Reaching SPACE in KSP using ONLY JET ENGINES!

I LOVE BlackRack’s volumetric clouds mod, in combination with all the other visual mods we have for Kerbal Space Program now, but one of the issues I have is that my missions often don’t really showcase them for very long, since rockets don't spend that much time below the clouds. So, I wanted to make a video featuring a plane, and fly through clouds and thunderstorms and all that good stuff! I'm super happy with how this one turned out, so I really hope you enjoy!

My PC specs:
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-Core Processor
64 GB RAM
3840 x 2160, 144Hz

[Kaelygon]

11:42 "Drinks and snacks will be on the way shortly", proceeds to pull 11G right after

[creativecarveciteclimb]

What's crazy is that Stratzenblitz did this but he actually got to orbit. He saved up angular momentum using unequal drag which added a torque and he used that to get into orbit.

[Alxium]

I was blown away, literally, with the weather effects on Jool. I don't know how, but he extended how far you can go into the planet and it has some truly some insane sights and sounds. Also, Duna has dust storms periodically which are really neat too. HIGHLY recommend Blackrack's clouds if you have a few dollars to spare.

[R-BGamingUK]

Matt, I have a question, will you record yourself exploring a comet at some point? Since I've searched for "Matt Lowne comet" and the closest I've found was you capturing a magic asteroid and Danny2642 plugging the Mohole with a comet

[docgratis]

The black bars make sense on the second mission because otherwise you would see the <REDACTED> and <REDACTED> with the capabilities of <REDACTED> to <REDACTED>.

[quoniam]

Given the Delta V you have on the plane, opting for a shallower ascend profile would allow for a faster orbital insertion for the payload, the only caveat being the return trajectory, forcing to complete the world around tour like a antipodal bomber, like the Germans wanted to do or like Pr Mortimer's Swordfish tactical nuke bomber.
BTW, I tried to recreate it in KSP and it works very well as an Antipodal aircraft, with insane TWR, one normal engine the one that can switch between subsonic and post combustion), half of the fuselage being empty cylinders, that thing can easily circumnavigate Kerbin, alterning between thrust pushes and gliding descents. I also made the cockpit detachable like in the comics. Of course my prototype had no payloads. And as it has no landing gear, it needs a rocket assisted take off from a stageable stability girder and then drops the sepatrons (ModPods or I don't remember which mod with a similar name) had a smaller radial decoupler that was very useful for that).
Of course to avoid stalling in turns, the engine nozzle must be have thrust vectoring disabled.

[alexsampsonite]

I'm so glad you still get views. Haven't watched in a while, especially since ksp2. I'm getting the ksp itch again though, and it's great that the the Matt Lowne aspect is still thriving.

[NickBDesigns]

Hahaha I love the little chuckle when you were talking to the “tourist” about how the snacks would be coming shortly

[Jeb_bezos]

Can’t wait to watch it after I come home

[headforscience]

This is actually a perfect example of how I believe spaceplanes are meant to work IRL.

[berengerayers]

KSP jet engines are underrated. Love the content with planes or in-atmosphere missions!

[Zourkoskey]

Loved it! I wish I was this good at KSP lol, I still have a blast with it though I play with Real Solar System and I ended up modding all my engines to have much higher ISP so that I can actually get places plus mechjab, cause otherwise theres no way I could get any where with my skill level lol!

My funnest memory was when I realized that at some point I had sent a kerbal in a ship flying off into interstellar space for whatever reason, and years later being like oh no I need save that poor guy, by this time he was past Plutos orbit. Made a big ass spaceship and used mechjabs intercept mode to fly out and meet the poor kerbal and do a ship to ship transfer via EVA. Took like decades of time but what a sweet moment when i finally rescued the guy and then got him home after like 100 years drifting in space! I just wish I had recorded it :(

[benjaminshort]

8:20 this has been a very charming video, Matt. Thank you for a cute and entertaining video. Love pilot voice Matt.

[pepsolenel]

Really love the "live commentary part"! It would be good if you did more videos like this, you wouldn't have to explain afterwards what you did or what happened exactly. Maybe you could add a little text on the screen indicating when your voice is live recorded with the footage

[branchy]

Currently staying at a hotel in Iceland and this was on the recommended without me being signed in! No escaping Mattrick Lowne

[leonardobonanno]

It's impressive how little delta-V the payload needed to achieve orbit from using a jet plane as first stage.
Also well done with the design, it's sort of elegant.

[slothomatic]

"I'm doing a bit right now."

I legitimately laughed out loud. Nicely done.

[The_cgull]

Hey Matt! I think a series where you explore various planet packs and interstsllar travel mods would be awesome! Cheers!

[BrannonAerospace]

Matt: “Let’s talk to our esteemed guests!”
Me: “Oh no.”

[maciej]

Awesome craft and vid! Just wanna mention that (as tested by VAOS) 1 shock cone intake can power UP TO 4 RAPIERS! (just have to throttle gradually so you dont flame-out at takeoff)
So you theoreticaly could use just 2 intakes to power the whole plane and cut a bit of mass and drag by using nose cones!