KerbalX

Historic photograph from the First Imperial Wars. Here we see the Green Baron, whose real name was (Baron) Manfred von Kermthoven, returning to the recently-built Island Airfield after an air attack on Krakopolis.

• The Heinkelian Imperial Navy had captured an island almost 35 kilometers from Krakopolis. However, before they could send in the ground troops, they needed to establish air superiority over the area. Since their warplanes had such a short range, Emperor Kaiser von Kermhelm authorized the construction of a small airfield on that island for the planes in the upcoming attack.
• After the landing strip and makeshift hangars were (hastily) completed, Emperor Kermhelm ordered Heinkel’s most feared ace pilot, famously known as the Green Baron, to the new airfield. Emperor Kermhelm, along with several of his military advisors, believed the Green Baron to be the key to Heinkel’s victory in the skies before their victory on the ground.
• Sure enough, the Green Baron - along with six wingmen (three of which died) - crippled Krakopolis’ air defense in the first attack. This left room for Heinkelian bombers to take out Allied artillery and flush out infantry units, which were soon blown up and strafed.
• Allied Command soon realized that the rumors of the Green Baron were true, and they sent telegrams to all their air units to Watch out for triplanes. As an extra precaution should the Baron make an entrance, they mandated that no less than five fighters at once may launch an attack on any triplane.

When the First Imperial Wars ended in a truce, Heinkel was forced to give up all the territory it had gained during the course of the war, effectively shrinking its empire back to pre-war levels. This included the island that they had conquered - and, by extension, their hastily-built airstrip - near Krakopolis.

• AND THAT IS HOW THE ISLAND AIRFIELD CAME TO BE

The Fokker Dr.I, and its engine and propeller settings, on display in the SPH.

• I included Red Baron’s Triplane in the craft name in case someone was looking for that plane and didn’t know the model plane he used.
• Making an open cockpit was tricky. In the end, I decided to borrow the design from ZobrAz’s White Baron - who borrowed the idea from Castille7’s Mrs. Chrissy Too. There’s also a ladder for the pilot to climb in and out, but he would have to click on the command seat and board once he reaches the top.

I’m so used to making even-numbered-engine propeller planes with adjustable-angle R-25 blades, so it was extremely difficult to decide on how to set up a single-engine prop with fixed-angle Type B blades that will not only fly, but spin about its engine axis as little as possible.

• If this configuration doesn’t work, please tell me.

Jeb flying low over the KSC in a replica of the Fokker triplane.

• Not that he had much of a choice. By modern standards, this plane’s performance was terrible.
• He was hoping to fly the real thing, but the last real Fokker triplane was destroyed during the Second Imperial Wars.

Image of the Fokker Dr.I replica on display (upside down) on the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, OH. Underneath it is a Sopwith Camel, which is a great opportunity for those who remember Peanuts to take a picture.

• Image taken from museum website.

After nearly 12 minutes and 30 seconds of flight and constant course-corrections, Jeb managed to reach the Island Airfield. Just like the Green Baron in the First Imperial War so long ago, Jeb is getting ready to land.

A successful landing at the Island Airfield.

• If you think flying this thing is hard, try landing it in one piece. I had to revert to a quicksave I set up over the island right after my wings snapped off the first time.