Hey man no worries i understand how you feel. Have had one of those days too. But are you sure the shuttle cant take off like what a normal plane does? Those two little engines which are what you said for orbiter purposes might sound true but what about the three main engines? Just for that crazy burst up to space? Im quite sure that the shuttle could fly like what a normal plane does if im not wrong. Well i might be wrong i dunno. But i really think that CS should actually model the engines that actually work. Even by taking off from a runway even if its not highly realistic to do so but would be fun anyway with so much power to jet off from a runway and fly across the globe at least with that amount of speed.

To CS: I would hope that the engines are on the works and a patch for it incoming....maybe a launch phrase with that big fuel tank and 2 rockets that could be jettison midway?

Btw im from Singapore