New story/game

[Peter Thomas]

I don't mind Beserker's idea, though I really don't recommend you use it, because half the community will have read it by now, making it a non-twist. That's why I tried to refrain from saying too much earlier.  I see now that a crude plane MIGHT be feasible for your purposes, but the idea of building it from an ancient tribal sketch just doesn't ring true with me. If your character has enough knowledge to   FLY a helicopter (which is no feint task) they would probably know more about it's workings than a 2000 year old man in a cave. Suffice to say that I still think this would make an interesting and very playable game.

[jaz]

Once you have a good reason why not to build a boat a makeshift aircraft seems like cool idea but there is a couple of weak points (provided you want your game to be at least a bit realistic).

Firstly, it's not by any means easy to build a real flying machine, not to mention it would have to be done practically without tools (but there could be some basic ones in crashed copter's toolkit). So the character should have some aviation knowledge (preferably an aircraft constructor )   

As for aircraft itself, there are two options: a propelled aircraft or a glider.

If you go for a propelled aircraft, you obviously need some sort of propulsion. An engine is unlikely to be found on deserted island, except maybe the one from crashed copter (but this one is waaay too big for the purpose). Hmmmm… how about a human propelled aircraft then?  Well, it is possible but this had been a dream of many generations and it took a long scientific research and high-end materials were used before the first HPA took off in as late as 1961. Now, it wouldn't be much plausible to build one singlehandedly  from palm leaves and bamboo shots, would it?

Should you go for a glider, it would make things more plausible. It's not a cutting edge machine and with good knowledge of aviation it could be possible to build a makeshift one. Also only things you need to take off and fly is a suitable slope and two legs.  Hang gliders are normally constructed of rip-stop nylon or mylar over an aluminum frame but some “modifications” should be acceptable. Frame can be wooden or made from some parts of helicopter. Then you need some suitable fabric, which can be found in copter cargo (a parachute, a load of Chinese silk or stuff like that :-)

You may think that a glider is not suitable for longer range flights, but hang glider distance record is now over 700 km and even recreation pilots can fly a couple of hundreds staying in air for more than three hours, enough to get off almost anywhere.

The mystique of ancient civilisations would be lost but hey… he can find ANOTHER artefact to even build next story around.

Kinda lenghty but I hope it helps.

jaz

[Akumayo]

the creature that lives in the sea could be....... The ONLY GIANT SQUID TO SURFACE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, bent on killing anything that moves, perhaps you build a raft, the Giant Squid destroyes it, then you swim back to shore and decide to build a plane!!!

I am brilliant!!!

[Raider]

Yes,
I like the idea of a glider. Don't worry I will put in a good twist to make the story good and exciting. Thank you all for your help and I might just put your names in the credits as the story design people.
Thanks again.

- Raider