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1200 mph Rotator-Powered Propeller Racer

2,726 McLarenTim  6 months ago
Auto Credit Based on SKLV95's Alternative Enegry Challenge (Extended!)

Edited rotators and lots of drag/weight reduction lets this plane fly over 1000 mph without any fuel! Made for the Alternative Energy Challenge
https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/gF3YeX/Alternative-Enegry-Challenge


Controls

  1. AG1 - Start engines
  2. Throttle - Adjust propeller pitch

    • Increase throttle = Higher pitch for higher speeds

    • Reduce throttle = Lower pitch for lower speeds

  3. AG2 - Detach landing Gear
  4. VTOL - Flaps

The thrust of the propellers is controlled by adjusting the propeller pitch for the speed you want to fly at. After starting the engines with AG1, increase the throttle percent gradually until the plane is accelerating. To continue to accelerate once you are done speeding up, decrease the throttle percentage more for more acceleration. See the below for rough guidelines on the best propeller pitch for the speed range you are going at:

Approximate propeller pitch (throttle %) and speed ranges:
~50%: 0mph - 150mph
~70%: 0mph - 270mph
~80%: 200mph - 400mph
~90%: 300mph - 680mph
~95%: 350mph - 900mph
100%: 400mph - max

If the plane isn't accelerating well, you may need to reduce the propeller pitch, or otherwise mess around with it until you find the right propeller pitch to accelerate at. Stably flies at 1200mph (once landing gear is detached) at full feather (100% throttle). Unfortunately, landing is not supported once gear is jettisoned.


WARNING: does not work on Low physics, use at least Medium physics. The problem is the propeller blades spin too far away from the hub and strike each other/the nose of the plane. This earlier design of this plane works on Low physics: https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/J0k9MP/Rotator-Powered-Airplane-with-Dual-Counter-Rotating-Propellers. I have tried spinning the rotators faster but this is about as fast as I could make them without them exploding at max speed on high physics.


Oceanview Speedway 1:18

Eagle Pass 0:44

Featherfall Squall 0:18

Spotlights

General Characteristics

  • Predecessor Alternative Enegry Challenge (Extended!)
  • Created On Android
  • Wingspan 34.2ft (10.4m)
  • Length 33.1ft (10.1m)
  • Height 19.2ft (5.9m)
  • Empty Weight 3,672lbs (1,665kg)
  • Loaded Weight 3,672lbs (1,665kg)

Performance

  • Wing Loading 8.5lbs/ft2 (41.4kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 432.8ft2 (40.2m2)
  • Drag Points 1140

Parts

  • Number of Parts 63
  • Control Surfaces 8
  • Performance Cost 463