It should be noted that in Last Exile they don't use airplanes- the Vanships use a substance ("Claudia") in order to fly. Like aircraft in WWI, Last Exile sees them becoming militarized. The lift mechanisms for the heavier capital ships aren't elaborated on, IIRC.
they are and they aren't. if you read the tech info that comes with the DVD's, you find out that each of the ships of the line, on both sides, employ a guild supplied and controlled claudia system. fro mthe apperance, it looksl iek these modules use some sort of nuclear or other high tech power source to heat the claudia, providing lift.
the silvana uses the same system, just obtained from an Ex-guild source. the urbanis and it's sisterships employ oversized versions of the Vanship systems, which are basically big oil fired steam engines with claudia mixed into the water. one system provides lift, the loops behind the ship provide forwards thrust. the big warships seem to have forward thrust built into the guild module.
weapns wise the typical ship employs something akin to the "dynamite gun", basically a steam fed air cannon firing explosive shells. what made the Silvana feared was the fact it's weapons employed a liquid explosive system, allowing better munitions and projectile velocity, plus the use of compact and portable infantry weapons.
of interesting note are the Urbanis's Aerial Torpedoes, which are basically explosive warheads attached to a short duration Vanship drive....sound familiar?
