Airships

Flying ships from Barsoom, used for transport and warfare by the natives, they are most commonly referred to as Fliers, but on occasion referred to as Planes.

Technology

The fliers were developed using the 8th ray, and are sustained by the rays stored within buoyancy tanks. A flier can take off and land vertically in an area only slightly larger than the flier itself. The ships engines are run using a marvelous concentrated martian fuel.

Larger fliers are moored to the ground using four deadmen cables, two on the bow, and two on the stern. Usually these are dug up and taken aboard when the flier launches, but when the flier needs to leave in a hurry they can be cut.

Various types of Barsoomian airships include battleships, cruisers, scouts, flagships, and troop transport ships.

History

900 years before John Carter's advent on mars the first great battleship was built in Helium, but it had too great a quantity of the 8th ray. It sailed up into space with five hundred officers and men, never to return. It can still be seen with the aid of telescopes, a tiny satellite that will encircle Barsoom till the end of time.

Ground Fliers

The ground fliers are an innovation unique to the Okarian domed cities of the northern pole of Barsoom. They are the only form of artificial transportation used in that region and travel along the ground like the automobiles of Earth. They are light and noiseless, and their broad tires are rubber-like bags filled with the eighth ray or ray of buoyancy, just enough to give the vehicles traction for steering purposes. The back wheels are geared to the engine and assist in driving the machine, but the bulk of this operation is performed by a small propeller at the stern.

Known Fliers

Dusar Kalksus Okar Pinsar

Ruzaar Vanator Vosar Xavarian