A ''High Speed'' Chase :: The Life of the Traegorn

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A ''High Speed'' Chase
Posted Oct 11, 2012 - 9:58:52

So yesterday's installment of The Chronicles of Crosarth features our heroes' ship, the HMS Hummingbird, chasing down a smaller airship.

When presenting this I, of course, attempt to make it look as dramatic as possible - and the Hummingbird overtaking the other ship is presented thusly:
airship chase

But we really need to ask a simple question -- how fast are these ships actually traveling?

The Hummingbird is supposed to be the fastest airship ever built (in the world of the comic), but I am wary to assign a specific top speed to the craft here (to avoid contradicting myself in the comic later). The limit lies with the other ship though - as it has some serious limitations.

First off, the smaller airship has two envelopes of lifting gas, one on each side. These are too small to be the only mode of lift (the fictional, laws of physics defying material Gravitronium supplying the rest). An envelope, in high speed, can begin to deform. Secondly, this is not exactly an aerodynamic craft and it's being propelled by a single prop.

In the end, the intended speed of this chase? 20-30 miles per hour.

Needless to say, I may have taken some liberties with the speed blurs in the image.
- Traegorn