"Ready Assault teams! All hands on deck!”- Commander Francesca Cook, during the Assault on Totenkopf's Island.
The Mobile Airstrip was an atmospheric craft designed partly by Dexter Dearborn as an aircraft carrier and mobile base of operations capable of moving to areas far out of reach for sea-faring craft and normal aircraft.
Armament and Technical Specifications[]
A Mobile Airstrip could be used as a mobile command post, a missile launching platform or a mobile aircraft command base. A standard airstrip carried as it's main defense force a large squadron of amphibious fighter craft, making it usable as a way of launching a large amount of craft into enemy territory. These crafts proved critically useful in raiding Totenkoph's Island, where the amphibious craft escorted Joseph Sullivan's P-40 Warhawk through a blockade consisting of extremely deadly underwater defenses.
A Mobile Airstrip is known to have at least a large amount of cannons, including small guns around the edge of the flight deck and four large turrets at each corner of the craft. It is safe to assume the airstrip has plenty more weapons than are visible, considering the massive size of the ship. Four rotors provide main thrust. The airstrip has radar and can launch harmless radar imager missiles in addition to it's main radar.
It is presumed that the Mobile Airstrip is perfectly capable of landing on water, in case of emergencies (due to it's bottom hull resembling that of a sea-faring vessel).
History[]
The lead Mobile Airstrip that was run by Commander Francesca Cook call sign was Manta Station, served as her personal flagship and mobile base of operations. The Mobile Airstrip Manta Station was summoned by Joseph Sulivan "Sky Captain" to help him and Polly Perkins land safely and refuel in order to reach Totenkopf's mysterious Island. When they arrived on Manta Station, the Mobile Airstrip itself came under attack by the underwater Submersible Crab Robot Warships protecting the island, damaging one of Manta Station's propellers, causing it to lose altitude, but still capable to stay aloft. Franky then leads the attack on Totenkopf's island lair's underwater crab robot defenses, while Joe and Polly enter through an underwater inlet with the help of Manta Squadron.
Later Manta Station returns with a large fleet consisting of dozens of her own sister ship Mobile Airstrip's in order to provide rescue operations and assistance for both Sky Captain and Polly Perkins, and the animals that had managed to safely escape the Rocket Ship's destruction, and prepared to assault the island in order to get rid of all of Totenkopf's remaining robotic war-machines, in order to make sure they never attack innocent Humans ever again.
Notable Mobile Air Strips[]
- Manta Station
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Kevin Conran stated that the concept of the Mobile Airstrip was inspired by the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier from Marvel's "Strange Tales" #135, August 1965.
- Outlandish as it sounds, flying aircraft carriers have historical roots. The earliest attempts were in July 1917 with experiments to launch an unmanned, and later manned, Sopwith Camel biplane fighter from the HM Airship No. 23. This trend would continue during the Interwar Period in the United States with the airships USS Los Angels, Akron, and Macon.
- Among the film's many historical liberties, you can see several Dodge WC-54 ambulances and Willys MBs on the deck, most noticeable during the scrambling of Manta Squadron.