Majestic and serene, airships captured the popular imagination in the early years of the 20th Century with their promise of high-speed, long-range transport. The idea of using airships as passenger carriers lasted until 1937, when the German airship Hindenburg crashed in a ball of flame in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The stable flight characteristics of these machines (so desireable in passenger carriers) made them ideal weapons carriers and surveillance platforms. This concept was proved during World War I, when the Germans mounted several bombing raids on London. After World War II, the main use for airships was in advertising and surveillance. In present-day 2046, airships have gained new prominence with the demise of large-scale jet transport.
ATLANTIC
Although very expensive, the Atlantic-class airship from Wizard Works
Aircraft is becoming increasingly popular on the trancontinental and intercontinental
passenger routes. One of the main reasons for its pouplarity is the extensive
arrays of solar panels. These give the Atlantic unlimited range. In fact,
the Atlantic's endurance is limited only by the amount of supplies carried
for the passengers and crew. This airship is well-armored and heavily armed,
a fact which discourages most aerial challengers.
Atlantic: Rigid super airship w/ CA frame, super airship power
plant w/ upgrades & 2 sets extra power cells, 150 flush-mount solar
panels (on top of envelope), 2 extra fans w/ 10 pts armor on each, pilot,
co-pilot, 50 passengers, 2 4-space universal turrets (envelope-mounted
1 TF, 1 TB) w/ 2 pulse lasers in each, 4 laser batteries (in envelope),
4 4-space universal turrets (envelope-mounted RF, RB, LF, LB) w/ 2 gauss
guns in each, 32 extra magazines (in envelope), 4 ACs w/ 3 extra magazines
each (gondola-mounted RF, RB, LF, LB), 2 4-space universal turrets w/ 2
VMGs in each (gondola-mounted UF & UB), 4 extra magazines, 12 HrSwcs,
search radar, radar identification, LD radio, autopilot w/ 2 software packages,
computer navigator, tinted windows, velvet glove trimmings, deluxe galley,
15-space lounge, Gondola Armor: F60, B60, RF55, RB55, LF55, LB55, TF40,
TB40, UF60, UB60. Acceleration: 5, HC: 0, Top Speed: 105 mph, 244,280 lbs,
$1,980,900.
Cargo Capacity (carried in lounge): 15 spaces, 5,670 lbs.
HIGH FLIGHT AIRSHIPS
These aircraft are produced and sold by the High Flight Aircraft Company.
They range from bombers and cargo haulers to passenger transports and news-gathering
platforms.
News Float: Non-rigid micro airship, micro airship power plant, pilot, gunner/cameraman, HMG w/ explosive ammo in universal turret U, 2 vehicular cameras in universal turret U, Swc, sound enhancement, searchlight (F), LD radio, Gondola Armor: F50, B50, R50, L50, T5, U75. Acceleration: 5, HC: 2, Top Speed: 82.5 mph, 7,260 lbs, $31,720.
Akron Acorn: Non-rigid small airship, micro airship power plant,
pilot & gunner, HMG w/ HD ammo in universal turret U, bomb bay, vehicular
computer, extra pilot controls, radar altimeter, Gondola Armor: F45, B45,
R50, L50, T5, U60. Acceleration: 5, HC: 2, Top Speed: 87.5 mph (70 mph
fully-loaded), 12,425 lbs, $39,350.
Cargo Capacity: 22 spaces, 7,575 lbs.
Sky Pallet: Small semi-rigid airship, mini airship power plant
w/ SCs, pilot & gunner, HMG w/ explosive ammo in universal turret U,
bomb bay, radar altimeter, improved fire extinguisher, HD winch, Gondola
Armor: F35, B35, R35, L35, T5, U55. Acceleration: 5, HC: 2, Top Speed:
115 mph (72.5 mph fully-loaded), 13,450 lbs, $48,600.
Cargo Capacity: 15 spaces, 16,550 lbs.
Cloud Base: Large semi-rigid airship, large airship power plant
w/ upgrades, 1 extra pair of fans, 5 crew, 2 HMGs w/ explosive ammo in
2 1-space universal turrets UF, 3 microplane harnesses UB, 6 winches, internal
hangar for microplanes (60 spaces), long-range radar, radar altimeter,
improved fire extinguisher, searchlight F, portable shop, passenger accomodations
for 6, galley, Gondola Armor: F50, B50, RF50, RB50, LF50, LB50, TF5, TB5,
UF80, UB80. Acceleration: 5, HC: 1, Top Speed: 90 mph (70 mph fully-loaded),
75,000 lbs, $295,550.
Cargo Capacity (exclusive of microplane spaces): 22 spaces,
33,100 lbs.
Neo-Norge: Standard semi-rigid airship, medium airship power
plant w/ upgrades, 1 extra pair of fans, 5 crew, 2 HMGs w/ explosive ammo
in 2 1-space universal turrets UF, bomb bay UB, long-range radar, radar
altimeter, searchlight F, extra pilot controls, improved fire extinguisher,
laser battery, galley, passenger accomodations for 2, Gondola Armor: F50,
B50, RF55, RB55, LF55, LB55, TF5, TB5, UF70, UB70. Acceleration: 5, HC:
1, Top Speed: 87.5 mph (70 mph fully-loaded), 52,900 lbs, $200,450.
Cargo Capacity: 63 spaces, 20,700 lbs.
Magonia: Super rigid airship, super airship power plant, 1 extra
pair of fans, 7 crew, 2 HMGs w/ explosive ammo in 2 1-space universal turrets
UF, 3 HMGs w/ explosive ammo in 3 1-space universal turrets (envelope-mounted
TF, RF, LF), 12 SAMs in 3 4-space universal turrets (envelope-mounted TB,
RB, LB), 12 3-space rocket magazines (inside envelope) w/ SAMs, long-range
radar, radar altimeter, bomb bay UB, extra pilot controls, improved fire
extinguisher, searchlight F, HD winch, deluxe galley, passenger accomodations
for 42 (passenger weight included), 40-space passenger lounge, 49 safety
seats, Gondola Armor: F60, B60, RF60, RB60, LF60, LB60, TF5, UF5, UF80,
UB80. Acceleration: 5, HC: 0, Top Speed: 102.5 mph (95 mph fully-loaded),
219,895 lbs, $661,850.
Cargo Capacity: 41 spaces, 30,105 lbs.
AERIAL TRAINS AIRSHIPS
In the area of dedicated cargo-hauling airships, this relatively-new
company from Oklahoma is turning out to be one of High Flight's biggest
rivals. AT airships are generally less expensive than equivalent models
from High Flight. They can also haul a greater load of cargo. Only time
will tell which of these two companies will capture a bigger share of the
market.
Aerial Hauler: Medium non-rigid airship, mini airship power plant
w/ SCs, 3 crew, 2 HMGs w/ explosive ammo in 2 1-space universal turrets
UF, bomb bay UB, radar, radar altimeter, laser battery, HD winch, improved
fire extinguisher, passenger accomodations for 2, Gondola Armor: F25, B25,
RF 25, RB25, LF25, LB25, TF5, TB5, UF40, UB40. Acceleration: 5, HC: 1,
Top Speed: 60 mph (47.5 mph fully-loaded), 20,600 lbs, $77,300.
Cargo Capacity: 27 spaces, 9,400 lbs.
Aerial Conveyor: Medium semi-rigid airship, small airship power
plant, 3 crew, 2 HMGs w/ explosive ammo in 2 1-space universal turrets
UF, bomb bay UB, radar, radar altimeter, HD winch, improved fire extinguisher,
passenger accomodations for 1, Gondola Armor: F30, B30, RF30, RB30, LF30,
LB30, TF5, TB5, UF55, UB55. Acceleration: 5, HC: 1, Top Speed: 105 mph
(75 mph fully-loaded), 24,800 lbs, $93,600.
Cargo Capacity: 26 spaces, 20,200 lbs.
Aerial Boxcar: Transport rigid airship, large airship power plant
w/ PCs, 1 extra pair of fans, 5 crew, 2 HMGs w/ explosive ammo in 2 1-space
universal turrets UF, bomb bay UB, extra pilot controls, long-range radar,
radar altimeter, laser battery, HD winch, improved fire extinguisher, searchlight
F, galley, passenger accomodations for 2, Gondola Armor: F30, B30, RF30,
RB30, LF30, LB30, TF5, TB5, UF45, UB45. Acceleration: 5, HC: 0, Top Speed:
115 mph (95 mph fully-loaded), 71,650 lbs, $311,350.
Cargo Capacity: 130 spaces, 27,050 lbs
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