Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 659 The Third Batch of Aviation Flight Trainees: Interesting New Abilities
Yanchuan Water Airport.

The third batch of flight trainees gathered at the dock, preparing to board a seaplane from Mount Tai to travel to an aviation school in the south for further studies.

In addition to flight trainees, there were two pilots transferred from the Yan'an Aviation Team: Du Jiahuai and Zhai Xiaojun.

Therefore, members of the Yan'an Air Force came to see the two off.

Team leader Qi Baoqian said, "Teaching and flying are not the same. When you two go to Yangon, you should first learn teaching experience and not put too much personal subjectivity into the teaching."

"How could that be! We learned flying techniques from Mr. Fang, so this time when we go to teach, we will naturally focus on his teachings," Du Jiahuai said with a smile.

Zhai Xiaojun nodded: "Captain, we understand this without you having to tell us. In fact, when we get to Yangon, we will also need to learn first, so we won't be arrogant."

Then, pilot Deng Zhongyu said wistfully, "I really want to go back to Yangon again, but unfortunately you two got the chance."

Not only him, but the other members of the flight squadron also had a special feeling for Yangon, after all, they all received Fang Wen's special training there, which led to their subsequent series of aerial combat experiences.

As they were talking, a convoy truck drove up to the sea airport.

Shu Zhitao, manager of Hongxing Commercial Company, jumped off the plane with his suitcase.

He walked directly toward the Taishan Aviation Team.

"What are you all talking about? It's so lively."

Qi Baoqian asked, "Manager Shu, what brings you here? Is it for the cigarettes and transistor radios being shipped south?"

"No, I've been given a new assignment. I'm now the director of the teaching affairs office at Taishan Aviation School."

"That's great, Director. You must take good care of our two flight instructors who know nothing."

"I don't know either. To be honest, at least you guys can fly, but I've never even flown a plane before, so I have absolutely no idea what to do. By the way, from now on, I will revert to my alias Bai Yunfei, so please don't call me by the wrong name in the future."

Just then, the boarding bell rang from the seaplane at the dock, and everyone stopped talking.

Du Jiahuai, Zhai Xiaojun, and Shu Zhitao walked to the front of the flight cadet team.

Shu Zhitao spoke up: "Hello comrades, the three of us are the team leaders for this flight. Let me introduce myself. My name is Bai Yunfei, and I am the director of teaching at Taishan Aviation School."

"I am flight instructor Zhai Xiaojun."

"I am Du Jiahuai, a flight instructor."

After the three introduced themselves, they took out the roster and called out names to make sure all the students were present before arranging for them to board the plane.

The 30 trainees were divided into three teams and boarded the plane.

Half of the cargo hold in these planes was filled with boxes containing Taishan brand cigarettes and Zhongxing radios, while the other half was occupied by trainees sitting on the floor.

With the engines roaring, the plane accelerated and took off from the water, flying south along the Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan air route.

Meanwhile, in Chongqing, 30 flight trainees boarded a seaplane belonging to a logistics company and flew to Yangon.

Yangon.

Around noon, three seaplanes arrived, and shortly after they landed, two more seaplanes appeared in the air.

Both groups of flight trainees have arrived.

They disembarked, boarded a shuttle bus, and headed to the aviation school in the Yangon Business Park.

Inside the aviation school, Principal Wang and the school's teachers and staff organized a welcome party.

Fang Wen was among them.

He stood in the center of the welcoming crowd, with the flight school's instructors and support staff behind him. Each of them wore a small Taishan Aviation badge on their chest—designed by Fang Wen, consisting of wings and a five-pointed star, shimmering silver in the sunlight.

The welcoming ceremony was simple yet solemn.

The background behind Fang Wen was a red cloth with the words "Taishan Aviation School" printed on it, and two pots of bougainvillea in full bloom were placed next to it.

The shuttle bus drove into the school, and all the students got off and spontaneously formed two square formations.

Fang Wen stood on the platform and said, "Flight cadets from the country, your purpose in coming here is to learn flying skills so that you can fly fighter jets to fight against the invaders in the future."

The opening remarks made the trainees in the audience straighten their backs and look at Fang Wen.

Fang Wen continued, “From today onwards, you have only one identity: the seeds of Chinese flight. Technology is the wings, and faith is the engine; neither can be lacking! I hope that in just three months, you can integrate the knowledge taught at the school and become heroes who soar through the air to kill the enemy.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the trainees applauded enthusiastically, their hearts filled with pride and passion, stirred by Fang Wen's words.

After the applause subsided, Fang Wen stepped back, allowing Principal Wang of the aviation school to wrap up the welcome party.

The ceremony ended quickly, and the trainees were taken to their dormitories by the logistics staff according to the roster.

Fang Wen led Du Jiahuai, Zhai Xiaojun, and Bai Yunfei, who had reverted to his alias, toward the house next to the school airport.

This room is where the instructors rest during live flight training. It contains rattan tables and chairs, several enamel mugs and kettles, and a flight route map from Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan to Yangon hanging on the wall.

As soon as the door closed, Bai Yunfei spoke first: "Mr. Fang, I really wasn't sure what to do when the organization sent me here this time. Tell me, how can someone with no experience in flying an airplane be the director of the teaching affairs office?"

Fang Wen poured each of the three a cup of cold tea before smiling and saying, "I requested that you be sent here. You are a capable person. You were able to lead troops in battle in western Hunan, and later you went into business and did very well. I think you are qualified for this position. Don't be modest."

"I'm not being modest, I really have no idea," Bai Yunfei said helplessly.

"Don't rush, listen to my thoughts first." Fang Wen poured himself a cup of iced tea, took a sip, and said, "I believe that the future of China will inevitably have only one ideology."

The moment he opened his mouth, Bai Yunfei was startled.

The other two pilots were also surprised, wondering what Fang Wen would say next.

Fang Wen continued: "I firmly believe that the Chinese nation will definitely be able to drive out the invaders, but what happens after the invaders are driven out? The land of China will be devastated and needs to be rebuilt, and the people will need to recuperate. But will the Nationalist government allow all of this to proceed smoothly? I don't think so. They will continue to attack the Communist Party, and there will be more warlord conflicts. Do we want things to go back to the way they were before after we drive out the invaders?"

"No. Absolutely not!" Zhai Xiaojun said indignantly.

"I think so too. This country needs to be led by people with ideals and perseverance to move towards a better future, and I believe that is the Communist Party. I think you all think the same way."

The three nodded.

In this chaotic era, the Communist Party and the troops under its leadership are the purest, most idealistic, and most steadfast people.

Only such people can complete the Long March of 25,000 li and withstand countless fatal blows, yet their passion remains undiminished and springs back to life.

Fang Wen continued.

"Therefore, some things should be planned in advance. For example, preparing for the new China's air force in advance. You don't want these pilots to become enemies with each other in the civil war, do you?"

Bai Yunfei understood Fang Wen's forward-thinking approach.

This also helped Bai Yunfei overcome his inner conflict and focus all his energy on his new job.

After the welcome ceremony for the flight trainees concluded, Fang Wen drove back to the company headquarters.

He planned to go to the base in northern Myanmar to continue studying the treasure he had just acquired.

But before leaving, I need to communicate with Steve one more time.

The car was parked in the backyard of the headquarters building, and Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng took the elevator upstairs.

The two went directly to the telegraph department.

Fang Wen personally sent a message to the communication frequency that Steve had left behind.

How's the situation on your end? When are you coming to pick up the goods?

Half an hour after the telegram was sent, a reply was received.

[The Germans are gone. We've finished negotiations with the Italians and will be flying a Boeing 314 to Rangoon. But our pilots haven't flown this route before, so we can't fly it directly. We need you to send a lead aircraft to guide us.] The situation described in Steve's telegram reflects the shortcomings of pilots in this era.

Without navigation, even the most skilled pilots would not dare to fly an unfamiliar route.

Fang Wen thought for a moment and then called back.

A cargo ship from Taishan International will be returning to the United States, allowing you and your people, along with the ancient artifacts, to travel back on the ship.

A while later, Steve called back.

"Sure, I'd also like to go back by cargo ship. After all, without your guidance, I think it would be dangerous to fly on a Boeing 314."

This guy wasn't afraid of death; without Fang Wen navigating, the Boeing 314 returning to its original route would indeed have been dangerous.

Therefore, Fang Wen continued to send a telegram, suggesting that Boeing 314 take the Mediterranean-Atlantic route back to its origin, as that route would allow for a sea landing and would be safer.

The other party accepted Fang Wen's suggestion, and the call ended there.

After leaving the telegraph room, Fang Wen began arranging for the loading of the ancient items onto the ship.

Once everything was arranged, Fang Wen took Gong Xiuneng and flew the plane to the base in northern Myanmar.

The plane landed at the seaport in northern Myanmar.

Fang Wen went directly to the Taishan Research Institute after disembarking from the plane.

At the Taishan Research Institute, he will conduct the second phase of testing.

Prior to this, he had written down the results of previous tests conducted in the company headquarters laboratory in a notebook.

The outer shell of the black sphere is made of a material that is resistant to high temperatures, strong acids, and strong alkalis, yet it is also conductive.

As Fang Wen wrote this, he recalled his memories.

Resources that meet these characteristics do exist.

He had some similar materials in his memory.

For example, alloys with added elements such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and tantalum can form a dense oxide film or stable phase structure while retaining the conductivity of the metallic bonds, thus resisting acid and alkali corrosion and high-temperature oxidation, and have wide applications in future industrial fields.

Silicon carbide ceramics and graphene ceramics also possess this characteristic.

However, none of these materials possess another characteristic: the ability to freely transform between solid and fluid states.

It has amazing material properties that shouldn't exist in nature.

However, it was discovered by ancient people long ago and used as a tool to demonstrate miracles.

But how did people in ancient times control this material?
Fang Wen picked up the black bead and infused it with his faith energy.

With the injection of energy, the core inside the black bead is awakened.

Fang Wen regained the ability to control the black matter to change its form at will.

The outer shell of the black bead melted, turning into a black liquid that flowed under Fang Wen's control.

It spilled onto the desk and touched a fountain pen.

It is then wrapped up and transformed into a solid form.

The fountain pen's shape remained unchanged; only the color changed to black.

But its hardness and toughness are much higher, and Fang Wen couldn't break it even with a hammer.

This means it has strong protective capabilities.

Fang Wen had an idea and controlled it to turn into a liquid.

The surface of the ink pen seemed to melt instantly, and the liquid black spread across Fang Wen's palm, gradually covering his entire right hand.

My entire right hand turned black!
He can rotate his palm, extend and retract his fingers, and clench his fist.

Moreover, it feels like wearing thin silk gloves, without affecting hand movements at all.

Doesn't this mean that you possess an invincible iron fist?

In ancient times, possessing such abilities was a symbol of invincibility.

No wonder it was placed in the temple and worshipped as a sacred object.

However, in this era of war, the role of guns and cannons has made the once god-like beings no longer so invincible.

After all, this treasure can only cover an area the size of a palm. If it could cover the whole body, it would be equivalent to a divine armor, allowing one to walk sideways even in front of guns and cannons.

Fang Wen regretfully withdrew the black liquid from his palm, letting it shrink into a ball of liquid.

He wondered to himself: Is it only good as a boxing glove or a small protective shield?

If that's all there is to it, it's not very practical and feels like a useless thing.

Its characteristics include: adhesion, solid-liquid conversion, plasticity, high temperature resistance, and resistance to strong acids and alkalis.

Wait a minute, Fang Wen thought of another use.

He excitedly opened his desk drawer and took out a small bamboo figure that was not yet finished.

These movable little figures made from paper tubes are controlled by a string threaded through the tubes; Fang Wen is making them as toys for his own child.

But now, he has another idea.

If you cover the bamboo figure with black liquid, can you control its movements?
Thinking it over and doing it, Fang Wen removed the control wires from the bamboo figure and then used his mind to move the black liquid to adhere to the bamboo figure.

Soon, the bamboo figure turned black, but its shape remained unchanged.

How do you control the movement of this little black figure?
Fang Wen is making attempts.

Moved!

The little black figure did a somersault and collapsed onto the desk.

Then, he stood up straight.

In other words, Fang Wen can use the movement of the black substance to make the little man change his actions.

However, this movement is holistic and cannot be flexibly altered.

To make the little figure take a step or wave its arms, you need to control its local changes.

This should be achievable, but it would require a lot of mental effort from the controller.

Fortunately, Fang Wen has strong mental strength, making him more suitable than others in this regard.

With each attempt, he made progress.

The little man raised his arm and took a step.

At first, I was a bit clumsy, but I gradually became more agile.

An interesting new use.

Fang Wen controlled the little figure to move around on the desk, sometimes taking steps, sometimes jumping.

He felt that this was no child's toy; it could certainly be very effective in war.

(End of this chapter)