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Description

The Namidian Union’s history owes as much to the foundations laid down by ancient Selengean traders as it does to new technology. Owing to abundant rainfall, the east coast has more fertile soil, but its rugged terrain makes land travel difficult. The western desert is much flatter but can only support small populations, so large cities are only found on the coast. Sea trade helped to bring them together and address natural imbalances: the east coast provided timber, grain and medicine in exchange for iron and gold. The KL-9 Pioneer is a medium transport/utility aircraft that follows well-established trade routes but also serves the small communities large cargo ships and planes bypass.

Design Features

- Like other flying boats the Pioneer can take off and land from any large expanse of water including rivers, lakes and harbours. As well as helping its users avoid the congestion that builds up around major airports this lets them operate in areas with little or no infrastructure.

- The Pioneer’s parasol wing provides excellent lift, low stall speeds and good downward visibility; it is also cheap to build and can hold large fuel reserves that extend the aircraft’s range. As moving parts like flaps and ailerons are kept well above the water they are less prone to damage and corrosion. A stationary aircraft’s wing can even provide extra shelter from western sun and eastern rain. All these advantages come at a cost: the wing’s external bracing adds drag and makes the Pioneer slower than most aircraft with similar powerplants.

- The Pioneer’s twin inline engines are mounted above the wing. Their push-pull configuration makes handling easier if one fails because thrust remains symmetrical. It also creates less drag than two separate engine nacelles and placing the engines over the hull gives them more protection from spray during takeoffs and landings. This design also has drawbacks: Pioneers rely entirely on their rudders to turn on the water, while conventional twin-engine aircraft can also use variable propeller pitch. The Pioneer’s rear engine is also more prone to overheating, though later models’ larger air intakes and radiators have improved reliability.

- Two cantilever winglet/floats improve stability on the water and can serve as mooring points for boats and/or platforms for divers. The Pioneer’s standard equipment includes inflatable rafts that can double as transports between an aircraft and the shore if no others are available.

- The fully enclosed forward cabin offers crew more comfort and protection than the open types on older aircraft. Side doors provide normal access, but gull-wing hatches can be opened for fast exits in emergencies. A similar aft cabin brings more light into the hull, helps crews monitor the rear engine in flight, and gives them another path of escape if a damaged Pioneer is quickly sinking.

- This Pioneer’s white colour scheme helps to reflect the sun on hot days and make the aircraft more noticeable – and less prone to accidents – at night. Dark paint on the upper nose and tinted windows lessen glare. The flange on the lower nose deflects spray from the cabin when landing, and the small red bars on the hull help the crew make sure the aircraft is properly balanced and not overloaded before they start a takeoff run.

Description

The Namidian Union’s history owes as much to the foundations laid down by ancient Selengean traders as it does to new technology. Owing to abundant rainfall, the east coast has more fertile soil, but its rugged terrain makes land travel difficult. The western desert is much flatter but can only support small populations, so large cities are only found on the coast. Sea trade helped to bring them together and address natural imbalances: the east coast provided timber, grain and medicine in exchange for iron and gold. The KL-9 Pioneer is a medium transport/utility aircraft that follows well-established trade routes but also serves the small communities large cargo ships and planes bypass.

Design Features

- Like other flying boats the Pioneer can take off and land from any large expanse of water including rivers, lakes and harbours. As well as helping its users avoid the congestion that builds up around major airports this lets them operate in areas with little or no infrastructure.

- The Pioneer’s parasol wing provides excellent lift, low stall speeds and good downward visibility; it is also cheap to build and can hold large fuel reserves that extend the aircraft’s range. As moving parts like flaps and ailerons are kept well above the water they are less prone to damage and corrosion. A stationary aircraft’s wing can even provide extra shelter from western sun and eastern rain. All these advantages come at a cost: the wing’s external bracing adds drag and makes the Pioneer slower than most aircraft with similar powerplants.

- The Pioneer’s twin inline engines are mounted above the wing. Their push-pull configuration makes handling easier if one fails because thrust remains symmetrical. It also creates less drag than two separate engine nacelles and placing the engines over the hull gives them more protection from spray during takeoffs and landings. This design also has drawbacks: Pioneers rely entirely on their rudders to turn on the water, while conventional twin-engine aircraft can also use variable propeller pitch. The Pioneer’s rear engine is also more prone to overheating, though later models’ larger air intakes and radiators have improved reliability.

- Two cantilever winglet/floats improve stability on the water and can serve as mooring points for boats and/or platforms for divers. The Pioneer’s standard equipment includes inflatable rafts that can double as transports between an aircraft and the shore if no others are available.

- The fully enclosed forward cabin offers crew more comfort and protection than the open types on older aircraft. Side doors provide normal access, but gull-wing hatches can be opened for fast exits in emergencies. A similar aft cabin brings more light into the hull, helps crews monitor the rear engine in flight, and gives them another path of escape if a damaged Pioneer is quickly sinking.

- This Pioneer’s white colour scheme helps to reflect the sun on hot days and make the aircraft more noticeable – and less prone to accidents – at night. Dark paint on the upper nose and tinted windows lessen glare. The flange on the lower nose deflects spray from the cabin when landing, and the small red bars on the hull help the crew make sure the aircraft is properly balanced and not overloaded before they start a takeoff run.