This is my entry for the Cargo Challenge.
ASCT stands for Amphibious Stratosphere Cargo Transporter. This is the L-version, which stands for Launcher.
Yes, that's right, it can launch cargo into space. 28000 lbs of cargo can be launched, to be precise.
20000 lbs of cargo are mounted in the cargo bay, making it a total of 48000 lbs of freight.
The paintjob was done with a dragonfly in mind, as the overall form kind of reminded me of those, especially the wings and the cockpit.
So, how do you fly this thing?
#1) I screwed up by building it the wrong way. Sorry, you have to turn it around on the runway. But this is not a problem, the steering-system allows for very sharp turns on land.
#2) Deactivate Act 8, as it is not needed during normal flight and only consumes fuel.
#3) Put the VTOL-slider fully upwards for full upwards-pitch trim, this minimizes the length of runway needed.
#4) Put the engines on full power and pull up slightly at ~300 MPH.
#5) Put the pitch-trim into neutral position quickly after liftoff and retract the landing gear.
#6) Rise at 20-30° up to around 30000 ft, then go on with 10-20°, adjust pitch-trim as needed. Level out at any altitude you want to.
#7) Put the aircraft into a neutral flight with ~0° pitch angle, ~0° bank angle (roll) and a constant speed (preferably on full power). I have managed to get up to 60000 ft, but that takes quite a lot of time.
#8) Before launch, activate Act 8 again to power up the booster drives, they give the cargo additional thrust.
#9) Press Act 1-7 to launch the cargo. I would recommend to launch all of it, as anything else will unbalance the plane, though you can trim it out with the pitch-trim.
#10) To descend now, you shouldn't go too much in a dive. Something around 40-50° downwards pitch-angle is ok.
#11) You can land on water now by descending more and lowering your speed slowly, getting below 200 MPH. Land leveled or pitched-up, don't push the nose into the water! You can also look around for an airport nearby and land there. The process is almost identical, but you have to extend the landing gear first. Also the landing gear doesn't really care at which speed or angle you are dropping to the ground.
#12) Use the brakes to decrease your speed to around 30-50 MPH and taxi to parking position. If you landed on the water, you can travel anywhere on it or take off again. Put the pitch-trim to ~50% up when going faster than 200 MPH on the water, so your nose won't dip down and flip the plane over. Turning is only really effective in the water above 100 MPH.
I've also made some short videos during testing which should give you an idea on how to handle the plane and show you it's capabilities. The final version I uploaded here has some slight modifications for better maneuverability, don't wonder they're not included on the planes in the videos.
1. - (ASCT-L Dragonfly takeoff, gaining altitude and cargo launch)[http://plays.tv/video/56bfd598078b24469b/asct-l-dragonfly-takeoff-gaining-altitude-cargo-launch?from=user]
2. - (ACST-L Dragonfly maneuverability in the air, on land and on the sea + hard landing)[http://plays.tv/video/56bfe5065f03c9ecfb/acst-l-dragonfly-maneuverability-in-air-on-land-on-sea?from=user]
I hope you like it! :-)
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Predecessor [CLOSED]CARGO CHALLENGE[LOGO PRIZE][RULES EDIT]
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 77.0ft (23.5m)
- Length 92.9ft (28.3m)
- Height 25.6ft (7.8m)
- Empty Weight 90,171lbs (40,901kg)
- Loaded Weight 268,568lbs (121,820kg)
Performance
- Power/Weight Ratio 1.857
- Wing Loading 80.2lbs/ft2 (391.5kg/m2)
- Wing Area 3,349.0ft2 (311.1m2)
- Drag Points 40581
Parts
- Number of Parts 793
- Control Surfaces 16
- Performance Cost 3,771
@BRuthless okey that is good.
@salvador3031 I'm working on it. I made the rudder in the back rotate now and I've added RCN thrusters to the floats/pontoons. It turns very nicely at 50% thrust, but I think I'll make an activation button to turn off the main engines, so you don't have to go 150 MPH to get good turns. I also have to give it a new load. I thought about a small crane if I can make it grab and lift something or maybe a missile-launcher.
@BRuthless your entry
@salvador3031 Where's what? The URL? In the headline of the XML. First comes the name of your plane, then it's URL. The same URL is put into successors of that plane.
@BRuthless were is it?
@salvador3031 Yep, downloading your challenge and copying the URL out of it's xml into the xml of my plane, then upload it. :) The yaw works effective in water at high speeds and on land on low speeds. I don't really know why. Turning in water below 100 MPH has to be improved pretty much.
@BRuthless if it can yaw on land it can do the same on water but make sure you final plane is a successor you do know how to do that?
@salvador3031 Maybe it needs more rudders for better maneuvering on water. On land it's superb, in the air it's as good as 122 tons will go. :D
I would focus on giving this better steering and sailing manuvability. trying to put this through the rr will tell you what needs improving.
@BRuthless kk
@DelphFoxFan My new ultralightweight fighter is finished now. :3 The racing version beats my previous model by 21 seconds on the Oceanview Speedway. Going to upload it now. You may want to check it out. :D
@BRuthless Oh yeah, i thought it was 100 lbs, forgot the description XD
@DelphFoxFan No, 48 cargo boxes in total. Each has 1000 lbs weight. 28 of them are equipped with VTOL nozzles and are attached to detachers, the other 20 are fixed on the sides of the cargo bay. Two boxes are always stacked to one package. Make sure you are flying level (~0°) and have a constant speed while launching, otherwise bad things could happen. :D It's meant to supply space stations travelling around the earth.
@BRuthless Fml XD, 480 of those things???
@DelphFoxFan It shoots cargo into space! Act 8 active for additional boost, Act 1-7 to release cargo (you have to be on full throttle, if you don't want it stuck in the cargo bay). Deactivate Act 8 right at the start to save fuel until you shoot the cargo off. :) And no matter how you land, as long as one wheel touches the ground, you are safe. Just taking off with this heavy bird is quite a struggle. You need to raise the VTOL slider (pitch trim) fully upwards for maximum pitch and then put it into neutral quickly after takeoff, so you don't flip over. :D It has 48000 lbs of cargo by the way.
HOW IN THE FU? XD