I think mostly they're just scared as they rise :D And they're pretty practical people. Anderson whoops when Jack takes off earlier, but he's seen it before and also the Princess is there, so he's a little more restrained. Still, everyone has remarked on the sudden nature of takeoff, so I'll have a look at it.

The letter from Ellis is perhaps misplaced, but it's not written while on the airship -- it's an old archived letter from his youth. I think perhaps I should move it closer to the actual stormpirates scene.