Project G42-200 StarLiner

[Eli13]

Off topic here (again with my useless questions) how many passengers does she carry?

 

[Moach]

Off topic here (again with my useless questions) how many passengers does she carry?

thats not a useless quistion - it's actually very relevant :thumbup:

and that depensd on the configuration... by default i think the cabin should accomodate 6 passengers (8 total, with the 2 on the pit) - but she could be fitted with a presonnel transport module on the bay (like the skylon) and carry 20+ ppl...

where would you stick that crowd up in space is a whole other matter... maybe you got one monstrous space station? :lol:

 

[Eli13]

Yeah, I think the ISS would be a little crowded. :lol: But ok. Well I guess the 20+ could be passengers on a sub-orbital flight similar to that of spaceshiptwo. No, I'm not asking for a Virgin Galatic re-paint thats bound to happen. :lol: I could see using this for the kangaroo route between london and sydney. If only they had nice spaceport add-ons. Bring up the air force one and let the pres have some fun! :lol:

 

[Moach]

i had also though that the G42 would make a nice HST if it was modified to lose the center fuel and oxy tanks replaced by an airliner-like cabin... that would also require the removal of tha payload bay... but the round-bulked fore section was designed to allow this sort of thing....

wouldn't make much sense to do that for Orbiter, tho
perhaps for FSX, when our species technology is advanced enough to allow the construction of hardware that can actually handle it :lol:

 

[Eli13]

True, but then again, Air Force One doesn't always carry a huge amount of people. Minus the security....

 

[Moach]

alright, i just test-flew the airborne plane-intercept maneuver and had great success in doing so... i actually overdid it and anded up 1.5 degs past the lunar plane alignment


but it shows that the G42 is in fact, capable of fulfilling it's design requirement to launch from a base at higher latitude than the target inclination, then fly to the orbital insertion point at Mach 2 (which seems optimal for 20k alt), or if ATC won't allow it, at subsonic speed at ~10k alt


again i messed up the reentry, but i'm pretty sure she can do it :uhh:


anyways, since that's all working and somewhat up to code with my requirements for WIP-1, i shall now pack up for a first-milestone release :woohoo:


included features:
* almost fully modelled interior model
* still untextured, but also almost-there ext model
* 54 flickable switches in the VC, of which a few actually do stuff :lol:
* animated stick and throttle on the VC (ext model ACS not there yet)
* 6 all-purpose MFDs with LCD-labeled softkeys
* 2 crudely developed, poorly-funcional EICAS screens
* a just-for-now digital fuel readout
* coarse engine simulation for all stages
* forgiving fly-by-wire flight dynamics (best with auto-trim MFD)
* animated gears, canards and visor (no simulation effect)
* animated and simulated waverider/feather wing modes
* a nice amout of extra HUD info (vc)
* 2-position cockpit with alternating pilot-on-the-other-side meshes (still crude)
* OMS thruster set, controlled by main throttle authority switch (main engines must be closed)


what you shouldn't expect for this first release (but planned - in no particular order):
* fully modelled and textured VC and ext mesh
* bay/RCS-doors/radiator animation
* RCS exhausts
* custom exhaust textures (the defaults bleed through the model quite a lot)
* animated ACS
* DARTS/ext fuel tanks
* payload bay and docking operations
* UMMU / UCGO integration
* custom sounds and ATC chatter
* elec/hyd/fuel/bleed-air/apu/ecs/cooling systems modelling
* nav lights
* custom skinning for EXT models and crew
* crew cabin and bay console models
* proper contrails and other particle FX
* airframe heat/stress simulation
* brakes/tires/drogue-chute modelling
* airbrakes (yeah i know... but it is possible to land 'er without them)
* emergency conditions
* working FMC
* fuel-dump and fire extinguishers
* adaptable launch loadout configurations
* deeper, more complex engines simulation
* fully interactive DVC (all switches flickable + other stuff)
* better keyboard shortcuts
* EFB panels
* CoG-shift system
* cup-holders
* whatever else might still be missing...

alright... so let me pack things up now... i should have it uploaded in just a bit :thumbup:

 

[Scruce]

another option would be in a flip-up-covered box somewhere below the forward overhead panel... those are always fun :lol:

Too right :lol:, the flip-up-covered box on igel's Vostok passed the time away...

 

[Grover]

cant wait for the WIP1! im off college tomorrow so i can have a fly about
as long as none of the systems have catastrophic failures (like if the crude flight computers make feedback loops of some sort) it should all go good.

and ive thought about your re-entry problem, have you already simulated the re-entry wing configuration? if not, it will all change later anyway

with CoG shift (and the possible AoA hold Autopilot) re-entry should be much easier. i think you should go ahead with CoG shift despite its criticisms, because there are few alternatives, none of which i think are feesable, and you can always use partial Ballast, where you shift fuel and dense liquid to move CoG, potentially where fuel is needed for optimal performance (because you should have some for final approach anyway) but you have some capability in case of emergency.

i have other ideas about that system, but ill save them for now, ill let you get on with the WIP1 first

later dawg!

 

[halcyon]

What a great Tuesday this will be!
I slept in, made myself waffles and hazelnut coffee for breakfast, and now I get to fly the G42-200.

 

[edsupagood]

Oh my can't believe this day has finally come!

 

[jangofett287]

God Speed almighty Moach, may the probe guide you swiftly!

 

[Moach]

alright, here goes nothing: http://www.moachcraft.xpg.com.br/G422-WIP/G42-200-WIP-01.zip


i've uploaded to the hangar as well, but since it's my first it takes a while to approve, so my poor little personal server is gonna bite that bullet for now so you don't have to wait :thumbup:



remember, treat 'er well and shell fly you safely back home -if you don't, the '42 will murder you :lol:


and let me know how reentry works out for you... haven't had much luck with that so far...
i recommend you use a nice joystick, but she's gentle enough to fly with keyboard (with a little help from auto-trim MFD)


cheers!

 

[cymrych]

Congrats on reaching your WIP 01 Release Date!!

Now if only I can figure out a way to get "sick" so I don't have to be at work for the next 8 hours....

Oh, btw, I had a thought about reentry. I know it's more suited to a purely delta-wing type ship coming in at hyperbolic velocities, but have you attempted an inverted entry? I actually doubt it'll work that well, but its something to try.

Ah well, you're gonna have some good pilots itching to test drive the '42 quickly, methinks, so we'll figure something out for you!

Cheers

 

[Grover]

ill give it a go, first, ill see how we can get it into orbit, then ill see if i can get it down... simple

is there a readme-thingy in the package? and if not, any pointers on how to get this thing up there?

thanks

 

[Moach]

Congrats on reaching your WIP 01 Release Date!!

Now if only I can figure out a way to get "sick" so I don't have to be at work for the next 8 hours....

Oh, btw, I had a thought about reentry. I know it's more suited to a purely delta-wing type ship coming in at hyperbolic velocities, but have you attempted an inverted entry? I actually doubt it'll work that well, but its something to try.

Ah well, you're gonna have some good pilots itching to test drive the '42 quickly, methinks, so we'll figure something out for you!

Cheers

when i first tried that, aerobrake gave me red numbers with something about 200+ G's.... :uhh:

i found wise to rethink my flightplan, so i turned the ship around until it went green again :lol:

 

[Grover]

that 200Gs will be at the end of the trajectory, its actually safe for the start, then you roll over again and start a more traditional glide back down to earth

ive got it installed now, lets see if we cant get this bird in the air

 

[liber]

Nice bird... :thumbup:

 

[jangofett287]

Sweet craft and VC. It'll probably be a bit before I have the time to make an attempt for orbit though, I have English homework.

 

[edsupagood]

Beautiful ship! Handles very nicely, getting into orbit was easier than I had expected.

 

[halcyon]

As soon as I finish my 747 flight from LAX to Sydney, Australia in FSX I'm testing the heart out of the WIP-1.