Dear aviators,

Today, we will take a break from the mid-20th century and turn our attention to its no less turbulent beginning. As you know, we have previously completed the development of aircraft for all four parts of Flying Circus, as well as the Western Front map and Career mode. But that wasn't all we dreamed of adding! Back in the spring, it was decided that an AI-controlled combat airship would be added to Flying Circus.

This became possible when the map of the Western Front of World War I was filled with content (and not just the front line, as was the case in Rise of Flight) - Paris appeared on the map, as well as the area where the combat leviathans of Imperial Germany were based. The following zeppelin bases have been recreated: 

• AF Trier-Euren (square 1434-8)
• AF Metz-Frescaty (square 2131-5)
• AF Cognelee (square 0522-1)
• AF Agatha-Berchem (square 0117-2)
• AF Etterbeek (square 0218-8)

Choosing a specific airship model to build was not so easy — Zeppelin created a wide range of combat airships that differed quite significantly from one another. In the end, we settled on the Zeppelin Type R, not least for aesthetic reasons: unlike some other models, this airship had streamlined aerodynamic shapes and looked proportional and harmonious. At the same time, it was a formidable air cruiser, capable of carrying up to five tons of bombs and having a combat radius of more than 1,500 kilometers. Range was the main advantage of these air giants, unattainable for heavier-than-air aircraft of that time - even by the end of the war, mass-produced bombers had a range of less than 500 km.

At the same time, although it may seem surprising, the speed of the airship was not so low, reaching 100 km/h, which was only (given its size!) 1.5 times slower than the best bombers of the era. And the flight altitude with a combat load was much higher than the practical ceiling of bombers. Flying at high altitudes made them difficult targets for airplanes to intercept, especially at night. What made them vulnerable was their size — the huge, 200-meter giants were too conspicuous a target for both early warning posts and anti-aircraft artillery.

Nevertheless, to defend against Entente fighters, this ship was armed with seven water-cooled 7.92 mm MG-08/15 Maxim machine guns. Two of them were placed on a platform at the top of the front section, and one on another upper platform at the rear. Four more gunners were positioned in pairs in the front and rear gondolas. Bombs were placed in two bomb bays with enclosures closer to the center of the structure. The Zeppelin was powered by six Maybach HSLu engines, 245 horsepower each, that drove separate two-bladed propellers. The first was installed in the front control gondola, two in additional uninhabited gondolas on the sides, and three in the rear engine room gondola. The two side engines in the rear nacelle rotated the side-mounted propellers via a long external shaft, which was supported by a special truss structure.

In the game, the airship will take part in special quick missions, as well as occasionally in the Career mode. You are probably aware that by 1917, they were only used in raids on England and for maritime patrols, but our pilot career also includes 1916. Attacking this monster in early Airco DH.2, Sopwith Pup, Nieuport 11.C1, and SPAD VII aircraft will make for an extremely exciting combat mission. It will be no less interesting to cover its passage over the front line in German Fokker E.III, Albatros D.II, Halberstadt D.II, and Roland CL.II aircraft. In addition, there will be combat missions to raid airship bases and missions to repel such raids. Overall, with the addition of this colossus, Flying Circus will gain all the charm that was originally intended.

In addition to the airship, our partners at Ugra Media are continuing to work on improving the Western Front map: Paris and other cities are being refined, small details are being added to the countryside, and much more. In short, ladies and gentlemen, please stay tuned for our news!