Thundering Eagle

"Let humans fly like the wind! Let us soar like eagles across the open blue sky! The Thundering Eagle will be the wings of humanity, propelling us foward into a higher future!"

Elliot Oppliechmer, 44 AL

The backbone of aerial transportation!

The Thundering Eagle is an aerial skyship that is the main method of transport used throughout the Seven Skies. It is characterised by a ship-like hull with a large blimp as well as propeller thrusters that propel the craft forward. Often, they also have weaponry such as cannons and the like. Most if not all travellers in the Seven Skies use Thundering Eagles, colloquially known as skyships.

A Brief History

When humans first began venturing into the sky, they needed a way to transport themselves from area to area. This became especially necessary when these same humans began building cities and empires on the floating islands they had created. There were some early attempts at aerial travel such as the balloon, but these were too slow and inefficient.

While others racked their brains for an answer to the aerial transportation anomaly, a bright young fellow called Richard Fellingsworth came up with the prototype of a Thundering Eagle in 23 AL, dubbed the First Flight. After working on the craft for ten years, he finally created an initial prototype to test drive. To no one's surprise, the craft failed and Fellingsworth plummetted to his death. However, his craft did fly for around two minutes before the propulsion systems exploded, proving Thundering Eagles were a possibility.

It was not until two years later in 35 AL that a man named Elliot Oppliechmer took it upon himself to continue Fellingsworth's research into Thundering Eagles. Using the newly-discovered material of skywood, Oppliechmer's prototype had a lighter and sturdier hull. In terms of propulsion systems, he decided to use a different type of fuel as well as a blimp to carry the ship. His craft, the S. S. Fellingsworth, flew its first flight from Fort Isleman to New Haven on the 8^th of October, 44 AL, covering a distance of about 7,000 kilometres.

This model, dubbed the Oppliechmer model, was tweaked by the first Chief of Engineering Robert McDoyalson in 56 AL when mystic crystal was discovered. McDoyalson's additions were the implementation of the crystal cannon as well as changing the propulsion systems of some craft to facilitate mystical energy as a fuel source. This model (Oppliechmer-McDoyalson) is the current model of Thundering Eagle. Military modifications have been made by the Militia when it was adopted as the main military naval craft in 66 AL. These include fitting Thundering Eagles with side cannons and main deck cannons.

Extra Information

Notable Thundering Eagles:

• The First Flight
• The S. S. Fellingsworth
• The Dragon's Den
• The S. S. Valkyrie

Facts:

Date conviced: Janurary 23^rd, 23 AL
First Prototype completed: July 14^th, 33 AL (Failed Test Flight)
First Successful Test Flight: October 8^th, 44 AL (Oppliechmer model)
Current number in circulation: 7,000+
Affiliation: All
Notable manufacturers:

• Blechmer & Simons Inc.
• New Haven Skyship Company (NHSC) Ltd.
• Oppliechmer's & McDoyalson's Co.