FCT Mk. I Dirigible

The '''FCT Mk. I Dirigible''' was a rigid airship built by Fanaglian Central Textiles around the turn of the twentieth century. It was Alonso Tagan’s response to the growing civilian demand for airships for all purposes. Within the envelope, the lift gas is contained in several individual sacs to protect against a catastrophic combustion of the whole envelope should a spark occur. The gondola is designed to have the appearance of a marine vessel -- a one of Mr. Tagan’s own personal touches, which grants the ship the ability for a water landing, as well as an aesthetic flair. The envelope is hemp canvas and the gondola is made of pressed hemp and bamboo reinforced with aluminum.

There were three trim levels available for the Mk. I: C-, T-, and Y-Class. The C-Class was designed for heavy cargo transport and is the most popular of the three models. The T-Class was a passenger ship designed to meet Fanaglia’s regional travel needs. The Y-Class was designed as a far more luxurious alternative to the T-Class, providing a comfortable, peaceful ride to wherever its first-class travelers made as their destination. As of January, 1890, only three had so far been constructed: one, the Rosalind, was owned by Queen Autumn of Fanaglia, one, the Arvirar, by Alonso Tagan, and the third, the Topaz, by the late Governor Errol Allan.

Due to the popularity of water landings amongst Mk. I operators and the difficulty in "over-water mooring" the later FCT Mk. II ships, not to mention the latter method's becoming outlawed in 1904, the Mk. I remained a popular alternative to the Mk. II, despite its greater cost, until it was discontinued in 1909.