Recent content by mjf

Just wanted to update the thread - it has been a while! After several failed attempts resulting in the complete loss of craft and crew, I've now managed to do a complete KSC-WIN speed run using the larger XR-5 Vanguard vehicle. As I was skeptical of actually making it, I wasn't paying...

and one additional update - right after I made the previous post I did a recorded flight with a sub-18 minute time... But since nobody seems to be talking in here except me :cry: , I didn't bother to post anything related to it, nor change the record table at the top of the thread... if you...

new record time for me - same method and MECO slightly greater than 13.5 km/sec. The time from wheels up to wheels stop is 18:24 :thumbup: . Still trying to do some analysis on how dgatsoulis managed it over 60 seconds faster (17:05). That truly was remarkable flying on his part - there is no...

May 12 report - I tried a run this morning & successfully landed: - MECO was about 13.5 km/sec; - successfully aligned with WIN and used the agentgonzo/dgatsoulis "point straight down" braking technique; - however, I waited *far* too long to perform the braking - I was at 2500 km away from WIN...

scenario playback files for KSC-WIN speedrun - 19:05 I am attaching the files for the speedrun playback for my sub 20 minute run. Thank you to David Courtney (blixel) and dgatsoulis for the tips and advice to make this possible! I have done some analysis of the reason why dgatsoulis was able...

pleased to report that as of this morning (May 2), I ran the KSC-WIN race in less than 20 minutes... just slightly more than 19, actually. I recorded a playback while doing it, so will post a larger report plus the files, if I can, later today/tonight... When I have an exact MET from wheels...

additional update - I am extremely happy, having discovered that the XR-2 attitude hold autopilot can allow for inverted flight... :thumbup: to implement this, you have to be flying inverted first - say you get things roughly stable in supercruise mode. Then hit the "SYNC" button on the...

just an update in case anyone is interested... Haven't had much of a chance to play Orbiter but I have been trying a few experiments with the goal of a "sub 20 minute KSC-WIN" run... I have quicksaved a flight where I am in supercruise mode at about 12km / sec, about 4000 km away from WIN...

Hi Delta glider... I'm assuming that you are doing the "flip and burn retrograde" method as shown in blixel's videos? (For more, see links in references in the original post; this method is slightly safer (though not much) than the crazy agentgonzo/dgatsoulis "point almost straight down"...

I believe that a highly trained pilot (like our XR-2 crew, I'm assuming) can tolerate below 8 Gs that are positive for several minutes. Depends on how the seats can swivel. If the forces are down towards the feet this table (see bottom) would suggest 6 Gs for only about 3 minutes before...

fantastic - downloaded and playing right now (just paused it to come back to the forums and say "THANKS!") :thumbup: ---------- Post added at 11:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 PM ---------- To all interested in the speed run - I had some additional private correspondence with...

great idea. I'm now much more friendly to add-ons, but I remember when I first started using Orbiter, I didn't want to bother with installing any fancy MFDs. This approach is a really good one for people who want to try the "bare-bones" approach; if you think about it, one could then gradually...

Nicely done, dgatsoulis - another death defying run, and the time table at the top of this thread has been updated with 17:06 accordingly! Unless agentgonzo comes back to retry this, you are the man to beat on this speed run in 2015... I will study that video a few times, probably... I notice...

Hi everyone - as I mentioned earlier, I was influenced heavily by learning from David Courtney (blixel) on how to get the time of the speed run down to around , or ideally under, 20 minutes. Here are his most recent videos on Youtube with the best times: run #7 and run #8...

Update - I have added myself in with a flight I just completed this morning (April 7th), best ever time with MET about 20:30. It felt like almost an ideal run, although my landing could have come in a little faster - that probably took at least an extra 10 seconds. I did record a playback of...