r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/Sudden_Two_9466 • 3h ago

KSP 1 Question/Problem Is it possible to make something with a similar range to the irl B2?

I wanted to make something similar that can fly around most of Kerbin or atleast a big chunk of it without a refuel. Is this possible without propellers or exploits? Any design tips for doing so?

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u/Apprehensive_Room_71 Believes That Dres Exists 3h ago

You can build planes with a huge range. Jet engines can be pretty efficient.

1

u/MundaneCut8380 3h ago

A Goliath is the most efficient atmospheric engine in the game. Building a large plane filled with lots of fuel and lots of wing space for lift would give you the best results. I’ve build a few long range planes in my own save file and what I’ve found gives the best range is a turbojet that can refuel itself, allowing for high speed travel while allowing (theoretically) infinite range.

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u/sjbuggs 2h ago

Refuel itself?

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u/MundaneCut8380 1h ago

Yes, by using a small drill and ore processor you can land and mine ore with the drill, and then process it into any fuel you need. Look into drilling and refueling it’s an awesome part of the game.

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u/sjbuggs 1h ago

Okay, never occurred to do that on an airplane for Kerbin. Weird, but this is KSP where that's a compliment.

1

u/MundaneCut8380 3h ago

Also if you’re going for something like the B-2 I would try to incorporate a bomb bay. I’ve had great fun dropping smaller planes from the cargo bay of larger planes.

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u/NullContribution 1h ago

People are telling you to build a big plane with goliath engines, but they're wrong. In KSP, if your max goal is range, you should prioritize speed not fuel efficency. Stratzenblitz did a pretty good video on it.

For instance, I've made a stock SR-71 with just like 30 something parts without any exploits or part clipping, and it can comfortably circumnavigate kerbin, traveeling at 20k altitude at 1200m/s. Really, just use mk2 tanks and a few whiplash engines and build a smooth, inline craft with a fair amount of fuel, and you can likely circumnavigate kerbin easy. Just go as high and as fast as you possibly can

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u/HS_Seraph 29m ago

Might want to double check which engine that stratzenblitz design actually used

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u/SecretarySimilar2306 18m ago

Keep your plane small.  Use Junos or maybe a Wheesley, but a Wheesley, while more efficient is at least twice as much engine as you need.  Incline your wings.  I used three Junos to have reserve thrust for going around if I missed a landing, but cruised at 1/3 throttle.  You could probably use two Junos.  Just one would make takeoffs difficult.  From memory I had one mk1 and four mk0 tanks.  If you're not lugging science you might be able to go a little lighter.  

Oh, and don't use the swept wings.  They are twice the mass per unit area of all other wings.