How can I fly about 18,000m to collect data?

[Alizona]

Every plane I build can only go to about 12,000m and then it won't go any higher. I think it has something to do with the atmosphere getting much thinner as you go higher, and airplane wings don't work as well? So how can I complete all these missions I have where I need to collect temp and pressure at certain locations above 18,000m? What's the best way? Maybe by spaceship instead of by plane? Or is there a way to make a plane that can easily fly around at 18,000m?

[ghpstage]

A higher tech engine or rocket engine is required.
Early aircraft, and the contracts that are, or appear to be for them suck. Space contracts are the way to advance in career.

[AlexMBrennan]

Just put a rocket engine on your plane and fire it at max altitude close to the destination. Late game airbreathing engines will allow you to go fast enough to reach an apoapsis > 18000m - short hops are enough, you do not need to cruise at >18000m.

But yes, I would make sure that 1) the destination for aircraft contracts is close to KSC and 2) below Xm before accepting them.

[tourist]

yeah simple rocketplane will do it. Silly design:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=673978864
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=673979956
30 parts 7.2 ton. normal difficulty career
edit: hammer running at 25% thrust

[AlexMBrennan]

It might be easier to land back at the KSC if you have engines

[tourist]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

It might be easier to land back at the KSC if you have engines

I imagine that sort of design is possible, less "kerbal."
edit:

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

It might be easier to land back at the KSC if you have engines

I imagine that sort of design is possible, less "kerbal."

edit: I was wrong, it can be kept very kerbal.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=674007044
8.6 tons 24 parts. Can slow climb, burn flea at 1000m and hammer before 8000m, I got to 23km. Firing all and going vertical, I got to 19km.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=674002607
edit: flea was at 15% and hammer was 30%

[Video Gaming]

you are probably using turboforan engines to propel yourself, which from my experience, do not work in space.

[Solus The Immortal]

the engine that can swtich from atmos to space is good (forget the name)

[J128MM]

If those observation contracts are asking for a reading above a certain altitude, but your tech level doesn't grant you parts to fly a jet that high, use a rocket. Put a pod with a Kerbal, thermometer and anything else you might need to complete these contracts into a polar orbit and keep it there. You don't need to fly over the location on the first trip around the globe. The world will keep spinning but your flight path will stay the same. Eventually you will fly over any location any contract can offer without having to burn any more fuel. Maybe a few minor burns at the poles for a better alignment if you're impatient, but that's all it takes. You will already be prepared for any future contracts that require events to take place above a certain altitude as well so it is cost effective. You don't need to get all of the readings in one flight. You can use the polar orbit craft to get the high ones, then switch and use a jet to get the low ones. Those sort of contracts become easy money, science and reputation when you're already prepared in advance.

[tourist]

Originally posted by masterxenon42:

you are probably using turboforan engines to propel yourself, which from my experience, do not work in space.

The junos work up until 12-12.5km.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=674048987
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=674048528
The dual hammer sets up an island landing. Needed four landing gears in front, 24 parts 10 tons. Hammers at 50% throttle. If it doesn't take off fast enough or lands too fast/uneven then gears explode.

[Seamus]

Does the contract say you have to land on the runway? I mean... why not just come in low with drogue chutes and main chutes?

[AlexMBrennan]

Does the contract say you have to land on the runway? I mean... why not just come in low with drogue chutes and main chutes?

Well, you only get 100% of the funds back if you recover on the runway regardless of how you land (e.g. parachutes and taxi to the runway will work just as well)

[p0tat0b]

What engines are you using, if they need air from intakes they won't work in space.

[Senorhun]

About collecting data...

I dont understand, show biomes is a cheat, but why?
How should I know where can I go collect new data, is there any device for that?

[Moose]

Originally posted by NoNamesLeftToUse:

If those observation contracts are asking for a reading above a certain altitude, but your tech level doesn't grant you parts to fly a jet that high, use a rocket. Put a pod with a Kerbal, thermometer and anything else you might need to complete these contracts into a polar orbit and keep it there. You don't need to fly over the location on the first trip around the globe. The world will keep spinning but your flight path will stay the same. Eventually you will fly over any location any contract can offer without having to burn any more fuel. Maybe a few minor burns at the poles for a better alignment if you're impatient, but that's all it takes. You will already be prepared for any future contracts that require events to take place above a certain altitude as well so it is cost effective. You don't need to get all of the readings in one flight. You can use the polar orbit craft to get the high ones, then switch and use a jet to get the low ones. Those sort of contracts become easy money, science and reputation when you're already prepared in advance.

A polar orbit is the way to go, BUT you really need the early solar panels to stay long enough to pass over the contract point(s). By the time I got solar panels the observation contracts had all expired and have not reappeared. :)

[AlexMBrennan]

I dont understand, show biomes is a cheat, but why?

Because in vanilla you would have to figure it out by trial and error which is considerably harder than looking up the biomes on the debug map (or KSP wiki).