Vote closed
Scheduled vote count started by Shadows on Mar 7, 2024 at 8:13 PM, finished with 29 posts and 17 votes.

  • [X] Plan: Realistic Strategy, Dramatic Execution
    -[X] Launch the stockpiled R-2 Gale (free)
    -[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn (77/120) (1 die, -35R)
    --[X] And Launch it (1 Die)
    --[X] Curiosity-class Satellite (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Expand the Assembly Complex (182/350) (2 dice 40R)
    -[X] Build a Scientific Complex
    --[X] Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (CHEM) (347/450) (2 dice, -50R)
    --[X] New Delhi Institute for Physics (PHYS) (388/450) (1 die, -25R)
    -[X] Big Ear [PHYS] (271/300) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Spacefarer Training Facilities (175/300) (2 dice, -30R)
    -[X] Observation Satellites (3/4 turns) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Human-rated Rocketry (3/8 turns) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies (2/8 turns) (1 die, -25R)
    -[X] Balloon Tanks [MATSCI] (179/200) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Vacuum Nozzles (0/200) (2 dice, -10R)
    -[X] Conduct Materials Research (Phase 5) [MATSCI] (134/400) (4 dice, -100R)
    -[X] Photovoltaic Investigations (1/4 turns) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Creative Sponsorships (141/400) (3 dice, -30R)
    -[X] The Right Stuff (282/300) (1 die, -5R)
    [X] Plan: One Step Forward
    -[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn (17/120) (3 dice, -105R)
    --[X] And Launch it (1 Die)
    --[X] Curiosity-class Satellite (stockpiled)
    --[X] And launch an R-2 Gale (Stockpiled) (1 die)
    -[X] Expand the Assembly Complex (182/350) (2 dice 40R)
    -[X] Build a Scientific Complex
    --[X] Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (CHEM) (347/450) (2 dice, -50R)
    --[X] New Delhi Institute for Physics (PHYS) (388/450) (1 dice, -25R)
    -[X] Big Ear [PHYS] (271/300) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Spacefarer Training Facilities (175/300) (2 die, -30R)
    -[X] Observation Satellites (3/4 turns) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Human-rated Rocketry (3/8 turns) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies (2/8 turns) (1 die, -25R)
    -[X] Multi-Stage Designs (0/2 Turns) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Balloon Tanks [MATSCI] (179/200) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Vacuum Nozzles (0/200) (1 die, -5R)
    -[X] Conduct Materials Research (Phase 5) [MATSCI] (138/400) (4 dice, -80R)
    -[X] Photovoltaic Investigations (1/4 turns, 1 die locked, -20R)
    -[X] Propagandize for Nuclear Power (155/???) (3 dice, -6PS)
    -[X] The Right Stuff (282/300) (1 die, -5R)
    [X] Plan: Realistic Strategy, Pragmatic Execution
    -[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn (77/120) (1 die, -35R)
    --[X] And Launch it (1 Die)
    --[X] Curiosity-class Satellite (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Expand the Assembly Complex (182/350) (2 dice 40R)
    -[X] Build a Scientific Complex
    --[X] Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (CHEM) (347/450) (2 dice, -50R)
    --[X] New Delhi Institute for Physics (PHYS) (388/450) (1 die, -25R)
    -[X] Big Ear [PHYS] (271/300) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Spacefarer Training Facilities (175/300) (2 dice, -30R)
    -[X] Observation Satellites (3/4 turns) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Human-rated Rocketry (3/8 turns) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies (2/8 turns) (1 die, -25R)
    -[X] Balloon Tanks [MATSCI] (179/200) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Lifting Body (30/150) (2 dice, -20R)
    -[X] Conduct Materials Research (Phase 5) [MATSCI] (134/400) (4 dice, -100R)
    -[X] Photovoltaic Investigations (1/4 turns) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Rocket Boxes (Phase 5) (0/250) (3 dice, -15R)
    -[X] The Right Stuff (282/300) (1 die, -5R)
    [X] Plan: One Step Forward Towards a Museum
    -[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn (17/120) (3 dice, -105R)
    --[X] And Launch it (1 Die)
    --[X] Curiosity-class Satellite (stockpiled)
    [X] Expand the Assembly Complex (182/350) (2 dice 40R)
    -[X] Build a Scientific Complex
    --[X] Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (CHEM) (347/450) (2 dice, -50R)
    --[X] New Delhi Institute for Physics (PHYS) (388/450) (1 dice, -25R)
    -[X] Big Ear [PHYS] (271/300) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Spacefarer Training Facilities (175/300) (2 die, -30R)
    -[X] Observation Satellites (3/4 turns) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Human-rated Rocketry (3/8 turns) (1 die, -20R)
    -[X] Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies (2/8 turns) (1 die, -25R)
    -[X] Multi-Stage Designs (0/2 Turns) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Balloon Tanks [MATSCI] (179/200) (1 die, -15R)
    -[X] Vacuum Nozzles (0/200) (1 die, -5R)
    -[X] Conduct Materials Research (Phase 5) [MATSCI] (138/400) (4 dice, -80R)
    -[X] Photovoltaic Investigations (1/4 turns, 1 die locked, -20R)
Shadows threw 1 100-faced dice. Reason: Dawn Build Total: 14
14 14
Shadows threw 2 100-faced dice. Reason: Expand the Assembly Complex Total: 41
19 19 22 22
Shadows threw 2 100-faced dice. Reason: Beijing Chemical Institute Total: 75
51 51 24 24
Shadows threw 1 100-faced dice. Reason: New Delhi Physics Institute Total: 46
46 46
Shadows threw 1 100-faced dice. Reason: Big Ear Total: 81
81 81
Shadows threw 2 100-faced dice. Reason: Spacefarer Training Facilities Total: 124
69 69 55 55
Shadows threw 1 100-faced dice. Reason: Balloon Tanks Total: 14
14 14
Shadows threw 2 100-faced dice. Reason: Vacuum Nozzles Total: 48
46 46 2 2
Shadows threw 4 100-faced dice. Reason: Matsci 5 Total: 191
21 21 7 7 76 76 87 87
Shadows threw 4 100-faced dice. Reason: Creative Sponsorships Total: 315
75 75 83 83 98 98 59 59
Shadows threw 1 100-faced dice. Reason: The Right Stuff Total: 83
83 83
 
Construct an R-4 (77/120) - (77+14+3) = 94/120
Expand the Assembly Complex (182/350) - (182+41+20) = 243/350
Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (347/450) - (347+75+20) = 442/450
New Delhi Institute for Physics (388/450) - (388+46+10) = 444/450

Big Ear (271/300) - (271+81+19) = 371/300
Spacefarer Training Facilities (175/300) - (175+124+20) = 319/300
Observation Satellites ☑☑☑☑

Human-Rated Rocketry ☑☑☑☑◻◻◻◻
Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies ☑☑☑◻◻◻◻◻

Balloon Tanks (179/200) - (179+14+26) = 219/200
Vacuum Nozzles (0/200) - (0+48+18) = 66/200
Materials Research 5 (134/400) - (134+191+78) = 400/400+3/???
Photovoltaic Investigations ☑☑◻◻
Creative Sponsorships (141/400) - (141+256+30) = 427/400
The Right Stuff (282/300) - (282+83+10) = 375/300
 
Plan: Realistic Strategy, Dramatic Execution
Construct an R-4 Dawn (77+14+3=94/120) (1 die, -35R)
And Launch it (1 Die)(NO ROCKET)
Curiosity-class Satellite (1 die, -20R) (NO LAUNCH)

Expand the Assembly Complex (182+41+20=243/350)
Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (CHEM) (347+75+20=442+10=452/450) OMAKED
New Delhi Institute for Physics (PHYS) (388+46+10=444+10=454/450) OMAKED

Big Ear [PHYS] (271+81+10=361/300)
Spacefarer Training Facilities (175+124+20=319/300)
Observation Satellites (4/4 turns)

Human-rated Rocketry (4/8 turns)
Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies (3/8 turns)
Balloon Tanks [MATSCI] (179+14+26=219/200)
Vacuum Nozzles (0+48+46=94/200)
Conduct Materials Research (Phase 5) [MATSCI] (134+191+104=429/400)
Photovoltaic Investigations (2/4 turns)
Creative Sponsorships (141+256+30=427/400)
The Right Stuff (282+83+10=375/300)


A couple omakes could complete the two facilities-but are your omakes worth 30R? Well, maybe, that's up to you to decide.
 
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Seems like a slow year for operations. Not a lotta launches, more science/development. But that happens sometimes, I guess.
 
i am sure all our MatSci stuff will help other projects going forward.
for ourselfs and others.
wonder what wonderful steel or other stuff we found on our teck tree.
 
i am sure all our MatSci stuff will help other projects going forward.
for ourselfs and others.
wonder what wonderful steel or other stuff we found on our teck tree.
Well, we've already discovered an improved production process for stainless steel (which is really good for a wide array of applications in and out of spaceflight), as well as an high temperature oxidation resistant ceramic - and, most importantly, we've discovered high-strength carbon composites much earlier than IOTL, which has serious potential for the IEC, as well as any other fields where "high tensile strength + very light weight" is useful.
 
Well, we've already discovered an improved production process for stainless steel (which is really good for a wide array of applications in and out of spaceflight), as well as an high temperature oxidation resistant ceramic - and, most importantly, we've discovered high-strength carbon composites much earlier than IOTL, which has serious potential for the IEC, as well as any other fields where "high tensile strength + very light weight" is useful.
We're actually only about 5 years ahead of time-so expect 70s era Carbon-fiber in the 60s, with all it's early teething problems. We probably won't invest in giant tanks and high-pressure ovens for decades yet.
 
its still advanced teck... sure its not sci-fi like teck but still far more advanced that OTL so yay for that.
 
Well we managed to free up our Science dice for the last quarter. Should probably focus on more propellant research. Or maybe the All-Sky Survey if we want to save resources.

The two science complexes are probably close enough to get auto-completes if any omakes don't get them.
 
Well we managed to free up our Science dice for the last quarter. Should probably focus on more propellant research. Or maybe the All-Sky Survey if we want to save resources.

The two science complexes are probably close enough to get auto-completes if any omakes don't get them.
They're well within auto-complete range, we can just throw one die on each, one die on the assembly complex, and then we have five die free for whatever else we want to do.

I'd suggest we lock dice into long range comms and photovoltaics at this point, just to get them out of the way. I'd also put three dice onto life support, because that means we don't have to rush to figure it out later. That said, if we don't do that, All-Sky Survey could be a good option.
 
Balloon Blues - blankmask
Trying for an omake:

——————————————————————

I groaned. The damm balloon tanks were the bane of my existence. Sheet after sheet of graphs and charts describing failure rates and modes of failure. If it wasn't the welds coming undone it was the alloy not bending right. Or it was a pressure issue. At least I got those ironed out.

Goddamm I never had to deal with this back when I was building dams for the Francos, I thought idly.

I felt an arm snake around my shoulders, and I unconsciously reached up to grasp the hand attached to it. "You alright Gabriel? You've been staring at those files for almost half an hour."

I smiled, quietly to myself, then turned, "yeah I'm fine Elliot. Just fighting with the balloon tanks. And no" I preempt him with a grin before he can crack a joke about "classified intelligence" "it's not classified, just a pain in the ass." His faux pout is adorable (which is why he does it).

"So what's the problem?" He asks as he sits on the bench, me obligingly scooting over to make room.

"Honestly? Pretty much everything. I've got the pressure issues ironed out, turns out there's some weird dynamics with the nozzle at high pressure, but now the welds are coming apart because of the temperature change from the liquid oxygen. We've got some new alloys that are working better, the Mat Sci guys came through there, but it's still getting too cold too damm fast." I explain (no it's not a rant, shut up). "If we could get the temperature change to be less of a shock it'd work fine, even if it warmed up the pressure would keep the Oxygen liquid, but the trouble is getting it cold in the first place."

He pauses, thinking. I sigh again, frustration appeased, and start tidying up the table. It's almost dinner time and Fridays are Elliot's Stroganoff. I listen as he responds "So, if the problem is how fast the metal cools, why not just start with it chilled? Put a bunch of ice around it or something?" He asks

I shake my head "Nah it won't work. The metal gets too brittle…. When …. Cold…." He looks up, noticing me trailing off. I'm gazing at the paper, not really seeing it, frantically running calculations in my head. "Elliot you're a genius!" I cry, riffling around for a spare piece of paper.

"Ok" he says, handing me a piece from the notepad "why am I a genius?"

"So one of the problems is the metal getting too brittle when it's cold, so we can't just inflate it cold, right? But this new stuff, that we're making the tanks with now, it's designed to be flexible when it's cold. So maybe that cold start idea is viable now" I say all in a rush. I'm working out the basic equations and it should be sound. Some of the tolerances are a bit tight and I'll want to test it but…

"So I suppose you'll be wanting to head in tonight?" Elliot asks, carefully neutral. I've done this before, and he's always been ok with it's still but it's gotta sting.

I pop my head up, and pause. I could. This is important but… "No." I reply, almost surprised at myself. "This can wait till tomorrow. "

He looks surprised too, though it quickly turns softer. "Thanks hun," he says, taking my hand. "I know how big this is for you"

"It is important" I smile, leaning in to give him a kiss. "But this is too"

Maybe it was simpler back in Spain. I think as I finish cleaning up my notes, making sure the new calculations are on the top. But I wouldn't trade this for the world.

——————————————————————

An image of Gabriel, credit to u/lifecuntingent over on Reddit. I haven't nailed down his precise age but he's in his 30s.

https://preview.redd.it/artist-tag-...bp&s=25054f326506f1454494e2b4cfcef7bf255e225c

AN: This is supposed to be a fluffy bit of slice of life around a hydraulics engineer who ended up working on spaceships. I wanted to show one of the less prominent/genius workers, and also express my frustration with the Balloon Tanks being cursed. Since it's canon that the engineers were complaining I figured I'd add that.

@Shadows is this good?
 
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Aircraft Manufacturers of the Last Great War, Part 2 - Ash19256
The second part of my "Aircraft Manufacturers of the Last Great War" series, this time focused on the HRE. This took quite a bit longer for me to be happy enough with to post - and honestly, I still expect it to have issues worth pointing out. This is mostly just focused on what these manufacturers were known for in terms of aircraft projects - which is admittedly cherry-picking from OTL German aircraft projects of the 1930s - 1940s, flying and not.

Feedback is appreciated.

The Holy Roman Empire
One of the first nations to field aircraft in combat, the Holy Roman Empire came out of the Second Great War with a large number of lessons learned from the conflict. While not all of these lessons would be heeded, the Kaiserliche Luftstreitkräfte of the Last Great War would be a very different beast from their Second Great War predecessor - and their pilots would fly aircraft manufactured by companies new and old, even as the War progressed towards its atomic conclusion.

Messerschmitt AG
Originating as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, Messerschmitt AG became infamous as an aircraft manufacturer thanks to their Bf 109 fighter - the most common fighter aircraft of the HRE from the start of the war almost until its conclusion. In addition to the 109, Messerschmitt also produced a number of twin-engine heavy fighters - and, most notably, the Me 163 and 263 rocket powered interceptors, and the Me 262 jet fighter. The latter was the first jet fighter in the world to enter operational service, although the low thrust and lackluster reliability of its twin engines made it comparatively inferior to many of its rivals.

Messerschmitt is also infamous for its participation in the Kaiserliche Luftstreitkräfte's "Grosse Bomber" project - producing the Me 264, and later Me 266, as their bomber and tanker proposals. While the first of the HRE's super bomber prototypes to fly, they would ultimately be passed over in favor of another project, due to Messerschmitt's priorities being focused on the production of fighters and interceptors.

Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG
A manufacturer equally as infamous as Messerschmitt, Junkers' most well-known product was the Ju 87 dive bomber - commonly known as the Stuka. In addition to the aircraft which came to define the HRE's early war air power, Junkers also produced aircraft engines. This included the Jumo 004, the turbojet engine which powered the Me 262, and the Jumo 223, the high power diesel engine which gave the HRE's super bombers the range to strike targets as far afield as the United States from bases in France.

While well known - and, in aviation circles, respected for their pioneering work in all-metal aircraft construction - Junkers' aircraft designs are far less interesting for any organization looking to advance aerospace research, with the sole exception of their initial research into forward swept wing airframes as part of the Ju 287 project. More useful is their research and development work on axial-flow turbojet engines - and even that has since been surpassed, thanks to the work of the IEC.

Abteilung Flugzeugbau der Schiffswerft Blohm & Voss
Commonly referred to simply as Blohm & Voss, this aircraft manufacturer was primarily known for their flying boats, including the colossal BV 222 "Wiking" and BV 238 - although, in later years, they have also become somewhat infamous for their highly unconventional asymmetric and tailless designs and proposals, uncovered in the years following the War and Revolution. This work culminated in the BV 215 - an advanced night-fighter/interceptor design whose first flight was scheduled just weeks before the end of the War.

While their seaplanes would be potentially useful for personnel transportation or logistics, it is their research into asymmetric designs and flying wings which could prove useful to organizations like the IEC. Making asymmetric designs controllable and stable allows for more unique design configurations, removing limitations that would otherwise seem obvious, while flying wings offer the possibility of substantial increases in aerodynamic efficiency due to the lack of a separate fuselage.

Heinkel Flugzeugwerke
While infamous for their bomber programs - in particular, the He 277 "Grosse Bomber" with which the HRE carried out their nuclear bombing campaigns - Heinkel was also one of the foremost innovators within the HRE with regards to rocket and jet propulsion for aircraft use, as well as vertical take-off and landing programs. Notably, the He 178 was among the first jet powered aircraft to take to the skies, while the He 176 was the first liquid-fueled rocket powered aircraft to fly. In terms of VTOL programs, while none had reached the prototype stage before the end of the War, Heinkel had devoted substantial time to a pair of tail-sitting VTOL fighter concepts - one powered by twin conventional piston engines, and another powered by a "turboprop" engine.

Heinkel is less well known for their aircraft engine development, via their Heinkel-Hirth subsidiary. While most of their production was low power piston engines for use in training aircraft, the company also produced the HeS 011 turbojet engine - which went on to be selected for the vast majority of the HRE's advanced jet fighter and bomber programs towards the end of the war, due to its impressive performance for an early turbojet engine.

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG
Most well known for the Fw 190, Focke-Wulf also produced a number of jet fighter designs - including the Ta 272 "Flitzer", intended for use by the Kaiserliche Luftstreitkräfte's Marineflugdienst branch, which used a combination of jet and rocket power to theoretically enable it to launch from the decks of the Kaiserliche Marine's single aircraft carrier, the single engine Ta 183 Huckebein jet fighter, and the ramjet and rocket powered Ta 283 Strahlrohrjäger concept which failed to reach prototype status before the end of the war.

Focke-Wulf is also notable for having spun off one of the two major helicopter companies of the HRE's aviation industry.

Focke-Achgelis & Co. G.m.b.H./Flettner Flugzeugbau G.m.b.H
The two companies most notable within the HRE for their work on helicopters. While Focke-Achgelis' helicopters functioned as the first "utility" helicopters to enter service with a military, the Flettner company's Kolibri helicopter - and its direct predecessor - were the first "synchrocopter" designs to see flight and service. Synchrocopters notably offer advantages over both single rotor designs and more conventional transverse or tandem configuration multi-rotor designs - something potentially worth pursuing for future helicopter designs intended to lift heavy payloads.
 
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Trying for an omake:

——————————————————————

I groaned. The damm balloon tanks were the bane of my existence. Sheet after sheet of graphs and charts describing failure rates and modes of failure. If it wasn't the welds coming undone it was the alloy not bending right. Or it was a pressure issue. At least I got those ironed out.

Goddamm I never had to deal with this back when I was building dams for the Francos, I thought idly.

I felt an arm snake around my shoulders, and I unconsciously reached up to grasp the hand attached to it. "You alright Gabriel? You've been staring at those files for almost half an hour."

I smiled, quietly to myself, then turned, "yeah I'm fine Elliot. Just fighting with the balloon tanks. And no" I preempt him with a grin before he can crack a joke about "classified intelligence" "it's not classified, just a pain in the ass." His faux pout is adorable (which is why he does it).

"So what's the problem?" He asks as he sits on the bench, me obligingly scooting over to make room.

"Honestly? Pretty much everything. I've got the pressure issues ironed out, turns out there's some weird dynamics with the nozzle at high pressure, but now the welds are coming apart because of the temperature change from the liquid oxygen. We've got some new alloys that are working better, the Mat Sci guys came through there, but it's still getting too cold too damm fast." I explain (no it's not a rant, shut up). "If we could get the temperature change to be less of a shock it'd work fine, even if it warmed up the pressure would keep the Oxygen liquid, but the trouble is getting it cold in the first place."

He pauses, thinking. I sigh again, frustration appeased, and start tidying up the table. It's almost dinner time and Fridays are Elliot's Stroganoff. I listen as he responds "So, if the problem is how fast the metal cools, why not just start with it chilled? Put a bunch of ice around it or something?" He asks

I shake my head "Nah it won't work. The metal gets too brittle…. When …. Cold…." He looks up, noticing me trailing off. I'm gazing at the paper, not really seeing it, frantically running calculations in my head. "Elliot you're a genius!" I cry, riffling around for a spare piece of paper.

"Ok" he says, handing me a piece from the notepad "why am I a genius?"

"So one of the problems is the metal getting too brittle when it's cold, so we can't just inflate it cold, right? But this new stuff, that we're making the tanks with now, it's designed to be flexible when it's cold. So maybe that cold start idea is viable now" I say all in a rush. I'm working out the basic equations and it should be sound. Some of the tolerances are a bit tight and I'll want to test it but…

"So I suppose you'll be wanting to head in tonight?" Elliot asks, carefully neutral. I've done this before, and he's always been ok with it's still but it's gotta sting.

I pop my head up, and pause. I could. This is important but… "No." I reply, almost surprised at myself. "This can wait till tomorrow. "

He looks surprised too, though it quickly turns softer. "Thanks hun," he says, taking my hand. "I know how big this is for you"

"It is important" I smile, leaning in to give him a kiss. "But this is too"

Maybe it was simpler back in Spain. I think as I finish cleaning up my notes, making sure the new calculations are on the top. But I wouldn't trade this for the world.

——————————————————————

An image of Gabriel, credit to u/lifecuntingent over on Reddit. I haven't nailed down his precise age but he's in his 30s.

https://preview.redd.it/artist-tag-...bp&s=25054f326506f1454494e2b4cfcef7bf255e225c

AN: This is supposed to be a fluffy bit of slice of life around a hydraulics engineer who ended up working on spaceships. I wanted to show one of the less prominent/genius workers, and also express my frustration with the Balloon Tanks being cursed. Since it's canon that the engineers were complaining I figured I'd add that.

@Shadows is this good?

Good, enjoy your 10-point bonus :) I liked it.

The second part of my "Aircraft Manufacturers of the Last Great War" series, this time focused on the HRE. This took quite a bit longer for me to be happy enough with to post - and honestly, I still expect it to have issues worth pointing out. This is mostly just focused on what these manufacturers were known for in terms of aircraft projects - which is admittedly cherry-picking from OTL German aircraft projects of the 1930s - 1940s, flying and not.

Feedback is appreciated.

The Holy Roman Empire
The aggressors of the Last Great War, the Holy Roman Empire had come out of the Second with a badly battered military, a demoralized and worn-out civilian population, and very little to show for either. While some optimists hoped, at the turn of the 1920s, that this state of exhaustion - shared among many of the countries of Europe - would usher in a new era of peace, many rightly assumed that the HRE's leadership and population would not be satisfied with what came to be known in HRE political circles as the "Verstümmelter Frieden", or mutilated peace.

Instead, the nation began to rebuild both its industrial infrastructure and military capabilities - and, as the 1930s rolled into the 1940s, the revitalized Kaiserliche Streitkräfte began to roll into the territories of the Entente powers in Europe, supported by aircraft from manufacturers new and old within the HRE.

Messerschmitt AG
Originating as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, Messerschmitt AG became infamous as an aircraft manufacturer thanks to their Bf 109 fighter - the most common fighter aircraft of the HRE from the start of the war almost until its conclusion. In addition to the 109, Messerschmitt also produced a number of twin-engine heavy fighters - and, most notably, the Me 163 and 263 rocket powered interceptors, and the Me 262 jet fighter. The latter was the first jet fighter in the world to enter operational service, although the low thrust and lackluster reliability of its twin engines made it comparatively inferior to many of its rivals.

Messerschmitt is also infamous for its participation in the Kaiserliche Luftstreitkräfte's "Grosse Bomber" project - producing the Me 264, and later Me 266, as their bomber and tanker proposals. While the first of the HRE's super bomber prototypes to fly, they would ultimately be passed over in favor of another project, due to Messerschmitt's priorities being focused on the production of fighters and interceptors.

Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG
A manufacturer equally as infamous as Messerschmitt, Junkers' most well-known product was the Ju 87 dive bomber - commonly known as the Stuka. In addition to the aircraft which came to define the HRE's early war air power, Junkers also produced aircraft engines. This included the Jumo 004, the turbojet engine which powered the Me 262, and the Jumo 223, the high power diesel engine which gave the HRE's super bombers the range to strike targets as far afield as the United States from bases in France.

While well known - and, in aviation circles, respected for their pioneering work in all-metal aircraft construction - Junkers' aircraft designs are far less interesting for any organization looking to advance aerospace research, with the sole exception of their initial research into forward swept wing airframes as part of the Ju 287 project. More useful is their research and development work on axial-flow turbojet engines - and even that has since been surpassed, thanks to the work of the IEC.

Abteilung Flugzeugbau der Schiffswerft Blohm & Voss
Commonly referred to simply as Blohm & Voss, this aircraft manufacturer was primarily known for their flying boats, including the colossal BV 222 "Wiking" and BV 238 - although, in later years, they have also become somewhat infamous for their highly unconventional asymmetric and tailless designs and proposals, uncovered in the years following the War and Revolution. This work culminated in the BV 215 - an advanced night-fighter/interceptor design whose first flight was scheduled just weeks before the end of the War.

While their seaplanes would be potentially useful for personnel transportation or logistics, it is their research into asymmetric designs and flying wings which could prove useful to organizations like the IEC. Making asymmetric designs controllable and stable allows for more unique design configurations, removing limitations that would otherwise seem obvious, while flying wings offer the possibility of substantial increases in aerodynamic efficiency due to the lack of a separate fuselage.

Heinkel Flugzeugwerke
While infamous for their bomber programs - in particular, the He 277 "Grosse Bomber" with which the HRE carried out their nuclear bombing campaigns - Heinkel was also one of the foremost innovators within the HRE with regards to rocket and jet propulsion for aircraft use, as well as vertical take-off and landing programs. Notably, the He 178 was among the first jet powered aircraft to take to the skies, while the He 176 was the first liquid-fueled rocket powered aircraft to fly. In terms of VTOL programs, while none had reached the prototype stage before the end of the War, Heinkel had devoted substantial time to a pair of tail-sitting VTOL fighter concepts - one powered by twin conventional piston engines, and another powered by a "turboprop" engine.

Heinkel is less well known for their aircraft engine development, via their Heinkel-Hirth subsidiary. While most of their production was low power piston engines for use in training aircraft, the company also produced the HeS 011 turbojet engine - which went on to be selected for the vast majority of the HRE's advanced jet fighter and bomber programs towards the end of the war, due to its impressive performance for an early turbojet engine.

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG
Most well known for the Fw 190, Focke-Wulf also produced a number of jet fighter designs - including the Ta 272 "Flitzer", intended for use by the Kaiserliche Luftstreitkräfte's Marineflugdienst branch, which used a combination of jet and rocket power to theoretically enable it to launch from the decks of the Kaiserliche Marine's single aircraft carrier, the single engine Ta 183 Huckebein jet fighter, and the ramjet and rocket powered Ta 283 Strahlrohrjäger concept which failed to reach prototype status before the end of the war.

Focke-Wulf is also notable for having spun off one of the two major helicopter companies of the HRE's aviation industry.

Focke-Achgelis & Co. G.m.b.H./Flettner Flugzeugbau G.m.b.H
The two companies most notable within the HRE for their work on helicopters. While Focke-Achgelis' helicopters functioned as the first "utility" helicopters to enter service with a military, the Flettner company's Kolibri helicopter - and its direct predecessor - were the first "synchrocopter" designs to see flight and service. Synchrocopters notably offer advantages over both single rotor designs and more conventional transverse or tandem configuration multi-rotor designs - something potentially worth pursuing for future helicopter designs intended to lift heavy payloads.

Canonized. Enjoy your 10 as well!
 
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