a "hole" between scram engines? sounds like its asking for trouble. but i suppose if you can make a spaceship that runs on magic, you can put a hole through anything safely
what kind of payload do you imagine will "fall through" that hole btw, its awfully narrow for a rover
well, flying at mach 30 is asking for trouble but it doesn't seem to stop anyone... And it only runs on magic if you want it to. But either way, those are separate self contained engines so its reasonable to imagine there could be room for something like this.
The 2 new ground access hatches add plenty of useful functionality, and like the forward hatch, access like this is something that's been requested before.
I've given plenty of examples of use. More specifically, any number of vehicles, robots or jetpacks can be deployed from the cargo bay to the ground below - even animals, livestock, -lol- who knows... such things might be valuable? you could fit inflatable habs through there just fine, supplies, water, batteries, generators, you could get an entire mini/temporary colony out of there if you use some imagination.
So, just because its a relatively narrow space, does not mean that it can't be useful. I guess even a larger vehicle could be deployed in sections or as some kind of fold out mechanism.
It might aid scientific missions, land over an area to survey and deploy a core drill from the payload bay for example - could be a real time saver for any number of scientific or exploration activities.
so for use, perhaps a standard sized payload module could spawn things over the hole or on the ground below (it sits basically in the mid-fuel tank position so there would be room for a CHM a "payload dispenser" and a fuel tank) otherwise you might imagine people working in the bay, loading and deploying items to those below.
perhaps it should have some type of elevator? but otherwise to deploy safely, there might be a winch above or something to lower things down.
jangofett287 said:thought I'd have a go at guessing what is visible in this picture:
Purple: The under-body Access hatch Coolhand just revealed.
Red: The SCRAM Access Panels. (Also visible on XR2 MKI)
Yellow: The Underwing Gear. (obviously)
Turquoise: I suspect these may be underwing compartments, which I think Coolhand has mentioned at some point before.
Blue: SCRAM Intake doors.
Green: I think it is probably the front Hover jet cover.
White/Pastel Blue: Unknown.
NOTE: YMMV with what you see the colours as actually being.
thats not far off, the door marked green is probably going to be removed - it houses the now redundant forward vtol engine. This engine is replaced with 2 engines further forwards, marked white in your image. I think everything has been mentioned previously but no harm in a re-cap, thanks.