Aviator Cadets training at the Confederate Air Station at Pensacola, Florida got a thrill earlier this week when a flight of Balmoral Type 140 bombers came skimming in over the Gulf waters. But this was no sneak attack—the bombers sported freshly painted Confederate insignia, courtesy of artists aboard the British zeppelin RMAS Agincourt. The delivery had been kept secret for security reasons, but with the planes now on the ground, speculation regarding the British Empire's latest military aid to the Confederacy is in no short supply.

Major Blair Valentine of the RAF, commanding the Agincourt, was eager to point out that the British Empire is not becoming involved in disputes in the Americas. "We've already fought one war over here, if you recall. But we don't like to talk about that one much," the Major joked, to the amusement of the assembled Confederate officers. But word has it that the Agincourt will be remaining at Pensacola for an indeterminate period of time, and that some of her crew will be quartered at the base temporarily. Officials were less inclined to discuss that matter, or the question of where these aircraft might be deployed, or against whom.

"Naturally we can't discuss military movements," stated Colonel Dwayne Shelby, commander of Pensacola CAS. "Our boys are going to need some training on the new aircraft, and the Brits have agreed to let us use their zeppelin for drop training. I don't have to tell you all that we'd rather not pull a zeppelin off the border just for training. We're grateful for the loan...which I must stress is for training purposes only."

The Balmoral is a particularly tricky aircraft to deploy from a zeppelin, due to its size. In order for the bomber to fit through the hangar opening, the Balmoral is equipped with folding wings. When dropped from the belly of its carrier, the Balmoral pilot must start his engines and deploy the aircraft's wings while in free fall. "We have insisted on repeated, thorough training and practice specifically because of the hazards involved in launching the Balmoral from a zeppelin," Shelby added.

Pensacola CAS has been growing steadily since its founding as a United States facility in 1913, and now turns out over 200 Confederate pilots each year. In fact, Florida seems poised to become the center of Confederate pilot training, with the new Jacksonville CAS growing to nearly the size of the Pensacola station in only two years. But the training of a large number of cadets in the Balmoral begs the further question: "Will there be more British bombers arriving for these cadets to fly?" Not surprisingly, the answer from Confederate and British officers is a stern, "No comment."

Republic of Texas air forces were reported to be on heightened alert today, though its not clear if the arrival of these new planes is responsible for that condition. There's no question that Texas has got reason to be worried, though. With tensions rising between these two proud and aggressive nations, the question of why the Confederacy needs a short-range bomber is a loaded one.

—Jonah "Doc" Duval, AWN Dixie Correspondent