Heavy-lift shuttle, ca. 2230

[Masao]

Here's a new heavy-lift shuttle I'm working on. It's based on my earlier Penguin shuttle, but has a hatchback instead of a warp nacelle. http://lobotomy.pleh.net/~flareupload/uploads/232/Penquinshuttle.jpg (about 560 kb)

I've been experimenting with the cockpit location. I was trying for an YB-52 appearance with the fighter-style canopy. Conventional, but OK. Here's a version with the cockpit at the very top, looking like an XP-72 or a British MB-5. http://lobotomy.pleh.net/~flareupload/uploads/232/shuttle2.jpg (144 kb)

What do ya think?

[Thomas P]

Nice job. I like both but seem biased towards atmopheric ships having the cockpit more towards the front. The XP-72 and MB-5 had narrow bodies to see the ground when landing.