What is your favorite small exploration ship?

Branithar · Sep 3, 2018

I miss finding unexplored systems, and want to get back out there, and want to do it on something that's small and fast and fun to fly. I just want to get out far enough to find unexplored systems. I want a small shield, SRV, fuel scoop, and the advanced discovery scanner and detailed surface scanner. I can do without the AFMU, and make sure I have some heat sinks. What are some good small ships, that are fun to fly and good for some light exploring?

I was thinking of the Eagle, cause it looks so cool, or the Viper MK iii. I started exploring in a Cobra mk iii, and looking at the optional internals, it's making me miss that ship. I was looking at the Vulture, that might be a fun one too.

Netah · Sep 3, 2018

Well, I'm not zipping about in an Eagle or Viper MKIII or Vulture. I am running around, with much fun, in my Diamondback Explorer. She is a small ship. She may not be as fast as the others, but she is my pride and joy - my old, reliable truck that keeps on going long after all those new-fangled sports cars blow their engines.

Deluvian · Sep 3, 2018

Netah said:
Well, I'm not zipping about in an Eagle or Viper MKIII or Vulture. I am running around, with much fun, in my Diamondback Explorer. She is a small ship. She may not be as fast as the others, but she is my pride and joy - my old, reliable truck that keeps on going long after all those new-fangled sports cars blow their engines.

I am with you here.. DBX was my first exploration ship in which I manage to get to the center of the galaxy.. I wish it could be a small size alternative to Anaconda, which I chose primarily (and almost exclusively) for its jump range capacity

iain666 · Sep 4, 2018

I still love my Mk III, not really explored in anything else small. You definitely don't need heatsinks in one though.

I've never explored in anything more sluggish in SC than a Python, maybe they're a good idea in an Anaconda but in a Cobra you can fly out of danger fast enough that you don'd need it.

Digression aside, Mk III is the best small exploration ship.

Pinda Gupta · Sep 4, 2018

Prior to the new Passenger ships, I'd certainly say the Diamondback Explorer was the best small exploration ship -- and it's still outstanding, boasting a jump range higher than an Anaconda when done right. But I always had a problem with two things: the lack of optional internal slots, and the slow refuel time, even with the best fuel scoop available.
But now, a Dolphin, with a build like the one here, is quite easily one of my favorite small explorers. Even though the jump range pales in comparison to the DBX, I don't think anyone would say that 50+ LY engineered is poor. It's decently maneuverable, has the same amount of internal space than the DBX (one extra if you count the restricted slot), and best of all, it refuels nice and quickly with a 4A scoop. Plus, it looks pretty slick.

gpcustoms · Sep 4, 2018

Must agree. viper is the long jump and all around great little boat!!!!!!

Jaxterix · Sep 4, 2018

My imperial courier at 39.9 LY jump range (with Guardian FSD booster) is my favorite small ship to explore with. Can boost to 730, and is very agile and fun. Runs a bit hot, but gets the job done in style!

Shnyrik · Sep 4, 2018

Branithar said:
want to get back out there, and want to do it on something that's small and fast and fun to fly. I want a small shield, SRV, fuel scoop, and the advanced discovery scanner and detailed surface scanner. I can do without the AFMU, and make sure I have some heat sinks

Shield is not _that_ necessary, actually, if you dock slowly

Without shield Eagle and Viper quite meet your requirements. You might also look at the Sidewinder (with XP thrusters it is much better than it seems

) and Hauler.

If you want more jump range -- the latter is your friend, it is a surprisingly good explorer for such a small and cheap ship.

If you wand speed, maneuverability and good cockpit view -- then look at Eagle or iEagle, with clean XP thrusters and low emissions large power plant they both are cool in all meanings of this word

I personally have an explorer iEagle and just love this ship.

If you want more slots for shield or cargo bay -- look at iCourier and Adder. The first one has strange looking cockpit, 6 slots (like Cobra, so you can fit both shield and FSD boster, for example), extreme speed and maneuverability. The latter has only 5 slots, but it's jump range is very good even without any boosters.

If you still want more, then you have 4 largest "small" ships: Cobra, 4-th Viper, Dolphin and DBX. DBX has great jump range, Dolphin has a lot of slots and Cobra, well, it's Cobra

foobaron76 · Sep 4, 2018

Hauler for life!

With your requirements, you would be best served with a DBX, Cobra Mk III, or Viper Mk IV, though. With a Guardian FSD booster, both the Cobra and Viper can do 47 ly jumps range with all the bells and whistles you wanted.

marx · Sep 4, 2018

I like to keep note of what ships have the "best" qualities for exploration: for example, the Anaconda has the best jump range, the Clipper has the best fuel scooping, and so on. Now, there is only one small ship that qualifies for a best category. The Imperial Courier has the best speed. (Granted, an Imp. Eagle can go slightly faster, but it doesn't have the internals for exploration.) So it's definitely something to keep note of. Granted, the speed is only most useful for planetary exploration, so it's a small niche - and with what we know about the Q4 update, it might soon not even matter there.

Among the small ships, the Adder has the best value for its price, but incomes have gotten high enough these days that it doesn't really matter.

Codger · Sep 4, 2018

I’ve always enjoyed the T6 as an exploration ship. It feels great, has a good view, and carries all I need.

Non Grata · Sep 4, 2018

It's ultimately a personal thing so try a bunch and see what you prefer. E.g. for me the Courier is by far the best small explorer, yet I get sick of the cockpit so at the same time it's kind of the worst.

Orvidius · Sep 4, 2018

Exploring in a small ship... that's a totally foreign concept to me.

The iCourier looks to be a lot of fun, just due to its speed and maneuverability. But if I were to explore for any length of time in a small ship, I'd consider the Cobra Mk.IV, since it has 8 optional slots, and just like in real life, I like to bring everything when I travel.

marx · Sep 4, 2018

taotoo said:
It's ultimately a personal thing so try a bunch and see what you prefer. E.g. for me the Courier is by far the best small explorer, yet I get sick of the cockpit so at the same time it's kind of the worst.

Funny you should mention the cockpit. Back when the Courier first came out, I rather disliked it myself. Yet, as I used the ship more and more, for both combat and exploration, its interior grew on me, and I enjoy it by now. The fighter jet look is certainly different than those of most other ships.
There's one other thing for which I like exploring in small ships: the sense of scale. Maybe it's just me, but when I'm sitting in a Courier, I realise better just how small my Commander is. Somehow, this is lost on me in the larger ships - and that's another reason why I don't really consider the DBX a small ship. A small landing pad ship, sure.

@ Orvidius: Yeah, the Cobra Mk IV is surprisingly capable, especially now with the FSD booster, but don't forget that many Commanders can't purchase it. It was only for those who pre-ordered Horizons or had a LEP. The former was quite a while ago though, and I think Frontier should unlock the ship for all by now.

Orvidius · Sep 4, 2018

marx said:
@ Orvidius: Yeah, the Cobra Mk IV is surprisingly capable, especially now with the FSD booster, but don't forget that many Commanders can't purchase it. It was only for those who pre-ordered Horizons or had a LEP. The former was quite a while ago though, and I think Frontier should unlock the ship for all by now.

Yeah, I agree. Either unlock it for everyone, or add an in-game method to unlock it. It's been long enough, IMHO.

Non Grata · Sep 4, 2018

marx said:
Funny you should mention the cockpit. Back when the Courier first came out, I rather disliked it myself. Yet, as I used the ship more and more, for both combat and exploration, its interior grew on me, and I enjoy it by now. The fighter jet look is certainly different than those of most other ships.

For me it's the other way around - I've loved the look of the cockpit from day one, and still do when flying around the bubble doing combat etc. But when out exploring for days I find it too busy. I also don't like the long nose with the two blue dots - my OCD forces me to perfectly align any body I'm flying towards with them.

As for the Cobra MKIV - I have opinions but lets not pollute this thread!

Rudi Raumkraut · Sep 5, 2018

As the cat is already out of the bag now...

...followed by this...

...and my 3rd place

Chaparral · Sep 5, 2018

It's all about the dolphin. Style, tiny footprint, good carrying capacity, easy to get an SRV in and out of, and views - and potentially a passenger.

Branithar · Sep 6, 2018

If I'm flying shieldless, and have a restricted module slot, would it be a good idea adding module enforcement? I want to add an SRV and fly around planetary surfaces.

Branithar · Sep 6, 2018

If I plan on landing on planets, and don't have a shield, would it be a good idea adding hull reinforcement to the restricted slot? I might want to land on a high-G planet. I have 2 full-fledged exploration ships but some of the small ships or so much fun.

And I won't have an AFMU or shield, cause there are too few slots in the small ships. So I might want hull reinforcement in a restricted slot

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