Dirigible Bomber

Challenge Entry

World/Era: Fiction, Pulp Sci-Fi. (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow), c. 1935-6.
Country: France
Role: Bomber, Deterrence, Propaganda
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Personal Notes
Whelp, it looks like a do a plane so infrequently, that a) I forgot what little funky editing skills I had, and b) the SP2 is on its way! So, this most likely my last SP creation if everything goes well in SP2. See you all on the flip slide.
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NEWS From Abroad!
Welcome to News from Abroad, I’m Walter Crumpkind. Tonight, we present you a look at the newest lighter than atmosphere craft, the great blimp, or in the fine language of the romantics Le Grand Dirigeable. Our friends the French send us this great beast of a ship in hopes of joining them in protecting Europe from some potentially nasty folks. In response to the fully loaded Grand Dirigible’s appearance at the New York docking tower, the French Ambassador, Lucien Perrin, told us “We wanted to demonstrate to our great American allies that we can indeed…how you say it…fill the shoes?” When asked about comments from a military strategist that the grand dirigible is nothing more than big gas ballon waiting to be popped, the Ambassador had no comment.
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- Crew: 6 to 8 (very cramped)
- Armament: 8 experimental heavy bombs (read: retrofitted artillery shells), 16 small bombs, turrets x 2 (dorsal, ventral, 6 guns each), 2 gondola guns.
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Operation

AG 1: Turns on main rotors. MUST Be done to fly.
- Use VTOL to adjust speed. Also unlocks the Trim.
- Note that the VOTL doesn’t go negative. Hovering is about 20-25% above the neutral VTOL
- Adjust trim and speed than Turn AG 1 off before using any of the turrets (unless you enjoy crashing)
AG 2: Turns on forward screws (main props). Operate using throttle
AG 3: Opens bomb bay and arms bombs (weapon group 3).
AG 4: Turns on rear ventral turret. Operate using VTOL and Trim. Has camera.
AG 5: Turns on front dorsal turret. Operate using VTOL and Trim. Has camera.
AG 6: Turns on gondola guns. Operate using VTOL. No camera, horizontal sweep only.
Others: Land Gear (G) operates landing struts.
Notes: Landing can be tough as the VTOL of the main rotors is quite sensitive. Ensure your forward momentum is at zero and descend very gently. Bombing is very much eyeballing everything and frankly a little rough, though big kaboom on hit with the 500’s. Crashing or being hit by gunfire can be quite interesting as the whole thing will go big badda boom.