The ramp up for the next book in the Roan universe has begun. The expansion book is called Roan: World at War, and it covers the war with the ratavarians. It's Kickstarter has gone live. You can find out more by following this link. The war covers roughly a 5 year period of conflict where technology advances at a breakneck pace. Very much mirroring events here in our world between 1939 and 1945.
As a result vehicles and concepts that were valid at the start of the conflict are obsolete or must be adapted to the new paradigm. This is particularly true in the area of aviation where aircraft go from reciprocating aether engine, with open cockpit design, and fabric skins. To metal skinned, enclosed cockpit, aether turbines powered, and eventually true jet powered aircraft.
This design is from the turboprop era when ponies could see that the turbine was going to be the future but true jet technology is perceived as just not quite ready yet. However there is a desire, or need, to develop something more than piston engine technology. This is where this aircraft fits in.