Heated Balloon
The Heated Balloon is a short range Aeronautical Vessel popular in major cities like Bronzehold and Dragonscale. Generally used to transport a dozen people at a time from one end of the city to the other, Balloons differ from other Aeronautical Vessels in that they are powered by fire and heat that lifts hot air into the balloon itself. There are dozens of makers and designs of balloons, but generally speaking they all follow the design of a large basket hanging below the balloon. The few variants are typically experimental in nature, though the occasional war balloon makes it into regular service, such as the Zawal Stealth Balloon or the Lancaster Hovering Bomber.
Power Generation
Either an Elemental Battery, magic-trained pilot, trained magical beast, or simple mechanical burner.
Propulsion
The balloon is carried by the wind but can be influenced by tipping weight to one side or another. More advanced balloons are equipped with retractable sails or, in the case of the River Kingdoms, propulsion rockets.
Weapons & Armament
The standard balloon is unarmed and unarmored, however early war airship designs included bombs.
Armor and defense
Balloons are almost always unarmored. Almost all defenses that are brought aboard are magical in nature.
Communication Tools & Systems
The Airman's Guild has spread to a few different cities now, and have organized a system of signal flags that has become popular among civilian aviators. The system utilizes ten colored flags, that when waved in different combinations send different messages such as "Can't stop!" or "Carrying Dangerous Cargo!" that can be viewed from a distance.
Sensors
The Adventurous is a notable balloon owned by the Airmen's Guild, and is not only designed for extended long-distance travel, but also for minor skirmishes, including two long-range Magic Eye sensors. This is a notable example, however, as most balloons are equipped with an eyeglass at best.
Hangars & docked vessels
A popular upgrade for personal balloons is Emergency Baskets, which are personal baskets attached to long sheets that 'balloon up' when dropped, gently lowering the passenger to the ground.
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