Single Engine Propeller Tutorial

[@Allstar-yl1ek]

I cannot express, in all the words of the English language, how incredibly grateful I am that this video exists. Seriously, I've gotten nothing but unhelpful and conflicting information until I found this, you're a lifesaver and you deserve more subscribers.

[@Echo3]

Thanks. I'm glad it was helpful for you.

[@gavinburns6994]

Yeah he does. Serious quality content. Problem is general stupidity level of human race means only a small fraction of people can get value out of it, even Kerbal players. Why he has so low numbers.

[@shahishnusureshkumar248]

@@Echo3 You deserve more subscribers!

[@ganderson3461]

Once I'd understood your remark about different throttle percentages at different speeds, I got it. The secret is to bring the throttle up slowly for takeoff. What a superb video.

[@Echo3]

Yes, optimum deployment angle of the blades depends on your velocity and altitude.

[@jonahdonahue2930]

Your way of speaking and tutorial is amazing! Simple things like clarifying how it's clockwise and how the props are default are things that so many tutorials miss. Thank you!

[@sometree2744]

Is it a good idea to pitch up the main wing slightly? It makes jets much more stable, but what about propeller planes?

[@Echo3]

It generally is a good idea to give your main wings some angle of attack. You typically do not need a very high angle of incidence with the wings, but if you leave the wing placement neutral, then the plane usually has to tilt up to maintain level fight. Then you get added drag from the fuselage. The same principles apply to prop aircraft and jets alike. The stock game has simplified aerodynamics.

[@Imbreadtt]

@@Echo3 how did you get it straight

[@Imbreadtt]

@@Echo3 how do the winga

[@Echo3]

@@Imbreadtt I will switch to the fine placement tool (c) and rotate the main wings one "tick." I explain this in a little more detail in my Airplane Design tutorial. What exactly are you asking about the wing? Do you want to know how it is level as apposed to dihedral or anhedrial?

[@Imbreadtt]

@@Echo3 help me I can’t see comments I can only use notifications

[@_tarnished_]

I'm watching a video about ksp but I feel like i'm getting read the weather report

[@mmei15]

3 years later this video helps new Kerbonaut conquer world of aerodynamics, thank you

[@Echo3]

You are most welcome

[@Ghosteriz]

4:14 from that part what do you mean "Trim functions" for stable in flight? can you elaborate it more?

[@Echo3]

On PC, I can press ALT + direct key (wasdqe) and the craft will set keep the control surfaces altered in that direction. It will also keep any reaction wheels applying force in that direction. It doesn't work with SAS on, but is very helpful for using the aerodynamic control surfaces to counter the roll torque of the rotor.

[@cat-nl4sv]

after activating my engine the plane falls over to the side, how i do i correct this?

[@Echo3]

It sounds like the torque from the rotor is rolling your craft. I like to use a conventional gear placement and keep the front two very wide.

[@cat-nl4sv]

@@Echo3 k

[@VenatorPaleo]

I had no idea how to makes planes at the beginning of today and now I just created functioning P-51 and B-19 replicas. Thanks!

[@Echo3]

Cool! Are you able to share screenshots anywhere? I'd like to see them.

[@bruhmoment2312]

You sound like swagger souls but after working at nasa lol Btw thx for video it helped a lot

[@Echo3]

Glad it was helpful.

[@stuffffffffffffff]

I cant find the "Deploy angle" when I select kal 1000 and the type b propellers pls help

[@Echo3]

are you on console? then you'll need to use authority limit instead.

[@stuffffffffffffff]

@@Echo3 ok thank you very much!

[@saebfarooqui3936]

Thanks for this tutorial man. Incredibly helpful.

[@Echo3]

You're welcome.

[@blockheadgreen_]

Took a break from KSP for a few years and bought this DLC earlier this year. This video was very helpful in getting the props to work! I ended up making a two-speed variable system with a fine setting for takeoffs/climb and a coarser setting for cruising, as I don't think it's possible to make a constant-speed system. I ended up reinstalling FAR and using AJE propellers instead however.

[@Echo3]

There is a lot you can do you the rotors and propellers. I really enjoy making helicopters, but they take a lot refining to work well.

[@frecatorDementa]

I've been trying to get the R121 to work now for ages. It's simply not turning on at all ( not spinning ) My motor is engaged, RPM limit and torque limit is above zero, brake is set to zero, etc. It will just not do anything. I have both liquid fuel and air intakes. Any idea what I might be doing wrong? (I've got RPM and torque limits bound to my main throttle, and a custom action to 'toggle motor engaged'; no matter what I do, the blades never turn)

[@frecatorDementa]

Looks like I answered my own question - I needed to have a liquid fuel tank attached to one of the nodes of the R121. I had fuel on my craft, but the R121 was attached radially. The fuel diagram showed fuel flowing into the engine but it wasn't working.

[@Echo3]

@@frecatorDementa Nice to see you figured it out.

[@galt7360]

God, I needed this in my life

[@Echo3]

What are you going to do with this knowledge?

[@galt7360]

Build a thing

[@galt7360]

And then another thing

[@TheTISEOMan]

Blows my mind thinking of it. 205m/s seems on the low end of speed, but then you look at that speed translated to mph. 458mph. That's insane, that's among some of the fastest aircraft of ww2

[@Echo3]

Yes, when converting the velocity over to a more familiar unit, the magnitude becomes more apparent. I know that is what I had to do.

[@bezimienny1337]

why are you using mph instead of kph/kmh

[@jaedondiesing5811]

I can’t seem to bind the Kal-1000 to the deployment pitch of the propellers

[@Echo3]

Are you on console? If so, you need to bind authority limit instead.

[@jaedondiesing5811]

@@Echo3 thank tou

[@ferrarifast1429]

Why was the motor binded to the RCS? Didn't quite catch that.

[@Echo3]

That was to toggle motor power. Basically, it's to turn on the engine.

[@seamusmckeon9109]

HOW DID YOU MOVE THE PARTS LIKE THAT AT 2:08

[@Echo3]

By holding Shift while using the move tool (default short cut key 2) I can move the parts further out. @ 1:56 I bind Toggle Motor Power to the RCS action group. It is also helpful to unbind the motor from the Breaks action group. If the breaks are engaged when you turn on the motor, the blades will not move.

[@Pamba07]

I dont know what I've done wrong, I cant seem to get the plane to take off the runway. (Its not going backwards) but it wont propel itself forward. All the action groups are the same as yours, as is the KAL1000 'play'. And when I'm on the runway, I'm throttling the same amount as you, I just always seem to have troubles with propeller craft lol

[@Echo3]

Make sure to place the propellers with the stripes on the front. Deploy the propellers. For takeoff, you'll need the angle around 10 degrees then gradually increase to about 20. As your speed increases you can keep increasing the angle to 40 to 45 degrees.

[@specialneedsmolester1957]

2:34 how did you make the offset tool align like that?

[@Echo3]

Press F to switch between local and absolute mode with the offset tool

[@specialneedsmolester1957]

@@Echo3 thanks, also in short how does the number and size of blades on an aircraft affect thrust?

[@1zsn303]

My planes tip to one side when the prop turns on. Not just a little, but enough to get it off its landing gear and break the wing.

[@Echo3]

Are you using a tricycle or conventional landing gear arrangement? Typically, I'll use a conventional style with the front gear pretty far apart. It could be too that you are giving your motor too much torque. Most of the time, the motor size can be greatly reduced.

[@1zsn303]

Thank you! I'll try this sometime@@Echo3

[@1zsn303]

@@Echo3 I now use contra-rotating props, they work fine.

[@peyscomcstudios1442]

I cant find the deploy angle on the propeller engines on the action part on the KAL-1000 please help?

[@Echo3]

Are you playing on a computer or console? In this tutorial I use action groups to bind the propeller deployment angle to the KAL. Then I edit the KAL to set up the deployment limits. I think the console version of the game may use the term authority limit instead of deployment angle.

[@peyscomcstudios1442]

@@Echo3 console

[@Echo3]

@@peyscomcstudios1442 That probably explains why you are seeing some different terms. Do you have something called authority limit (or something like that) that you are able to bind to the KAL 1000?

[@peyscomcstudios1442]

@@Echo3 yes

[@videoactif]

Nice tutorial, but when I "launch" my plane, it bounces on the runway. Do you know what could be the reason ?

[@Echo3]

That could be an issue with the landing gear. Make sure you have advanced tweakables enabled in the game settings. You may need to adjust the spring strength and the dampening. It could be that you also need to use larger landing gear to handle the weight of your plane.

[@videoactif]

@@Echo3 Thanks, I will check this. The plane is the one in the video, so it is the same weight than yours. I will activate the advances tweakables

[@pastaya]

Idk why but I can’t find deploy angle and I don’t know why

[@Echo3]

are you playing on console? Then you'll need to use authority limit instead.

[@ZAR_DO200]

Are propeller planes in ksp maneuverable?

[@Echo3]

They can be. It's all in how they are designed.

[@ZAR_DO200]

I have another question if you dont mind. I play on ps5 and i want to use the move tool to move the landing gear further away from the fuselage. But its locked to a certain distance. Is there a way to increase it in stock ksp or is it a mod?

[@Echo3]

​@@ZAR_DO200it's not a mod but I don't know what the equivalent button is for console.

[@gaijinsnail]

Alr so uh EXACTLY 1 year later... How u see the kerbal in the cockpit?

[@Echo3]

There is a toggle next to the Kerbal portraits on the bottom right of the screen. The toggle is on the left side of the portraits and is circular.

[@butwhy7138]

How do you bound the kal 1000 to throttle

[@Echo3]

With the action group menu up, select the KAL 1000 part (not the option in the action group menu) and click on the throttle in the action group menu. You should have two options, one to bind either play speed or play position. I bind the position of the KAL to the throttle.

[@Starkissk]

How do u have the pistons and stuff? I got my ksp from steam

[@Echo3]

The Breaking Ground DLC

[@magdalenasrebna1281]

Why do u sound like a damn actual tutorial that would be used for plane engineers and maitnance crews

[@basstester6515]

How do i unlock robotic parts?

[@Echo3]

They are part of the Breaking Ground DLC. If you have that, then there are several nodes like actuators that need to be unlocked in order to use them in a career or science mode game.

[@tiredcitizenz1925]

Thank you!

[@LiamR330]

what beta are you playing on? I cant find the motor section

[@Echo3]

This video was recorded using v1.9.1 and the Breaking Ground DLC. I also have advanced tweakables enabled in the settings.

[@shahishnusureshkumar248]

My plane isn't flying, I followed all instructions well and set the kal 1000 to proppeler blade b with 40.00

[@Echo3]

Without seeing exactly what you are doing, it may be hard to diagnose exactly what is going on. Placement of the propeller blades is important. The striped side needs to face forward. Make sure the blades are deployed. Optimal blade angle depends on rotor RMP, the crafts speed and the air density. For takeoff on Kerbin, I like a starting deployment angle around 15 degrees and gradually increase to 25 as the plane picks up speed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m369hJypl81_bKM This video demonstrates a simpler design that you may like.

[@shahishnusureshkumar248]

@@Echo3 Yes, the plane moved faster after rotating the propeller blades but still doesn't fly and drifts to the right

[@Echo3]

@@shahishnusureshkumar248 A single engine plane like this will naturally want to drift. I like to set my front gear wide to keep it steady on the runway and use trim to keep it flying straight. How fast are you able to get on the runway? There could be other issues with landing gear placement or your wings. Do you have any way to share pictures or video of your craft?

[@shahishnusureshkumar248]

@@Echo3 I am able to get to bout 28m/s

[@Echo3]

What is your deployment angle on the props at 28m/s?

[@Geeksmithing]

It was a bit disappointing to sit thru this video to see the end result and you could not even have been bothered to play it back in normal speed to give an accurate depiction of performance and flight characteristics.

[@Echo3]

Thank you for the feed back. This is one of my earliest videos. I have made some newer ones about the use of propellers that you may find to be better.

[@Geeksmithing]

@@Echo3 ooh awesome! I'll definitely check them out. Thanks!!

[@moshimitzi2550]

very useful thanks

[@Echo3]

Thanks.

[@kanokwanphuawongphat1021]

1:33 screaming

[@seamusmckeon9109]

My engine won’t start!

[@getexposedlol5382]

Learning this is so hard and this tutorial not for me you explain how to build your plane not explain how this stuff works

[@NarvicEstupa]

version name?

[@Echo3]

This video is several years old at this point, but everything is still applicable for PC players.

[@MisterJooch]

Non of the kal 1000 stuff showed up it doesn’t work

[@Echo3]

I'm not sure what you mean. Could you elaborate?

[@spinningsquare1325]

I just stick to twin rotor for 0 torque

[@Echo3]

That is generally my preference as well.

[@ed_lifts]

@@Echo3 And mine!

[@Mochi-si1bq]

Is this a mod?

[@Echo3]

The robotic/propeller parts are not a mod, they are in the Breaking Ground DLC

[@Mochi-si1bq]

@@Echo3 ok thanks

[@kanokwanphuawongphat1021]

I gave this plane on steroids and it goes 300m/s I used contra rotating props using the ducted fan blades.

[@Echo3]

Nice

[@Engimoder]

Legend did not use sas

[@Echo3]

I try to make my planes stable enough to fly without SAS.

[@basesixty6739]

Craft file pls

[@Echo3]

1drv.ms/u/s!AgX4yLy61s3KkkOTNFLIDNnVk41x?e=99KH9Y Here is a newer version of the craft. It is a little tricky to fly, but is able to fly 190 m/s.

[@basesixty6739]

Thanks man

[@lukav3509]

my planes engine wont even start lmao

[@Echo3]

Are the brakes on? Did you bind your motor power or torque to an action group?

[@des1990]

Does everything but explain how to set it up, dislike.

[@Dr-Bread]

not much help for me, you talk very fast

[@Echo3]

Sorry about that, this was one of my very first videos. I have since made others to try and explain this better.

[@Dr-Bread]

@@Echo3 Oh ok, i just cant find those can you give me a link, im pretty stupid

[@Echo3]

@@Dr-Bread kzbin.info/www/bejne/m369hJypl81_bKM

[@kindcell6556]

Moves too fast and talks to fast

[@VenatorPaleo]

Play the video slower

[@space760]

bro this doesnt help

[@Echo3]

What are you struggling with? If you are making your first prop plane, it may be easier to just bind the torque to the main throttle and have the propellers keep a constant angle around 25 degrees. I have another tutorial explaining this.