonarch’s Gunfighter contest for the Kerbal Kolloborative Warfare series where he details the rules for building planes and how combat will be resolved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1paaNd71UQ

Craft entry page:

https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycbz1Y6UHKhcP_ku4FNX7vxKOlUVO79cWlE4GzWxbsyg56FpPw9Y/exec

Mods

• BahamutoD’s Armory
• Firespitter
• Kerbal Aircraft Expansion (KAX)
• Squad (stock)
• TweakScale - Rescale Everything!

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: aircraft
• Part Count: 72
• Mods: 5