SNAW VGTD 1000 - Leonardo (Variable geometry, retractable canard, thrust vectorized)
Another "concept" that made me suffer, and melt the brain. Maybe because I've been working on it for so long, it seems wonderful to me. To you the final judgment.
Technical description:
The wings are variable geometry, commanded by VTOL cursor. Pulling down moving them at maximum arrow, and simultaneously activates the afterburner, to achieve a high speed. The afterburners can be disabled by pressing the button 8.
Bringing the VTOL centrally turn off the afterburners, and bring back the wings at maximum extension. If it pushes up further the cursor VTOL wings do not move well, but you evert the speed brakes. They can be kept in the open position even accelerating with the main engines. This is very helpful in landing, where each backward movement of the throttle quickly corresponds to a loss of speed. Brakes, wing angle and afterburners are partializable.
Pitching up you evert two canard surfaces, which contribute to an upward movement very fluid. As soon as you cease to give the command, they return to their fuselage interior home, almost completely eliminating the friction.
The wing tips have a slightly positive behind. This is a trick I used to balance the airplane with wings extended, and with the wings in the maximum deflection position. In the second case CoL moves substantially backward, and the aircraft nose would become considerably heavy. The winglets, with their position, become an area that up pitch, trimming the aircraft.
The main engines are thrust vectorized, and help to pitch and roll. And have a nice look too, look the engines from behind...
The plane flies well, it's possible to create planes that flies better (I have done too) but it's more or less a very good plane. But the rotors are heavy and bulky, and the plane can't be so small and light as one that have no rotors in it.
XML EDITING LIST
There is some XML editing.
- The engines (5 engines) are edited to 200% thrust.
- The weight is reduced
- Over half bilion of gal of fuel.
- A lot of angles of movement are reduced or adapted to the need. (rotors, ports...)
- Wingtips angle carefully balanced (it was really hard to achieve)
- some dimensional XML editing for some dettails, to give the exact shape I have in my mind.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Successors 4 airplane(s) +7 bonus
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 53.5ft (16.3m)
- Length 48.7ft (14.8m)
- Height 16.1ft (4.9m)
- Empty Weight 20,525lbs (9,309kg)
- Loaded Weight 13,328lbs (6,045kg)
Performance
- Power/Weight Ratio 8.093
- Wing Loading 23.5lbs/ft2 (114.8kg/m2)
- Wing Area 566.8ft2 (52.7m2)
- Drag Points 3277
Parts
- Number of Parts 88
- Control Surfaces 11
- Performance Cost 657
@AndrewGarrison I'm not a developer, I'm only a gamer, but can you mirror the code related at joint point too?
@Baldovino Thanks, yes this is an issue. Sadly it will be tough to fix.
@Viper28 I'm working on militar version with weapons. There are some different WIP, with missiles in bays, and an attempt for counter rotating wing pilons to have missiles always frontside aiming. Experiments with Boom50 are programmed.
@AndrewGarrison Thanks. There is an issue with variabile wings and rotators. After nudging the part in place, if you "mirror" it, it can not be longer moveable. It melt with fuselage, and become fixed or fall down on the ground.
Second issue, if youi try to resize a nudge wing, you 'll discover that is not resizable.
I don't know if is a bug or intended, but it's very frustrating.
Thanks for your patience.
Best use of VTOL slider ever! I really like the combination of throttle control with the VTOL slider is awesome. Plane saved!
@bigfish
Love this plane, if it had weapons I could see it as a high speed intercepter or long range bomber. Would be cool to see it fight my newest fighters if it had weapons.
Some pic of plane with canard out or with wings swep back