@GhostHTX Sure, you can enter whatever you like as long as it meets the requirements. But just for your information, and to show what's possible with XML modding, I have an aircraft that can manage an altitude change of 2-3 feet under the conditions of this challenge (I won't be entering this challenge myself, of course). I once had it do zero feet, but unfortunately I wasn't recording video at the time (I have video of it doing 3 feet). The current top contender has a delta of ~300 feet.
I, too, made an entirely non-XML-modded airplane just to see how fast I could go without modding. It's made out of "propulsion units" that are self-contained (engine + fuel + inlet) and have a high thrust-to-weight ratio. By simply tacking these on to each other and adding wings, I built an "airplane" (it looks like a telephone pole with stubby wings) that I've just clocked at 2518 mph at 18,000 feet, and no wing flutter at any altitude. I'm sure if I tacked on more units, it would go even faster.
But to me that's just a mildly interesting academic exercise. And it's still cheating, because in real life you can't tack engines on to each other intake-to-nozzle (as in my build, and yours).
I'd call XML modding cheating only if someone entered a modded airplane into a no-mods-allowed tournament. After all, when Kelly Johnson designed the Blackbird, he didn't use off-the-shelf parts. Everything was custom built, even the tools themselves. XML modding is the same thing to me.
Doing XML modding properly takes skill and experience -- it's one thing to simply set powerMultiplier=999999 and get an airplane that goes Mach 79, but handles like a monkey hopped-up on caffeine. It's a whole different ballgame to build an aircraft that looks great, handles smoothly, flies level, accelerates and decelerates rapidly, flies at the speed you want it to, etc. That's what I'm interested in, speaking strictly for myself.
If you want to submit a non-XML modded airplane, of course you can, but I don't think it would be very interesting. It certainly won't make any difference at all to the judging -- that'll be based solely on performance.
As a side note, a fervent thanks to the SP developers for allowing XML modding. Without it, the game would have been so very boring. I really, really hope it's possible in Simple Rockets 2 as well. Let's all pray to @AndrewGarrison that it's so.
@SangerAircraft I just tried it and left feedback on that post. Good on you for trying, at least it looks pretty good. Even seasoned players will have a hard time with this challenge, so don't feel bad at all.
@SangerAircraft why did you delete your entry? I didn't even get a chance to test it. If it does well we can find a way to meet the length and part count requirements.
@Jetpackturtle This is very good, especially for a first attempt.
@PlaneBuild0512 Anything can be made to fly, but you need to have a long enough section in the middle to hide the wings, engine, tail, etc. in. This is too small.
@GhostHTX That's the spirit. But there's nothing cheaty about my offer, any kit I provide will of course be available to everyone. If/when I do upload a kit I'll put a link to it in big letters at the top of the description, and notify all participants individually.
@GhostHTX Well, you're brave, I'll give you that. You're going to need modded parts, though, it's not easy to build an airplane that goes 1500+ mph without them. I'm happy to provide a kit if you'll tell me what you need.
@Almond04 It's a good start, but using any of the flight controls makes it sway violently, so it's very hard to actually shoot anything. I'd recommend improving the performance, and also the appearance. Keep building, you'll get better.
For one thing, it's not free money -- someone will have to make some effort to get the prizes. Second, it's pretty hard to find aircraft that actually fly well on this website. Plenty of great, highly detailed and accurate models, but very few that fly well, which I think is a shame. I'd like to see more aircraft that perform well, so I'm doing my bit to motivate people.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working very well so far; I've only received one entry that qualifies. But there's nearly a month to go, so I'm keeping my hopes up.
"The truth is that with a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and when I have to do with a pirate, I try to be a pirate and a half." -- Otto von Bismarck
@FGW2014 The trouble is, if I allow engines that point in any direction but straight backwards, someone could just take my spaceship flight module and submit a modification of that, and that doesn't gain or lose a single foot in altitude over any distance if properly built.
Strong contender here, altitude gain is ~300 feet. (Tested informally, formal testing will be done later.) Nice work. Yaw doesn't work very well, though, but that has no effect on the judging. I know you can't test yaw on mobile devices.
@BaconRoll Wing flutter happens (in SP at least) when the wing loading is too low, i.e., when the airplane has too much wing for its mass. Increase the mass and/or decrease the wing area, and the flutter will stop.
@BaconRoll Sorry, but the rules specify that the aircraft will be flown at 100% throttle. The weight and length are also below the minimum requirements...
@Davisplanez Well, thank you. Probably because I've built nearly a build a day for nine months now. And I focus on performance at least as much as aesthetics.
@amazingperson124 No, slow motion isn't necessary. The flight path from the destroyer to Krakabloa is well over 20 miles, so disparities of a few feet in disengaging autopilot won't make much difference.
@CoolPeach Oh, you meant if I posted a kit, it would increase the number of participants. Right. Well, if enough people show an interest, I'll upload a kit in the next couple of days.
@CoolPeach There's no limit to the number of participants, did you mean the number of entries? I only want one entry per person to keep things simple, and don't see a good reason for anyone to submit more than one as the criterion is very simple -- level flight -- so presumably anyone would have one aircraft that does that best.
@GhostHTX Here's a video of it managing a delta of 2 feet.
@KerlonceauxIndustries I don't know... I don't like the look of it. I might give it a go at some point.
@AndrewGarrison and there was much rejoicing.
+1@GhostHTX Sure, you can enter whatever you like as long as it meets the requirements. But just for your information, and to show what's possible with XML modding, I have an aircraft that can manage an altitude change of 2-3 feet under the conditions of this challenge (I won't be entering this challenge myself, of course). I once had it do zero feet, but unfortunately I wasn't recording video at the time (I have video of it doing 3 feet). The current top contender has a delta of ~300 feet.
@GhostHTX
I, too, made an entirely non-XML-modded airplane just to see how fast I could go without modding. It's made out of "propulsion units" that are self-contained (engine + fuel + inlet) and have a high thrust-to-weight ratio. By simply tacking these on to each other and adding wings, I built an "airplane" (it looks like a telephone pole with stubby wings) that I've just clocked at 2518 mph at 18,000 feet, and no wing flutter at any altitude. I'm sure if I tacked on more units, it would go even faster.
But to me that's just a mildly interesting academic exercise. And it's still cheating, because in real life you can't tack engines on to each other intake-to-nozzle (as in my build, and yours).
I'd call XML modding cheating only if someone entered a modded airplane into a no-mods-allowed tournament. After all, when Kelly Johnson designed the Blackbird, he didn't use off-the-shelf parts. Everything was custom built, even the tools themselves. XML modding is the same thing to me.
Doing XML modding properly takes skill and experience -- it's one thing to simply set powerMultiplier=999999 and get an airplane that goes Mach 79, but handles like a monkey hopped-up on caffeine. It's a whole different ballgame to build an aircraft that looks great, handles smoothly, flies level, accelerates and decelerates rapidly, flies at the speed you want it to, etc. That's what I'm interested in, speaking strictly for myself.
If you want to submit a non-XML modded airplane, of course you can, but I don't think it would be very interesting. It certainly won't make any difference at all to the judging -- that'll be based solely on performance.
As a side note, a fervent thanks to the SP developers for allowing XML modding. Without it, the game would have been so very boring. I really, really hope it's possible in Simple Rockets 2 as well. Let's all pray to @AndrewGarrison that it's so.
@SangerAircraft I just tried it and left feedback on that post. Good on you for trying, at least it looks pretty good. Even seasoned players will have a hard time with this challenge, so don't feel bad at all.
@SangerAircraft why did you delete your entry? I didn't even get a chance to test it. If it does well we can find a way to meet the length and part count requirements.
@KSPFSXandSP evil-looking alien craft, I suppose.
@Mijmaj I don't get that reference
@KSPFSXandSP only if you're ok with me building my own version of it.
@KerlonceauxIndustries ?
@KerlonceauxIndustries :)
@KerlonceauxIndustries Feel free to modify or use parts of any of my builds, just give credit.
@GhostHTX Clearly you haven't spoken to my ex-girlfriends...
@Jetpackturtle This is very good, especially for a first attempt.
@PlaneBuild0512 Anything can be made to fly, but you need to have a long enough section in the middle to hide the wings, engine, tail, etc. in. This is too small.
@GhostHTX That's the spirit. But there's nothing cheaty about my offer, any kit I provide will of course be available to everyone. If/when I do upload a kit I'll put a link to it in big letters at the top of the description, and notify all participants individually.
@GhostHTX Well, you're brave, I'll give you that. You're going to need modded parts, though, it's not easy to build an airplane that goes 1500+ mph without them. I'm happy to provide a kit if you'll tell me what you need.
@DJ123 Dung beetles need love too...
Handles quite well, I like how it has momentum. Nice work.
@Almond04 It's a good start, but using any of the flight controls makes it sway violently, so it's very hard to actually shoot anything. I'd recommend improving the performance, and also the appearance. Keep building, you'll get better.
@Almond04
For one thing, it's not free money -- someone will have to make some effort to get the prizes. Second, it's pretty hard to find aircraft that actually fly well on this website. Plenty of great, highly detailed and accurate models, but very few that fly well, which I think is a shame. I'd like to see more aircraft that perform well, so I'm doing my bit to motivate people.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working very well so far; I've only received one entry that qualifies. But there's nearly a month to go, so I'm keeping my hopes up.
@amazingperson124 Yours is the only eligible entry so far. If this keeps up, you're in line for an easy $30.
@Almond04 That's an odd question. Who doesn't like money?
If someone asks politely, why not? I've done it before @KSPFSXandSP
+2Thanks, @Minecraftpoweer
@BaconRoll Not at all. At least you entered.
@VOVAK No problem, I'll post it tomorrow.
@MI Wow, I don't often hear that. I'm very glad you enjoy my designs, and thank you.
@FGW2014 Sometimes? :)
Glad you think so, @TTHHSSSS. Planning on entering?
"The truth is that with a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and when I have to do with a pirate, I try to be a pirate and a half." -- Otto von Bismarck
@MrAspy
@FGW2014 The trouble is, if I allow engines that point in any direction but straight backwards, someone could just take my spaceship flight module and submit a modification of that, and that doesn't gain or lose a single foot in altitude over any distance if properly built.
@iLikeipads Yeah, I'm looking forward to them.
Strong contender here, altitude gain is ~300 feet. (Tested informally, formal testing will be done later.) Nice work. Yaw doesn't work very well, though, but that has no effect on the judging. I know you can't test yaw on mobile devices.
@BaconRoll Wing flutter happens (in SP at least) when the wing loading is too low, i.e., when the airplane has too much wing for its mass. Increase the mass and/or decrease the wing area, and the flutter will stop.
+1@BaconRoll Sorry, but the rules specify that the aircraft will be flown at 100% throttle. The weight and length are also below the minimum requirements...
+1@ThomasRoderick There's no kill like overkill.
+1@Davisplanez Well, thank you. Probably because I've built nearly a build a day for nine months now. And I focus on performance at least as much as aesthetics.
+1@iLikeipads I like to keep things interesting.
@amazingperson124 No, slow motion isn't necessary. The flight path from the destroyer to Krakabloa is well over 20 miles, so disparities of a few feet in disengaging autopilot won't make much difference.
@Tully2001 The rules are to minimise the possibility of disputes. The clearer you are up front, the less hassle later.
@FGW2014 Nope. From the rules:
@Ichko Well, I'm looking for people who enjoy difficult challenges.
@RailfanEthan That's a change from sweet beans...
@ThingThatFliez OK, sometimes it's hard to tell when you only have text to go by.
@Rodrigo110 Glad you like it. Look forward to seeing your entry, if you decide to participate. Your airplanes fly quite well.
@grizzlitn Look forward to seeing your entry.
@CoolPeach Oh, you meant if I posted a kit, it would increase the number of participants. Right. Well, if enough people show an interest, I'll upload a kit in the next couple of days.
@CoolPeach There's no limit to the number of participants, did you mean the number of entries? I only want one entry per person to keep things simple, and don't see a good reason for anyone to submit more than one as the criterion is very simple -- level flight -- so presumably anyone would have one aircraft that does that best.
@CoolPeach Hmm, XML is pretty much required for this challenge, because it's not easy to create an aircraft using stock parts that goes 1500 mph.
If people can agree on a set of parts, I could upload a kit with engines modded to different power settings, strong/scaled wings, etc.