KerbalX

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: aircraft
• Part Count: 70
• Pure Stock

Action Groups:

1) Toggle engine 1 - 100% throttle

2) Toggle engine 2 - 66.5% throttle

3) Shutdown both engines

4) Toggle reaction torque

5) Toggle cockpit lights

6) Toggle steering

7) Invert steering

10) Toggle ladder

Activate RCS and press N (by default) to reverse.

Description

I have to be honest. I’m not the biggest fan of canard-based designs. However, I understand that they’re just better, aerodynamically. That being said, I figured I’d dig around for something cool and found the Saab 2020. Then, I found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-_BvFadE7w - too cool for school. All I could think was, I want one! So, I built one - kinda, something inspired by it. Trying to get it prefect made the jet feel kinda scrunched to me, so I just went with some fitting wings and ignored the swoop from the back of the cockpit (mostly to avoid unnecessary parts). The thing flies like a champ and stabilizes with ease from stalls (forced stalls through testing, of course).

I tested this one quite a bit due to the engines. Namely, there are two of them clipped into one. Engine 1 (designated by action 1) is at 100% throttle. Engine 2 (designated by action 2) is at 66.5% throttle. They are, more or less, intended to be used individually at a given time; however, engine 2 is also meant to function as an afterburner. Engine 1’s intended functions: take off, initial climb, low-altitude maneuvering. Engine 2’s intended functions: accelerated climb, afterburner, level cruising at all altitudes, landing. I stress-tested the jet before uploading by setting both engines to 100% and pushing full-throttle for as long as it’d go. It’ll last a fairly long time like this, but I strongly don’t recommend it. It’s super-cruising capabilities end up around mach 2-2.3, with max elevation of upwards 25,000m - but requires proper switching of the engines and throttle control. The engines will definitely get hot, but thermal control is easily managed with good piloting. Personally, I cut both engines (kill-switch activated by pressing 3) when descending and deactivate SAS (toggle reaction torque by pressing 4) to just let her glide to landing. If thrust is needed, just activate engine 2 by pressing 2.

A stock aircraft called Kaab 2020. Built with 70 of the finest parts, its root part is mk2.1m.Bicoupler.

Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.0.4.