UPDATE: latest information for nearly all ships and thruster benefits here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=182465
Alternative title Drag racing in space
First off thanks to the hardwork in this thread: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=139844 for the inspiration and the 50% limit on optimal mass information.
I was curious about how much information was given by the maneuverability rating on ships and also on how thrusters and mass affect acceleration after crashing my new python into the letterbox several times (luckily just shield damage). Also on how much the 'flight model' varied by ship
I tested 9 different ships all set at their optimal mass (except the python) as it has been stated by FD that "At optimal mass a ship has the intended flight model, above/below it has a better/worse flight model". Engines were set to 4pips as Optimal mass + 4pips gives the listed speeds (although some are listed incorrect in game but correct on EDShipyard/Coriolis)
NB due to the nature of the testing (using a stopwatch and watching the speed numbers) it is probably prudent to not pay too much attention to the differences below 0.1s. Each test was performed ~5 times (acceleration and max speed were performed 5-10 times, slower rotations ~3) and an average taken
Results are as follows:
M/O: is the Mass over Optimum mass for the thruster used
0-Max: is the time to accelerate to maximum speed in seconds I noticed there is significant spool up/down time in the thrusters, indeed the last few m/s can take up to a second to achieive so:
ACC: this is a measure of the average acceleration between 25%-75% thrust speeds.(m/s^2) (This is quite a rough measure as it is hard to judge exactly when to start/stop timing)
Stop-time: max speed to standstill time
Rotate(x) is the time taken to pitch 360 degrees at x% thrust
Lateral Thrusters is the time taken to reach maximum speed using the Vertical/Sideways thrusters, slow down times are similar.
(//) denotes a test not performed as I added some tests later on
It seems the Viper and Adder are rather sluggish turners compared to the Cobra and DBS, also it is interesting to note the superior performance of the DBS in acceleration and lateral thrust over the cobra as both craft are nearly identical in mass/thrusters/top speed.
Secondly I was frustrated at the lack of thruster information and so tested various optimal mass combinations with the Vulture by varying load and thruster class/rating:
As stated, there is no discernible change in performance below 50% of optimal mass. However there does seem to be a much more significant benefit in the 15% between 50-65 than 100-85
The Viper was also tested at a lower mass rating:
Hopefully some people might find this useful and indicative of the type of benefits given by better thrusters and also how the different ship flight models work.
P.S Thanks to the Lembava sanitation committee for their leasing of several 100tons of 'Ballast' for the testing.
Alternative title Drag racing in space
First off thanks to the hardwork in this thread: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=139844 for the inspiration and the 50% limit on optimal mass information.
I was curious about how much information was given by the maneuverability rating on ships and also on how thrusters and mass affect acceleration after crashing my new python into the letterbox several times (luckily just shield damage). Also on how much the 'flight model' varied by ship
I tested 9 different ships all set at their optimal mass (except the python) as it has been stated by FD that "At optimal mass a ship has the intended flight model, above/below it has a better/worse flight model". Engines were set to 4pips as Optimal mass + 4pips gives the listed speeds (although some are listed incorrect in game but correct on EDShipyard/Coriolis)
NB due to the nature of the testing (using a stopwatch and watching the speed numbers) it is probably prudent to not pay too much attention to the differences below 0.1s. Each test was performed ~5 times (acceleration and max speed were performed 5-10 times, slower rotations ~3) and an average taken
Results are as follows:
| Ship/Thruster | M/O | Mass | Top Speed | 0-MaxSpd | Acc (25-75%) | Stop time | Maneuver Rating | Rotate (0) | Rotate(50) | Rotate(100) | Lateral Thrusters |
| Sidewinder (2D) | 99.80% | 53.9 | 220 | 9.134 | 41.391 | 9.3 | 8 | 21.58 | 8.9 | // | 8.72 |
| Hauler (2D) | 99.80% | 53.9 | 200 | 9.144 | 42.194 | 8.71 | 6 | 25.11 | 10.17 | // | 8.24 |
| Eagle (3D) | 100.00% | 90 | 240 | 9.894 | 45.397 | 10.08 | 10 | 16.07 | 7.416 | // | 9.24 |
| Adder (3D) | 100.00% | 90 | 220 | 9.71 | 41.095 | 9.8 | 8 | 23.76 | 9.6 | // | 9.1 |
| Viper (3D) | 100.00% | 90 | 320 | 10.54 | 52.425 | 12.67 | 6 | 25.77 | 10.42 | 24.8 | 12.92 |
| Cobra (4E) | 100.00% | 280 | 280 | 12.188 | 30.482 | 12.29 | 6 | 22.57 | 9.166 | 13.57 | |
| DBS (4E) | 100.00% | 280 | 280 | 11.233 | 34.168 | 11.42 | 8 | 21.5 | 8.73 | 20.67 | 11.72 |
| Vulture (4B) | 100.00% | 385 | 210 | 9.005 | 39.597 | 8.77 | 9 | 17.283 | 8.66 | 16.45 | // |
| Python (6D) | 85.19% | 920 | 234 | 10 | // | // | // | 29.5 | 12.5 | // | // |
M/O: is the Mass over Optimum mass for the thruster used
0-Max: is the time to accelerate to maximum speed in seconds I noticed there is significant spool up/down time in the thrusters, indeed the last few m/s can take up to a second to achieive so:
ACC: this is a measure of the average acceleration between 25%-75% thrust speeds.(m/s^2) (This is quite a rough measure as it is hard to judge exactly when to start/stop timing)
Stop-time: max speed to standstill time
Rotate(x) is the time taken to pitch 360 degrees at x% thrust
Lateral Thrusters is the time taken to reach maximum speed using the Vertical/Sideways thrusters, slow down times are similar.
(//) denotes a test not performed as I added some tests later on
It seems the Viper and Adder are rather sluggish turners compared to the Cobra and DBS, also it is interesting to note the superior performance of the DBS in acceleration and lateral thrust over the cobra as both craft are nearly identical in mass/thrusters/top speed.
Secondly I was frustrated at the lack of thruster information and so tested various optimal mass combinations with the Vulture by varying load and thruster class/rating:
| Thruster | M/O | Speed | Acc (25-75%) | Spin (0) | Spin(50) | Spin(100) |
| 4B | 100.00% | 210 | 39.597 | 17.28 | 8.66 | 16.45 |
| 4B | 84.94% | 216 | 41.696 | 16.49 | 8.37 | 15.81 |
| 4B | 74.54% | 223 | 42.949 | 16.1 | 8.17 | 15.395 |
| 4A | 64.52% | 229 | 43.29 | 15.72 | 7.98 | 15.05 |
| 5A | 50% | 244 | 45.627 | 14.74 | 7.43 | 13.96 |
| 5A | 37.14% | 244 | 44.977 | 14.765 | 7.45 | 13.98 |
As stated, there is no discernible change in performance below 50% of optimal mass. However there does seem to be a much more significant benefit in the 15% between 50-65 than 100-85
The Viper was also tested at a lower mass rating:
| 3D | 100.00% | 320 | 52.425 | 25.77 | 10.42 | 24.8 |
| 3A | 65.41% | 351 | 55.159 | 23.54 | 9.51 | 22.44 |
Hopefully some people might find this useful and indicative of the type of benefits given by better thrusters and also how the different ship flight models work.
P.S Thanks to the Lembava sanitation committee for their leasing of several 100tons of 'Ballast' for the testing.
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