Figaroa

Figaroa
Basic information
Role	Passenger/Cargo zeppelin
Captain	Arthur Wallace
Status	Operational (Presumed)
Mobility
Engines	Sixteen (eight per side)
Armaments
Broadside cannons	None
Defensive turrets	Seven machine guns One anti-aircraft cannon
Aircraft compliment	Twelve

The Figaroa was a tramp freighter passenger/cargo zeppelin captained by Arthur Wallace featured in Crimson Skies. The zeppelin was intercepted by Nathan Zachary and the Fortune Hunters on its way to Free Colorado from San Francisco, as the Pandora had been heavily damaged in a previous battle with the Gemini of Hughes Aviation, losing one of its gas bags and half of its engines. The Pandora was trying to limp to Sky Haven but under its own power it wouldn't be able to reach it. The Figaroa proved to be a lucrative target for the Fortune Hunters as it would be able to tow the injured Pandora enough of the way to Sky Haven for the zeppelin to make it under its own steam.

Commencing an attack, Zachary and the Fortune Hunters first had to shoot free the zeppelin wreck the Figaroa was carrying before shooting down the Blake Aviation Security William & Colt Peacemaker 370s that were employed to defend it. Tex Ryder flew a boarding team in on a Bristol Type 140 Balmoral who took control of the zeppelin. After shooting down the remaining Blake Aviation Peacemakers and defending the Figaroa, Wallace and his crew surrendered to the pirates who proceeded to connect the Figaroa to the Pandora and fly to Sky Haven.

Strategy

• The engines must be untouched, so do not target them, as having the Figaroa lose too many engines will result in failing the mission.
• Avoid using Flak rockets as they will likely cause damage to the zeppelin's engines. High Explosive rockets are better for targeting the crane jibs, however those are small and also on a moving zeppelin, so guns are potentially superior if you are a poor shot with rockets.
• Taking out the defensive Turrets will make releasing the cargo easier, plus you need to take out the turrets anyway.
• Using an aircraft with a rear turret, such as the Fairchild F611 Brigand, McDonnell S2B Kestrel or even Hughes-Lockheed Firebrand, will make destroying the turrets easier as the gunner will shoot at and destroy them if they get a clear shot.
  • Additionally, it appears that for this mission, the gunner is disabled from targeting the engines of the zeppelin, something they normally do in any other mission. This means there is no risk for taking a turreted aircraft into this mission.
• Destroying the Blake fighters first will make taking on the zeppelin a lot easier.

Appearances

• Crimson Skies
  • Fight for the FIGAROA

Notes

• If replaying the mission, you are able to bring aerial torpedoes against the Figaroa. However, this is pointless as destroying the zeppelin will automatically fail the mission, as it must remain intact with enough engines.