» Fri May 27, 2011 11:42 am
Steam Wagons were planned for the first fallout game for the masters army.
Tactics is semi canon - The major events are considered to happen, so I guess that means airships.
I can see the enclave possibly having some very light tanks if they can be transported via vertibird.
I've been drafting up an avionics possibilities for fallout's world... This is based purely on Conjecture based on what technology is available in the 1950's and relative ease of costructions
Hot air balloons could be in use by any civilised group, Limited use for anything other than scouting as you can really only control up and down. Probably lots of crazy inventors with a baloon.
Hydrogen Airships by higher tech level organized groups (NCR/Vault City, BOS, Shi and Enclave have the tech to build them... Although the enclave would have little use for them). You'd need a lot of energy to get the hydrogen out of water, but it wouldn't necessarily need be drinkable water, and decent textiles to build a sock to hold it. Transportation, Scouting and other military uses.
Unpowered Gliders could be an NCR, BOS and Shi possibility (and a logical step if they intend on rediscovering powered Fixed wing flight) they'd need a good take off spot and for sustained flight the right location (weather permitting of course) for thermals or Ridge Soaring (I dont know what California is like for thermals or pervailing wind direction, but it looks like theres a nice mountain range for Ridge soaring... Unsure if maybe wave might be a possibility(depends on the mountain layout and wind direction)?). Almost Silent as they fly, so great for distance scouting, maybe even some limited transportation for VIPs. Gliders were used in WW2 for Troop and tank transport, however these were launched from powered aircraft - I'd imagine launches would be limited to Bungie and Winch launches - Doesnt need much than a single working engine, and some cable to launch as many as you like
Since I've mentioned it Powered Fixed wing flight maybe a Shi, BOS, and NCR possibility, but I'd imagine it was very limited... Since a backpack sized nuclear reactor powers power armour, maybe there could be nuclear planes... I'm not to sure on the possible engineering challenges this might face though as I dont know a lot about nuclear reactors... I'm thinking Biofuel - Ethanol - Might work (although I've heard it can have issues freezing at some heights, I cant see an issue for relatively low flights. Dont expect commercial airliner travel for a long time - Scouting and other military and diplomatic uses perhaps?
Helicopters - The Vertibird is the clearest example of this. If we go by the "good" endings of fallout 2, The SHi and BOS have the blueprints to build these, but may not be in the position to meet the engineering challenges of actually building these, however the plans could improve what aviation technology they do have. The Enclave also clearly have the technical capability to build (perhaps not the physical requirements anymore, factories and stuff) and maintain these.