Appalling 11 - Mission to send a Hurricane to the Moon and back!
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 8:33 pm
I was inspired by Broadswords stories and felt like making my own. This will involve the game Kerbal Space Program and mind you, it is the first time i've actually played the game so I have no clue if my plan will work. Should be fun!
Prologue
The war was long over. Life had changed its focus on the Soviet Union and her ambitions. The race was on to see who could set the first man on the moon. I of course, didn't really care. But life has it's ways of pushing you towards the Unexpected.
I had just lost my second job as a shop-keeper and wondered the streets aimlessly somewhere in England. Despite having fought in the war as a pilot in 501 Squadron I didn't have much to fall back on.
Stumbling into a bar late that night I helped myself so some chips and a lemonade in an attempt to drown my woes. Pulling out a piece of paper I randomly started scribbling my good old war steed, SD-Y, reminiscing on those dark but great days.
Unbeknownst at the time a man took a seat next to me, watching me carefully before introducing himself.
It turned out he used to work for Hawker Siddeley designing the Hurricane. We both shared our stories and the amazing feats this wonderful machine had done for the nation.
Soon though he took me outside and asked me if I was unemployed. I hesitated at first, but I admitted my dire situation to him.
He then offered me work for something "Top Secret" and that he needed someone with my understanding of what was needed in the perfect fighter.
I naturally recoiled at this offer. But a moment of thought later and a peek inside my wallet forced me to accept this mans offer.
He shook my hand, lead me to his car and we were off towards goodness-knows-where.
Week 1 - Day 1: "Area 501"
Multiple heavily guarded check-points later we entered a place only known as "Area 501". Publicly this base doesn't exist, so it was a real shocker to be there.
The man parked outside a guarded building and led me up some stairs. When we finally reached the top we entered a room with a single man seated. My "friend" exited the room and the mysterious figure revealed himself to be none other that Sydney Camm himslef!
I was flabbaghasted. He shook my hand and told me "I was just the man he was looking for".
After regaining my posture I asked him exactly how I was supposed to help the greatest aircraft designer in the world.
He explained as he wrote on a piece of paper, that life has been found on the Moon. These "Moonmen" have assisted the British Government in obtaining a certain amount of technology in exchange for vast supplies of Marmite. This news shocked me, but I knew it was true. After all the price of Marmite had grown exponentially in the last couple of years.
When I asked him how this involved me he continued. It turns out that the Soviets have recently landed a Top Secret unmanned spacecraft there, the Sputnik 5. It is stealing alloys used in the Moonmens technologies and inadvertently ruining the core of the Moon in the process. MI5 had apparently warned the Soviets but they refused to listen.
I thought that was terrible, and asked Camm what we should do. Apparently that's where I came in as he showed me his scribble:
I was to build a Space Fighter capable of traveling to the moon, destroy the Soviet spacecraft and return home to Area 501. The challenge was daunting and I had no experience in any of this, but Camm confidently put his hand on my shoulder and said ... "You flew Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain didn't you?"
"Why yes sir I did indeed!"
"Well ... when you saw those huge formations of Heinkels and Messherschmitts, what would your Squadron Leader say?"
"M-my Squadron Leader sir?"
"Yes Jammy! What would he say?"
"He'd say 'Bugger' sir!"
"Ye ... mnNNO! AFTER THAT!" he replied quickly.
"Oh err, he'd say 'Tally Ho!"
"Precisely!" He said giving my back a solid whack. "Despite the odds we can do anything! Especially if you have a Hurricane! Now get out there and show those Ruskies Jammy! Save the Moon and Save Earth!"
With these re-assuring words in mind I set off to work.
Week 1 - Day 3: Designing the space fighter
I had at least learned a few tricks from the battles I had fought in. So I decided to start off by building a Tear-Drop canopy capable of Space-Travel. You never knew if those Space Ruskies would jump you with a Dog-manned satelite!
As I went I opted for a jet engine, rather than the reliable Merlin. There simply wasn't any air for it to work properly. Still I thought, it would do the trick.
Air intakes, wings, flaps, instruments were added and then:
WALLAH!! It was completed!... Sure, the radiator was abit slanted and the wings weren't straight but I had built a Space Hurricane!
I named by brilliant creation the 'Hawker Galaxy', a perfect reflection of the potential it carried!
It's maiden flight was set for tomorrow, and her Test Pilot would be a Moon Man by the curious name of "Jebediah".
Week 3 - Day 7: Launch of Hawker Galaxy X-1
The weather was perfect. No clouds, no wind and the Galaxy x-1 was showing off its (lets be honest here) minor resemblance to the glorious Hawker Hurricane. The Moon Man Pilot climbed into the cockpit, gave the signal. And he was off!!
...
I noted the problem as the wreckage spilled around. "I might have neglected to add ailerons to the wings". Jebediah was rushed to the hospital. These Moon Men are certainly made of hard stuff, ideal for these sort of cenarios.
Week 5 - Day 5: Hawker Galaxy X-2
After rebuilding the X-1 I did not forget to add the ailerons. I even went a step further by adding two massive extras into the fuselage as well.
The launch would commence the next day.
Week 5 - Day 6: Progress
Once again the Galaxy showed off its brilliance in the sunlight! Jebediah (who had just recovered the day before) hopped in as fearlessly as any pilot from Mandrel would have in the face of danger! He signaled once more ... and he was off!!!
He veered off to the right and I expected the worst, but just has he was about to ram into a small building he lifted!!! HUZAAAAAA.....
.... DRAT!!!
Week 8 - Day 1: Phoenix Reborn
After a week of studying the wreckage and info from the Moon Man Pilot it was realized that the wings were far too small for it to maintain control. So after a few new changes I got myself a pretty big wingspan.
To me it looked no less glorious than the last. In fact it was quite majestic. But I feared that its weakened structure would compromise the reputation of a Hawker designer aircraft.
Regardless, it had to be tested. Three days of waiting due to bad weather.
Week 8 - Day 4: Fingers Crossed
The mood was somber. Even the Moon Man Pilot had finally gained some scepticism after two violent crashes. But he did not hesitate.
He gave the signal ... and throttled up cautiously. Then ... suddenly!
It lifted like a bird and went nose up towards the sky!!! IT WORKED!!!!
The gears folded in and he performed various maneuvers to test the abilities of my design. It looked marvelous!!.. except those times his wings wiggled violently from side to side.
Satisfied with the performance, Jebediah announced his intentions to land. The real challenge had begun...
The Pilot certainly knew his stuff. The airspeed was kept at a minimum as he clearly still struggled to keep the wings stable.
I held my breath as he approached the runway. Could he land it?!!!
After what seemed like a perfect landing the Galaxy X-3 suddenly swung from side to side and started to break apart!
I closed my eyes as it spun towards the hangar waiting for the inevitable explosion ... but, it never came. Everything was dead silent.
I opened my eyes again to behold Jebediah march from the surprisingly intact wreckage of the X-3! The workers shouted "Hurrah" and flocked around the Moon Hero and I was equally elated. I had built a plane that was sturdy enough to be worthy the title of a Hawker!!!
Still, despite this success there were clearly some flaws that needed ironing out. And I hadn't even gotten far enough to figure out how to get it all the way to the Moon and back, and fully armed...
The day was won, but the war wasn't. It would only be a matter of time before the Moon would fall apart. I had figure out the solutions quickly!
No time to waste, and no time to figure out why I am in charge of saving the world either!
To be continued
Prologue
The war was long over. Life had changed its focus on the Soviet Union and her ambitions. The race was on to see who could set the first man on the moon. I of course, didn't really care. But life has it's ways of pushing you towards the Unexpected.
I had just lost my second job as a shop-keeper and wondered the streets aimlessly somewhere in England. Despite having fought in the war as a pilot in 501 Squadron I didn't have much to fall back on.
Stumbling into a bar late that night I helped myself so some chips and a lemonade in an attempt to drown my woes. Pulling out a piece of paper I randomly started scribbling my good old war steed, SD-Y, reminiscing on those dark but great days.
Unbeknownst at the time a man took a seat next to me, watching me carefully before introducing himself.
It turned out he used to work for Hawker Siddeley designing the Hurricane. We both shared our stories and the amazing feats this wonderful machine had done for the nation.
Soon though he took me outside and asked me if I was unemployed. I hesitated at first, but I admitted my dire situation to him.
He then offered me work for something "Top Secret" and that he needed someone with my understanding of what was needed in the perfect fighter.
I naturally recoiled at this offer. But a moment of thought later and a peek inside my wallet forced me to accept this mans offer.
He shook my hand, lead me to his car and we were off towards goodness-knows-where.
Week 1 - Day 1: "Area 501"
Multiple heavily guarded check-points later we entered a place only known as "Area 501". Publicly this base doesn't exist, so it was a real shocker to be there.
The man parked outside a guarded building and led me up some stairs. When we finally reached the top we entered a room with a single man seated. My "friend" exited the room and the mysterious figure revealed himself to be none other that Sydney Camm himslef!
I was flabbaghasted. He shook my hand and told me "I was just the man he was looking for".
After regaining my posture I asked him exactly how I was supposed to help the greatest aircraft designer in the world.
He explained as he wrote on a piece of paper, that life has been found on the Moon. These "Moonmen" have assisted the British Government in obtaining a certain amount of technology in exchange for vast supplies of Marmite. This news shocked me, but I knew it was true. After all the price of Marmite had grown exponentially in the last couple of years.
When I asked him how this involved me he continued. It turns out that the Soviets have recently landed a Top Secret unmanned spacecraft there, the Sputnik 5. It is stealing alloys used in the Moonmens technologies and inadvertently ruining the core of the Moon in the process. MI5 had apparently warned the Soviets but they refused to listen.
I thought that was terrible, and asked Camm what we should do. Apparently that's where I came in as he showed me his scribble:
I was to build a Space Fighter capable of traveling to the moon, destroy the Soviet spacecraft and return home to Area 501. The challenge was daunting and I had no experience in any of this, but Camm confidently put his hand on my shoulder and said ... "You flew Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain didn't you?"
"Why yes sir I did indeed!"
"Well ... when you saw those huge formations of Heinkels and Messherschmitts, what would your Squadron Leader say?"
"M-my Squadron Leader sir?"
"Yes Jammy! What would he say?"
"He'd say 'Bugger' sir!"
"Ye ... mnNNO! AFTER THAT!" he replied quickly.
"Oh err, he'd say 'Tally Ho!"
"Precisely!" He said giving my back a solid whack. "Despite the odds we can do anything! Especially if you have a Hurricane! Now get out there and show those Ruskies Jammy! Save the Moon and Save Earth!"
With these re-assuring words in mind I set off to work.
Week 1 - Day 3: Designing the space fighter
I had at least learned a few tricks from the battles I had fought in. So I decided to start off by building a Tear-Drop canopy capable of Space-Travel. You never knew if those Space Ruskies would jump you with a Dog-manned satelite!
As I went I opted for a jet engine, rather than the reliable Merlin. There simply wasn't any air for it to work properly. Still I thought, it would do the trick.
Air intakes, wings, flaps, instruments were added and then:
WALLAH!! It was completed!... Sure, the radiator was abit slanted and the wings weren't straight but I had built a Space Hurricane!
I named by brilliant creation the 'Hawker Galaxy', a perfect reflection of the potential it carried!
It's maiden flight was set for tomorrow, and her Test Pilot would be a Moon Man by the curious name of "Jebediah".
Week 3 - Day 7: Launch of Hawker Galaxy X-1
The weather was perfect. No clouds, no wind and the Galaxy x-1 was showing off its (lets be honest here) minor resemblance to the glorious Hawker Hurricane. The Moon Man Pilot climbed into the cockpit, gave the signal. And he was off!!
...
I noted the problem as the wreckage spilled around. "I might have neglected to add ailerons to the wings". Jebediah was rushed to the hospital. These Moon Men are certainly made of hard stuff, ideal for these sort of cenarios.
Week 5 - Day 5: Hawker Galaxy X-2
After rebuilding the X-1 I did not forget to add the ailerons. I even went a step further by adding two massive extras into the fuselage as well.
The launch would commence the next day.
Week 5 - Day 6: Progress
Once again the Galaxy showed off its brilliance in the sunlight! Jebediah (who had just recovered the day before) hopped in as fearlessly as any pilot from Mandrel would have in the face of danger! He signaled once more ... and he was off!!!
He veered off to the right and I expected the worst, but just has he was about to ram into a small building he lifted!!! HUZAAAAAA.....
.... DRAT!!!
Week 8 - Day 1: Phoenix Reborn
After a week of studying the wreckage and info from the Moon Man Pilot it was realized that the wings were far too small for it to maintain control. So after a few new changes I got myself a pretty big wingspan.
To me it looked no less glorious than the last. In fact it was quite majestic. But I feared that its weakened structure would compromise the reputation of a Hawker designer aircraft.
Regardless, it had to be tested. Three days of waiting due to bad weather.
Week 8 - Day 4: Fingers Crossed
The mood was somber. Even the Moon Man Pilot had finally gained some scepticism after two violent crashes. But he did not hesitate.
He gave the signal ... and throttled up cautiously. Then ... suddenly!
It lifted like a bird and went nose up towards the sky!!! IT WORKED!!!!
The gears folded in and he performed various maneuvers to test the abilities of my design. It looked marvelous!!.. except those times his wings wiggled violently from side to side.
Satisfied with the performance, Jebediah announced his intentions to land. The real challenge had begun...
The Pilot certainly knew his stuff. The airspeed was kept at a minimum as he clearly still struggled to keep the wings stable.
I held my breath as he approached the runway. Could he land it?!!!
After what seemed like a perfect landing the Galaxy X-3 suddenly swung from side to side and started to break apart!
I closed my eyes as it spun towards the hangar waiting for the inevitable explosion ... but, it never came. Everything was dead silent.
I opened my eyes again to behold Jebediah march from the surprisingly intact wreckage of the X-3! The workers shouted "Hurrah" and flocked around the Moon Hero and I was equally elated. I had built a plane that was sturdy enough to be worthy the title of a Hawker!!!
Still, despite this success there were clearly some flaws that needed ironing out. And I hadn't even gotten far enough to figure out how to get it all the way to the Moon and back, and fully armed...
The day was won, but the war wasn't. It would only be a matter of time before the Moon would fall apart. I had figure out the solutions quickly!
No time to waste, and no time to figure out why I am in charge of saving the world either!
To be continued