mjf
New member
Edit: here is the official list copied from the 2014 thread, then edited to add/change record times during 2015... :tiphat:
TOP 10 FLIGHT TIMES (as of May 18):
1) agentgonzo(playback) - 16:35
2) dgatsoulis - 17:06
3) mjf - 18:24 (set on May 16)
4) agentgonzo - 19:58
5) blixel - 20:00
6) tinfoilchef - 22:35
7) vsfx - 23:51
8) SolarLiner - 26:37
General rules:
I would like to "resurrect" the classic KSC-WIN Speed Run challenge, as it has been a minor obsession of mine for about the last month, since I restarted playing Orbiter. Beating 20 minutes is the goal for me.
To refresh:
The idea is to use a stock XR-2 Ravenstar (but can be stripped down to hold only 1 crew member and a minimal amount of fuel/oxygen to save on weight). Typical takeoff from KSC and fly approximately 8200km to Wideawake International*.
1) The old-old, ancient history thread is here:
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=5727
2) And a recent thread (circa 2014) is here - this is the best way to familiarize yourself with the most modern efforts to get lower times:
http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=32000&highlight=classic+speed+run
You will see that a key poster in the recent KSC-WIN challenge thread is "blixel", otherwise known as David Courtney. Mr. Courtney has some excellent Orbiter Tutorials on his Youtube channel, and links are in the initial post in the 2014 thread linked to above...
===
From blixel, I learned that one can fly a "standard" run in about 20 minutes. His fastest time on this one (there are several of his, and other pilots', videos) is 20:00 even (the usual time measure is MET from 0:00 at wheels up in KSC to wheel stop on the runway in WIN). By "standard" run (more on this later) I mean a climb and acceleration to about 11-12km/sec MECO at about 70-72km altitude, flying inverted to hold within the atmosphere, then a flip with about 25% of main fuel to retro-thrust to brake to sub-orbital speed (< 7 km/sec), then flip back again to standard AOA re-entry about 40 degrees for the last 1000-1500km into WIN and (ideally) nicely lined up for a short, steep glide down to the runway.
After a bunch of practice, I have a recorded version that is just under 21:00 (note: the first time I tried it and survived, took me over 30 minutes). I will try to figure out how to post this file if people are interested (but frankly, blixel's runs are better tutorials as he has commented videos).
Diverging from the "standard" run as above, there is also what I call "crazy" runs. This involves flying even faster than 12km/sec - up to about 14km/sec. This means there is no fuel for braking, so the braking maneuver involves basically holding an attitude perpendicular to the airstream, pointing straight down with the belly of the craft facing forward, and using bursts of engine (with minimal remaining fuel) to hold one's altitude under 70km. This produces a very hot, and high-G deceleration. The best examples of the crazy runs are the original agentgonzo run, and the more recent ones by dgatsoulis.
I will try to add more posts on this in the next few days, with some of my lessons learned, checklists , etc - in case anyone wants to give it a shot. But for now, my short-term goals are:
1) get my time under 20 minutes - David Courtney is in my sights! I need to figure out how to optimize the flight to achieve this - I think it has a lot to do with how fast the deceleration/reentry can occur, since this will allow for the maximum amount of time at max cruise speed.
2) try to learn how the "crazy" reentry style works. I have tried it a few times but always get completely disoriented and lose control of the vessel - and either burn up or get flung out into space...
I will try to update this thread with any progress...
TOP 10 FLIGHT TIMES (as of May 18):
1) agentgonzo(playback) - 16:35
2) dgatsoulis - 17:06
3) mjf - 18:24 (set on May 16)
4) agentgonzo - 19:58
5) blixel - 20:00
6) tinfoilchef - 22:35
7) vsfx - 23:51
8) SolarLiner - 26:37
General rules:
I would like to "resurrect" the classic KSC-WIN Speed Run challenge, as it has been a minor obsession of mine for about the last month, since I restarted playing Orbiter. Beating 20 minutes is the goal for me.
To refresh:
The idea is to use a stock XR-2 Ravenstar (but can be stripped down to hold only 1 crew member and a minimal amount of fuel/oxygen to save on weight). Typical takeoff from KSC and fly approximately 8200km to Wideawake International*.
1) The old-old, ancient history thread is here:
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=5727
2) And a recent thread (circa 2014) is here - this is the best way to familiarize yourself with the most modern efforts to get lower times:
http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=32000&highlight=classic+speed+run
You will see that a key poster in the recent KSC-WIN challenge thread is "blixel", otherwise known as David Courtney. Mr. Courtney has some excellent Orbiter Tutorials on his Youtube channel, and links are in the initial post in the 2014 thread linked to above...
===
From blixel, I learned that one can fly a "standard" run in about 20 minutes. His fastest time on this one (there are several of his, and other pilots', videos) is 20:00 even (the usual time measure is MET from 0:00 at wheels up in KSC to wheel stop on the runway in WIN). By "standard" run (more on this later) I mean a climb and acceleration to about 11-12km/sec MECO at about 70-72km altitude, flying inverted to hold within the atmosphere, then a flip with about 25% of main fuel to retro-thrust to brake to sub-orbital speed (< 7 km/sec), then flip back again to standard AOA re-entry about 40 degrees for the last 1000-1500km into WIN and (ideally) nicely lined up for a short, steep glide down to the runway.
After a bunch of practice, I have a recorded version that is just under 21:00 (note: the first time I tried it and survived, took me over 30 minutes). I will try to figure out how to post this file if people are interested (but frankly, blixel's runs are better tutorials as he has commented videos).
Diverging from the "standard" run as above, there is also what I call "crazy" runs. This involves flying even faster than 12km/sec - up to about 14km/sec. This means there is no fuel for braking, so the braking maneuver involves basically holding an attitude perpendicular to the airstream, pointing straight down with the belly of the craft facing forward, and using bursts of engine (with minimal remaining fuel) to hold one's altitude under 70km. This produces a very hot, and high-G deceleration. The best examples of the crazy runs are the original agentgonzo run, and the more recent ones by dgatsoulis.
I will try to add more posts on this in the next few days, with some of my lessons learned, checklists , etc - in case anyone wants to give it a shot. But for now, my short-term goals are:
1) get my time under 20 minutes - David Courtney is in my sights! I need to figure out how to optimize the flight to achieve this - I think it has a lot to do with how fast the deceleration/reentry can occur, since this will allow for the maximum amount of time at max cruise speed.
2) try to learn how the "crazy" reentry style works. I have tried it a few times but always get completely disoriented and lose control of the vessel - and either burn up or get flung out into space...
I will try to update this thread with any progress...
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