Designed too early to be useful, built too late to see service. Now it’s odd and obsolete.

The Model 25, later named Halcyon, was a flying boat designed by Pike A. Wrightman of the National Aeronautical Company aimed to fulfill the role of long range passenger ferry. Similar to ideas presented by Dornier and Supermarine, the Model 25 was less luxurious but would hold many more passengers at fly a further distance. Although interested, the government could not allocate funds to support the project. When Pike redesigned the aircraft to be a long range patrol and anti submarine aircraft, the military showed support, but ultimately could not purchase such and aircraft. So the design was shelved for a later date. Many years later and after dozens of redesigns, the aircraft of the like would be requested to serve. But no factory had the infrastructure or tooling to build the aircraft so delays would take hold of the project. The ideas that the aircraft was based on were also more than twenty years old. After many delays, redesigns, and compromises were made the National Aeronautical Company’s Flying Battleship was completed. One day before the bomb was dropped ending the Wright Krakabola War.

The plane had little value as jet engines and land planes were seen as the future. Piston engine flying boats were nearly long gone, and thus the plane had no work to do. Not cutting losses, the navy would use the aircraft on maritime patrol and anti piracy missions to get some use out of the odd aircraft. After five years of somewhat notable peace time service, the Flying Battleship would be bought by a private company which converted the machine of war into a machine of family fun entertainment. The aircraft was stripped of any military armament and gear, the barrette was replaced with greenhouse style windows, all four gun turrets were made into observation ports, and the aircraft would be named Halcyon alluding to happier times after the war. But that’s a story for a mother day.

Directions
To take off from water, activate 1 & 2 to start the wing engines. Throttle up to one hundred and trim down completely. When the aircraft reaches 70 mph, activate 4 and pull up slightly. Once you are going moderately faster, activate 3 and pull up out of the water after you reach 110 mph.
Uses standard aircraft controls.
Guns and cannons are controlled with camera views.

Have a fun flight!