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[PaulMoffat]

I'm currently developing an actual UFO or otherwise known as a flying saucer for Outerra and thought maybe some of you may be interested. Unlike real UFO's though, if you choose to believe of-course, this UFO is going to use standard man made technologies which can be simulated through JBSIM.

ie.

* main central jet turbine at bottom center of hull for vertical lift
* vector based side thrusters for horizontal movement and pitch/rotation control
* dual jet and rocket thruster systems for use within atmosphere and space-flight

I have started modelling the UFO and have created the basic ship hull and top dome, but will admit as a non artist who couldn't draw something to save my own life I used a reference image available on the net I found through google images, just to get me started. I was trying to get an idea of what I wanted to accomplish and absolutely fell in love with both the shape of this particular ships outer dome, hull design and the projected size of the ship. The idea of creating an enormous UFO which even dwarfed trees was something I already had in mind before I even saw the picture and knew immediately that was what I was wanting to go for. At the moment I have the ship scaled at 33 units in diameter (which translates to 33 meters in Outerra). This is a starting point and I may scale it upwards/downwards as I get it into the game and see how it looks.




From this point on-wards, all further design is going to be original, and tailored towards a realistic flight model which can or will hopefully be possible through JBSIM and Outerra.

Because of the size of the ship I am also planning on eventually designing the inside, so when possible in Outerra the ship can be internally navigated and explored. It will also be supplied with retractable landing struts (obviously) and a central lift mechanism on the bottom of the ship which can be lowered to the ground to allow personnel, vehicles and supplies to be loaded on-board. This will share the same spot as the vertical central thruster so this will have to be retractable as well and will atleast at this point in my mind, form the bottom of the lift somehow. Ofcourse all details are being thought out at the moment and I will explore many options.

At this point I still have alot of work ahead of me, but I look forward to it and am enjoying every moment of it. I am a little nervous about integrating it with JBSIM when that time comes as I have zero experience with it so obviously will have quite a bit to learn beforehand.

All in good fun ay?

Paul Moffat

[DeanosBeano]

Great start

 I hope you will document your progress on the JBSIM here as i would like to learn this too and hopefully watching your progress wil help

[PaulMoffat]

Yeah definitely. As I have to hit this thing from total inexperience I will make sure I keep track of everything I learn and did to get this UFO flight worthy. Especially as it is going to employ a rather exotic flight profile, if JBSIM will allow it. It's not exactly a Helicopter but will be VTOL. Any it isn't exactly an Airplane but it must have some lift potential for horizontal flight especially at speed. This isn't even considering Space Flight at this point.

I am really curious to know just what this design is capable off in terms of aerodynamics, especially at various velocities and pitch angles. I may even find a way to calculate the aerodynamic properties of this model if required by some other third party application to do just that so I can generate accurate aerodynamic look-up tables - I mean that is how JBSIM works right? I know X-Plane can calculate it all on the fly to specific resolutions. I've never created an Aircraft for a Flight/Space Sim before so this is going to be a challenge I am sure.

I'll research my options. I'll let you all know what I did and how I did it etc. This will work in my favor too as I might make an obvious mistake or inefficient choice which someone else who is more knowledgeable may pick up and hopefully point out for me.

[PytonPago]

That would be nice of you ... also, do you already have some inner space layout ?

[PaulMoffat]

At the moment I don't - not in specific detail anyway. But I do have in mind it being several levels with a engine/generator room, and a storage area at the bottom of the ship with a vertical lift of some type which can be lowered to the ground when landed. The above flight control area, cockpit so to speak will encompass the entire dome, and actually the floor of the area will be at the bottom of the dome. I may even create a raised pilot platform in the center of the dome for which is UFO is directly controlled, giving the pilot the best view and situation awareness of the world outside of the craft.

I am also planning on creating other rooms within the ship such as an passenger compartments, lounge & recreation areas with windows looking outside of the side of the ship, quite possibly within that darkened area of the ship just below the dome.

The idea at this point is to make this UFO a luxury type vehicle similar to modern day Cruise Ships. This will no doubt be realised and better appreciated when Outerra gives us the ability to enter and walk around our greater sized vehicles.

[PaulMoffat]

I brought the ship into Outerra to get an idea of its size. It wasn't as big as I expected so I scaled it upwards. Here is what I will begin with. It's a little bigger then I initially was going for, but it will give me a lot more room for internal development when I get to that part. It will also give the ship more room to navigate around in and alot more storage area especially for other smaller ground based vehicles or small aerial scouts. This size really gives it that interplanetary mothership look to it, which I ultimately want to go for. It is definitely intended to be a mobile home base.

[ShauntWilliams]

Awesome,  I did a ufo and got it working great,  loved that independence day feel

[Steve.Wilson]

Hello Boys............I'm baaaaaaaaaackk!!!!!! 

[2eyed]

Now that's big!
Could please someone of you do a Ufo with the flight behavior we have in Ufo (flight)mode?!

[wayne57]

i to want a ufo but on a much smaller scale
made one in crytech that launched from a mother ship floating above a battlefield
http://www.mediafire.com/view/tu8noww2hoodxbd/panzer_ufo.jpg