Getting back into KSP with a trans-Kerbin airship

[JacobT11]

Having been away from KSP for a few months (thanks a bunch life) I've decided to finally get back into the game. I'm amazed by how much the mods have come along recently, I'm especially impressed with Hooligan Labs airships, the Kerbal Attachment System, and Firespitter's parts. So, I decided to go ahead and use all three of these mods to reacquaint myself with Kerbin. Explore some of the terrain a bit.

I spent a good portion of the day playing with those three mods, figuring out how they all work, and finally it was time to build the airship I'd be using to traverse the world. I've taken a good bit of inspiration from the airship shown in the KAS image on the SpacePort, but tweaked quite a bit. For this flight I've allowed myself infinite fuel/rcs fuel, otherwise, no cheats.

I built one airship, but forgot some crucial things, like EVA ladders and lights, so I landed it on the western shore of the continent that the spaceport is on. I figured I could modify the ship, then rendezvous with the first ship. So, without further delay, here's the first flight of Tranquility II.

Sitting on the runway before launch.

Airborne, but the tethers are holding tight.

Tethers are free, starting to climb.

Finally at the cruising altitude of 7245 meters.

Half-way across the continent.

Tranquility I is in sight.

High angle during final descent.

There we go, parked next to Tranquility I.

Total mission time was 1 hour 7 minutes. Not too bad.

Next up, I'll be heading across the ocean towards the deserts of the next continent. Might also move the Tranquility I back to the spaceport.