I wouldn't have thought it possible, but the aircraft parts are overall even
worse, balance wise, than they were before.
Here are my comparisons from .17, with colored comments from .18:
- The Mk1 cockpit has a mass of 1.25...and the Mk3 has a mass of 1. The Mk3 should be at least 3x the mass of the Mk1, given that it carries three people...(
FIXED) Also, the Mk2 cockpit, which is visually beefier than the Mk1, has a mass of only 1. (
UNCHANGED)
- The Mk1 fuselage has a dry mass of .3 and a capacity of 150. (
UNCHANGED) The Mk2 fuselage, which is visually 3-4x the size of the Mk1, also has a dry mass of .3 (...what) (
Now .2, which is even more "wtf"-worthy) and a capacity of 150 (...what) (
UNCHANGED). The Mk3 fuselage, which is visually 2-3x the size of the Mk2, has a dry mass of .3 (...what) (
UNCHANGED) and a capacity of 225 (less than 2x the Mk1 even though it looks like you could fit 8 Mk1s in a Mk3...) (
Now 240, which is better but still kinda wtf).
- The Mk3 to Mk2 adapter, despite being ~3x the size of the Mk1 fuselage, has a LOWER dry mass (of .2) (
UNCHANGED) and the same capacity (
Now 160, not much better).
- The Mk2 to size 1 adapter, despite being ~2x the size of the Mk1 fuselage, has a LOWER dry mass (
UNCHANGED) and the SAME capacity. (
Now 80, which is even worse...)
- The FL-T400 fuel tank is about the same size as the Mk1 fuselage (a bit shorter)...but has a lower dry mass (of .25) (
unchanged) and more than double the capacity (400). (
Now 180fuel/220ox, so basically unchanged, although the extra weight in oxidizer is now wasted on planes so this is less of a problem)
- The FL-T200 fuel tank is significantly smaller than the Mk1 fuselage, but has a higher capacity (200) (
now 90 fuel/110ox, so not worth it on planes, see above) and (as expected) a lower dry mass (
unchanged).
I think the ability to design, construct, and test-fly your own planes from basic parts is one of the best parts of KSP, and is something that not too many other programs offer...but the aircraft parts really need some balancing love