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These small but useful class have recently been adopted for use by Royal Navy; a dozen or so are in service on Earth, and more on Mars. Their 9 HP petrol engine (engine size 0.075, weight one-quarter ton) has proven somewhat balky and delicate in service; 75 gallons (a quarter-ton) of kerosene fuel are carried, giving the vessel a week's endurance at its top speed of 20 knots -- and a range of about 3000 miles. Of course, a 10 knot headwind will reduce the flier's range considerably!
More fuel can be carried as cargo; food, water, ammunition, spare engine parts, etc. might also require about a quarter-ton for a week's operations. Thus, weather permitting, a fully "fueled-up" Scout Flier might fly continuously for 4 weeks, and cover more than 10,000 miles.
A cramped cabin under the "turtleback" forward deck provides four bunks, a simple galley, etc.; the engine and fuel tanks are under the main deck. Canvas awnings and canopies can be erected to shield the crew from the sun or weather. A winch is fitted to raise about a ton of cargo; about two tons can be carried. In Sky Galleons terms:
Ten Ton Scout Flier |
aerial flier |
Armor: 0 |
Cost: £1,100 |
Hull: 0.1 |
Speed: 4 |
Mass: 10 tons |
Altitude: Very High |
Crew: coxswain/helmsman, trimsman, artificer, gunner, 1 marine |
|
Armament: 1 Maxim gun amidships aft |
Other nations have similar vessels, 30 to 50 feet long, labelled as cutters, pinnaces, patrol boats, picket boats, launches, etc. One or two of these might be carried aboard a capital ship; the ordnance carried can vary slightly.
Sky Galleons crew conversion to 'real' numbers: coxswain, trimsman, artificer, gunner, assistant gunner, 6 passengers or marines (another 10 or so persons can be crammed aboard in emergencies). Length 30 feet; beam, 10 feet