Dragonfly RCS powered ‘glider’

Flies on a puff of monopropellant

Slider 1:
Elevator Trim

Activations:
Combination Control Surface
RCS

Basic Take Off:
Apply elevator trim ( 0 to -100), switch sticks to translate mode and apply forward thrust (left stick up). when Dragonfly is airborne adjust trim and switch translate mode off.

Elevator trim is the only means of controlling pitch when in translate mode!

Given how the RCS system works, forward thrust can only be applied in translate mode, however the RCS nozzles will be applied with the rudder when not. This can be used to advantage (it’s even possible to take off like this but a bit messy) but for rudder only, switch the RCS off when not in use.

On loading monopropellant, Dragonfly is carefully balanced with two sets of fuel tanks. The outer tanks (set 2) get used first then the inner tanks (set 1). There are 6 tanks in each set, 3 each side. There must be an equal amount in each tank per set or the balance will be off.

To fly to the edge of space, fill tank set 2 to 100% capacity. The twin fuselage is mirrored so you only have to fill one side. Take off and apply continuous thrust at a steep angle of attack using elevator trim to control pitch. Ease off well before the desired altitude as the acquired velocity should be enough to continue climbing for some time. Air density of around 10g/m3 is about the limit of operational capability so it’s not possible to maintain level flight much above 40KM. Sub orbital flights are possible (to about 60KM) but only on a ballistic trajectory as there’s no way of controlling Dragonfly outside the atmosphere.
At high velocity the effect of the huge amount of control surface is quite extreme so it’s generally useful to deactivate the combination elevator/aileron at these at high altitudes.

Dragonfly can take off from water but will be too heavy to float if there’s much fuel in tank set 2. Tank set 2 comes preloaded at 20% which is about as much as it can take without sinking, taking off in this position requires downward pitch trim (100%) as this heavy it floats tilted slightly backwards. One advantage with the RCS, it’s not affected by water so diving underwater and flying back out is possible and much fun.