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EAV-6 "Pelican" VTOL

I believe the new DLC is the dawn for practical tilt-engine aircrafts, so I hurry to upload this fixed-engine VTOL to Steam, which I've been using for quite a while. Quick spoiler: Do not press Space on this one.
If you actually plan to use it, please take a look at the Instructions section at the bottom.

See also: EAV-12 "Manta" VTOL

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EAV-6 "Pelican" is a highly reliable VTOL survey aircraft. It’s designed to bring a team of 4 to difficult-to-reach locations and study the surface / investigate anomalies. Also great for mountain rescues or simply travelling between bases and facilities around the world.
Moar pictures (32 in total): https://imgur.com/a/B730zYo

100% Stock, 137 Parts. Root part is the higher cockpit.

- Reliable VTOL capability thanks to near-perfect CoM balancing, until remaining fuel < 210 units (1810 units in total). This portion of fuel is stored in 6 Mk0 tanks. It acts as ballast / emergency reserve and will be burnt lastly. VTOL no longer safe from this point on, fly and land normally before it completely runs out.
- Flies smoothly and responsive also at low airspeed.
- Stable both in flight and on the ground. Danger of rollover is minimal thanks to its large wheel base.
- Robust: can withstand landings with 17m/s vertical speed.
- Decent range for its size: ½ Kerbin equator in a conventional one-way-flight, a bit less with VTOL. Ballast / reserve fuel not taken into account.
- Illumination system for night flights.

- Horizontal takeoff speed (Vr): 70m/s
- Max VTOL altitude tested: 1300m (full fuel); 5300m (bingo fuel)
- Turning overload: 2-6G depending on speed
- Cruise speed: Mach 0.6-0.7 @ 6000m
- Max speed: Mach 0.85
- Ceiling: 9800m

AG1=main engines
AG2=VTOL system, including vertical engines, reaction wheels and flaps
AG3=drop external tanks
AG8=toggle refueling probe
AG9=illumination system
Abort=main engine reverse thrust

- This is built to complete Anomaly Surveyor contracts and for visiting Kerbal Konstruct bases, because I want to actually be there before opening a base.
- It was not until I finished it and decided to name it Pelican did I learn about the existence of the HALO dropship with the same name. These two aircrafts do share a few similarities, I see it as a very pleasing coincidence. Maybe because they both look like a pelican somehow…(Do they?)
- I had Mi-24, Harrier, A-6, F-4, V-22 and even Vertibird in mind while building this. Just not that dropship.
- The idea to add a decorational refueling probe is inspired by crafts from Xenome[kerbalx.com]. I find it fun to enter IVA, press AG8, and watch the little animation.
- This engine combination is not the best solution for a VTOL. The J-404 Panther is a much better choice, especially in wet mode. And a fast plane actually has a larger range (am I right?) But I want to keep this plane small and with minimal part clipping, so yeah.

- Do NOT press Spacebar! It will mess things up. Use action groups only. AG1,2,3,8,9 and Abort are used.
- To do vertical takeoff, engage brakes and SAS, full throttle, then press AG2.
- Monitor stage TWR by clicking the dV number on the left.
- After lift-off, release brakes, press AG1 and wait for horizontal speed to exceed 60m/s, then press AG2 again and you are good to go.
- When doing vertical landing, you can press Backspace to engage main engine reverse thrust, quickly killing horizontal speed.
- Keep vertical touchdown speed <17m/s, which is very forgiving IMO. Horizontal landing speed can be very low, as this plane glides pretty well at low speeds.
- You can control from the OKTO2 core under the refueling probe and lock radial-in for VTOL. I personally think it’s great for hovering but makes it harder to achieve a pin-point landing, but the choice is all yours!

Wish you enjoy and happy VTOL!