Atmospheric flight needs to evolve beyond "flying bricks"

I've been playing Space Engineers for a very long time, and if there's one thing that has always felt frustrating, it's how atmospheric flight works. Every friend I've played with feels the same way: the game is incredible at engineering, but it punishes you for building anything that looks like a real aircraft.

The Problem:

Right now, ships in atmosphere behave identically to ships in a vacuum. If you design a jet with thrusters only in the back, it’s basically useless. The moment you cut the engines, you drop like a stone. There’s no gliding, no lift, and no air resistance. To stay level, you’re forced to point the nose up or cover the hull in thrusters facing all 6 directions. This makes the shape of your ship purely cosmetic. In a game about engineering, a sleek jet and a flying brick should not perform exactly the same.

The Proposal:

I hope the team can consider a simplified aerodynamic model where the atmosphere actually interacts with the grid. We don’t need a complex NASA simulation, just two basic forces:

• Atmospheric Drag: Based on the grid’s cross-section and speed. This would let ships bleed off speed naturally.
• Atmospheric Lift: Based on the angle of attack. If a ship has forward velocity and tilts its nose up, the air should push the grid upward.

Why this makes sense for SE2:

1. Completing the Planetary Experience: Some might say "it's a space game," but SE already has wheels, gravity, and now even water. These features show that planetary gameplay is a core part of the experience. Adding basic aerodynamics isn't a distraction from space - it's the missing piece that makes planets feel alive and rewards players for designing specialized atmospheric craft.
2. Technical Feasibility: Calculating a single force vector based on a bounding-box approximation is computationally light. Since the engine is already being built to handle wind forces on grids, a drag/lift system feels like a natural extension of that framework.
3. Emergent Gameplay: This would create entirely new reasons to build. Runways, hangars, and specialized planetary transporters would finally have a functional purpose. It makes the sandbox deeper without overcomplicating it.
4. Optional & Non-Breaking: This could easily be a world setting. It wouldn't break "thruster-heavy" ships, but it would finally make aerodynamic, fuel-efficient planes a viable choice for those who want them.

A note on timing:

I’m not asking for this to be rushed into the next update. I understand there is a roadmap and higher priorities. This is a suggestion for the long-term vision of SE2. Whenever you feel the engine is ready for it, I believe it would be a massive evolution for the game.

I'd love to hear your thoughts - especially if you've tried building atmospheric aircraft and ran into the same wall. I’d appreciate any feedback or alternative ideas on this. If this is something you feel is missing from the planetary experience, I hope we can bring more attention to this topic.

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