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[Rex_Nex]

The problem is fuel. The only upper atmosphere engine uses up fuel like its nobody's business. A single engine burns through a Mk2 fuselage in about 20 seconds.

Im sure you can get into space, but you'd need a really efficient design. Or you can use rocket engines.

[Sean Mirrsen]

I was under the impression that spaceplanes were supposed to, you know, get into space. Why does it sound like these can't these go very high? :|

Spaceplanes are still airplanes, they fly using air-breathing engines. Air-breathers offer great fuel efficiency, but obviously need an atmosphere to function, so the practical ceiling for a spaceplane is around 20k meters. If you need to go beyond that, you need to either go very very fast to compress enough air, or use rocket thrusters and rocket fuel tanks.

[Rex_Nex]

Driving a spaceplane after the fuel has ran out is neat. They can glide pretty well; well enough that the command module usually survives when it hits water. You can glide for a long, long time too.

[Sirus]

Could you mount a rocket on top of a spaceplane, and use the plane to give the rocket a low-fuel-cost boost?

[LoSboccacc]

yes but you rocket will be limited in using lateral simmetry

you can build it in the rocket hangar but will have to launch vertically

[DrPoo]

Yay im buying the game either today or tomorrow.
They did a great job, i love playing the game.

[LoSboccacc]

pretty fly

Spoiler: for a white guy (click to show/hide)

it has a bad tendency to tail striking... good luck with that if you hit, there is no scraping here, only burning death (it could fly even without the tail, but it has very little pitch control)

[LoSboccacc]

this is so stupid that it drop like a rock as soon as you disable mech jeb

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

no, it didn't reach anywhere near orbit 

(it's excceptionally good at gliding, however. I should try to attach some boosters)

[LoSboccacc]

trim is very useful to prepare a craft for landing

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

this was landed with a +50% trim to pitch; very useful when you're joystickless

[SP2]

Spoiler: This design worked well for me. (click to show/hide)

Although I've yet to test it in the upper atmosphere.

[Graknorke]

I do have the demo version and will be "donating" for the full game either today or tomorrow.
I do have a problem though, I can never seem to get more than a couple of tanks worth of fuel into orbit, no matter how many stages I put on.

[miauw62]

Damn, these things look awesome!
I guess i'll have to buy the game after all...

[Akura]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Presenting a working¹ crew-operated short-range MIRV ballistic missile. Capable of unleasing indiscriminate² destruction on an enemy city with a relatively infinite³ chance of success. What's more, the missile can be quickly disassembled⁴ converted into a parachute drop pod to turn your crew of three battle-hardened⁵ Kerbals into an assault team to quickly conquer the bombed territory immediately after⁶ the warheads drop before the enemy can react, as well as unleash greater destruction on your enemies.

<sub>1. In that it actually works. Most of the time. Especially compared to previous attempts.
2. Well, you can't do much if a missile collides with the launching rocket.
3. Relative to 0% of success when not doing it. Dividing by 0 and all that.
4. Disassembly is occasionally involuntary.
5. Jeb, Bob, and Bill tend to have slap-fights in the cockpit.
6. Usually. Sometimes before.</sub>

[Aqizzar]

Spoiler: Albatross Mk1 (click to show/hide)

I'm not impressed with its flight stability, but it did have a tail when it left the hangar.  The wings actually flap when it changes pitch, I might need to do something about that.  I am strongly considering mounting it on a rocket sled for takeoff, I just wanted to test it's airworthiness (i.e. make sure no pieces fall off when it's wheeled to the runway).

[Dutchling]

Spoiler: Albatross Mk1 (click to show/hide)

I'm not impressed with its flight stability, but it did have a tail when it left the hangar.  The wings actually flap when it changes pitch, I might need to do something about that.  I am strongly considering mounting it on a rocket sled for takeoff, I just wanted to test it's airworthiness (i.e. make sure no pieces fall off when it's wheeled to the runway).

Where is Jebidiah?
_{Development of this game didn't stop when I didn't play this game anymore or did it?}