Attention mobile players

Upon further testing it seems this build only works with max physics settings and a good frame rate.

So here's my fourth attempt at breaking the laws of thermodynamics, this time made much safer thanks to Funky Trees. The other ones required special attention, due to instability issues.

But not anymore! Here I used Funky Trees to make ornithopters as idiot-proof as they can be, both rolling down the runway and in-flight.
So much so that you're better off just powering it up and let it take off on it's own. (On runways, you only need to correct the yaw)
For landings, the minimum thrust for approach is 50%, and once you feel comfortably close to the ground, cut of the power and glide safety to it.

So here's the rundown of the functions I created (some are long but the intent is to relieve the pilot from extra duties):

• Wings - the cycle option wasn't satisfying enough for me, as I wanted wings with opposite phases to minimize oscillations, so I made a costume cycle program. It has also a sort of gearbox programed into it, so the tips don't touch the ground at low speeds. This is on a runway take off; on a water take off, the power output is slightly higher to overcome the water drag. Once you obtain 3m of ground clearance, it shifts back into the regular speed.

  1. First set of wings - (Throttle*(((1.9438*IAS<50)&(LandingGear = 0))?0.75:1))*cos(400*Time*(((1.9438*IAS<50)&(LandingGear = 0))?1.5:((Altitude<3)?2.75:2.5)))/2+0.5
  2. Second set of wings - (Throttle*(((1.9438*IAS<50)&(LandingGear = 0))?0.75:1))*cos(400*Time*(((1.9438*IAS<50)&(LandingGear = 0))?1.5:((Altitude<3)?2.75:2.5))+180)/2+0.5

• Control surfaces - all located at the rear, their main purpose is to provide roll and yaw stability, as pitch stability is already provided by the wings. Being a tricycle like this, means that tilting them down makes them hit the ground, so there's a limiter that prevents that while the plane is below 3m above ground level. Once the wings gear shifts, below 3m of ground clearance, the elevators are locked in a pitch up position as to counteract the torque generated by the wings.

  1. Limiter of the right elevator - clamp(Pitch-Roll-atan(pow(RollAngle/25,55))/90-clamp01(AltitudeAgl<3&LandingGear = 0&1.9438*IAS > 50),-1,(AltitudeAgl<3)?0:1)
     
     
     
     • atan(pow(RollAngle/25,55))/90 - this section this the self-rectifying part of the program. It just prevents the pilot from going beyond 25º of bank angle. It is also present in the rudder.
       
       
     
     

• Cosmetic functions - these are just for things that don't affect much the performance of the craft.

  1. Landing gear bay doors - divided into 2 doors each, both make use of this function smooth(LandingGear,0.15), one only activates once it is equal to 1, the other one only shuts closed when its derivative is 0.
  2. Instruments - use a recycled version of the functions used for the pistons. The vertical speed indicator is just a rate(Altitude)/10. The /10 part is just so the indicator doesn't spiral out of control
  3. Beacons - just a costume blink pattern. The central beacon is a clearence beacon that only activates when throttle is applied.
     

Moar pics
Ay look, it's Robin

Have fun!