Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 14, NYP-2 Rhine, transiting through Beiping
I didn't realize that flying to Northeast China required so much preparation.

The wealthy were surprised, but they gained more confidence. The more detailed Fang Wen's explanation was, the more confident they felt that things could be accomplished.

One of the elderly men with a long beard even used a brush to write down everything Fang Wen said.

Fang Wen added, "There's one more thing. The plane will take off from Shanghai and transit in Beiping. I'll choose to land at the airport of the Nanyuan Aviation School, where we'll conduct test flights to determine the round-trip route. The cost of renting the school's airport, the cost of replenishing aviation fuel, and hiring a mechanic for troubleshooting all require funding. What are your plans for these?"

The long-bearded old man stopped writing.

"Mr. Fang, you are very insightful. Now that you've explained it, we understand what to do. It's always best to plan before acting. Please come downstairs and wait a moment, Mr. Fang. We'll discuss it and get back to you."

Immediately, Fang Wen and Yue Jinping went downstairs and waited in the living room.

The servants brought hot tea and pastries, and since the two hadn't had breakfast yet, they simply served them breakfast for two.

In wealthy families like these, the chefs are usually their own, and their skills are excellent. The two of them can pass the time by eating slowly and leisurely.

They waited peacefully downstairs, while a huge commotion broke out upstairs.

It's clear that the main goal is to determine the size of each company's market share.

After all, it's impossible for a leased plane to make frequent trips; it would be quite an achievement to succeed even once.

The argument finally ended two hours later.

Fang Wen and Yue Jinping went upstairs again.

This time, the other party's attitude was very good.

The long-bearded old man said, "We've already discussed this matter. Manager Liu of Fuyuan Trading Company and Sun Debiao of Northern Commerce will accompany you to the Northeast. Manager Liu will cover all the expenses you mentioned. We'll handle everything else and inform you when it's done. However, for confidentiality, from now on, you two must take Manager Liu and Sun Debiao with you wherever you go."

After they finished speaking, the two stepped forward.

One was a thin, middle-aged man in a long robe, and the other was a burly man with broad shoulders and a thick waist.

It's obvious without even guessing that the thin, middle-aged man is Manager Liu of Fuyuan, and the burly man is Sun Debiao.

Fang Wen agreed to the other party's request, and then the four of them left the small villa.

Once outside, the three people beside him were all looking at him, which made Fang Wen feel a little urgency.

From now on, I am not only the captain, but also the commander of the entire operation, so I cannot be careless.

The first thing I did, naturally, was to go back to the company to ask for leave and to find Howard.

"Do you have a car?" he asked.

"Please wait a moment, sir." Manager Liu returned to the small villa, and a moment later, a black sedan drove out of the garage.

Sun Debiao took the keys and sat in the driver's seat, acting as the driver. Manager Liu was in the passenger seat, and Fang Wen and Yue Jinping sat in the back seat.

The car arrived at China Airlines, and Fang Wen asked Manager Xie for a month-long leave.

Such a long vacation shouldn't have been approved, but Fang Wen's hard work at the company over the past six months has been evident to all. He rarely has time to rest, and even worked overtime during the Chinese New Year. He deserves a long vacation.

Therefore, Manager Xie readily agreed to the leave request.

Simply asking for leave wasn't enough; he also went to the airport to report to Schmidt.

Fang Wen then approached Howard.

He didn't hold back when explaining the situation to Howard.

Howard was a little excited after hearing Fang Wen's words.

"I've always wanted to fix the Rhein NYP-2, no problem."

After handing the work over to another mechanic and giving him a bribe, Howard also took a month's leave.

Now that we have mechanics, what about airplanes?
The plane took off from Guangzhou and landed at the China Airlines airport.

A pilot got off the plane and looked at Fang Wen and his group with a suspicious expression.

"My orders are that I will refuse delivery unless I can confirm that you are capable of flying the aircraft normally."

Now, after nearly a year of training, Fang Wen has fully mastered his abilities. He is confident that after one or two more flights, he will be able to pilot any piston-engine aircraft.

But this kind of thing can't be said with words; it has to be proven with actions.

He then had an in-depth conversation with the pilot and reviewed the flight manual the pilot had brought.

After learning more about the situation, he asked the other party to give a flight demonstration.

The plane took off again, and the pilot demonstrated the flight operations of the Rheinland NYP-2. Fang Wen rested one hand on the cockpit door, observing the pilot's actions while also feeling the aircraft's internal structure. After completing a flight demonstration, the pilot said, "Mastering the flight of this aircraft in three days is practically impossible. I suggest you abandon this dangerous idea."

"How will I know if I don't try?" Fang Wen replied calmly. Through mechanical perception, he already had an understanding of the aircraft's condition. Just because others couldn't do it in three days didn't mean he couldn't.

On the first day of the three-day period, Fang Wen did not perform any operations but instead focused entirely on studying.

The next day, he applied for a live flight.

Although the other pilot was unwilling to start actual flights so soon, he still agreed.

The moment Fang Wen sat in the pilot's seat and gripped the control stick, he once again became one with the aircraft.

This Rheinland NYP-2 feels completely different from Detroit.

The Rheinland NYP-2 is like a wild goose, lightweight yet capable of flying long distances.

Detroit, however, is a woodcock, whose forte is short-distance flight.

If he had to choose, Fang Wen would definitely choose Rheinland NYP-2, as it offers much better value for money.

With the new vehicle, he became very dedicated to actual flight operations, perfectly completing a series of basic maneuvers such as takeoff, climb, and circling.

This greatly surprised the other pilot, who simply couldn't believe that there could be such a talented pilot.

But the facts were undeniable. After three days of actual flight testing, the other party confirmed Fang Wen's piloting ability, reported to their superiors, and completed the handover.

With the plane ready and the entourage complete, it's time to head to Beiping.

Before departure, Fang Wen specifically sent a telegram to inquire and apply for landing at the airport. After receiving confirmation, he then boarded the plane and departed.

10 month 20 day.

Rheinland NYP-2 enters the runway.

Flight assistants Yue Jinping and Liu Zhanggui, along with Sun Debiao and mechanic Howard, boarded the plane.

"We're ready for takeoff. Manager Liu, Sun Debiao, please check to see if anything is missing," Fang Wen asked.

Once everything was in place, the plane accelerated on the runway, raised its nose, and took off into the sky.

The sky is blue and dotted with white clouds.

When the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 4000 meters, the clouds were already below it.

Manager Liu looked unwell; he had apparently experienced airsickness.

Yue Jinping got him some water to relieve the symptoms.

Fortunately, the symptoms were not serious, and after a while, Manager Liu's face regained its color.

Sun Debiao was quite lively. It was his first time on an airplane, and looking down from such a high place, everything was a pleasant surprise.

Howard, meanwhile, was chatting with Fang Wen outside the cockpit.

He had no doubt about Fang Wen's ability to understand the interior of the aircraft, and this was a good opportunity to learn more about the Rheinland NYP-2.

Without worrying about overlapping flight paths, the Rheinland NYP-2 flew alone in the sky at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, completing a 1000-kilometer flight in five hours and arriving in Beiping.

The plane descended and circled over Beiping City, searching for the Nanyuan Aviation School Airport.

A bird's-eye view of Beiping (Beijing) during the Republic of China era.

The old and rustic city wall meanders around the city's perimeter.

Within the city walls lie well-arranged courtyards and hutongs, which together form the unique urban landscape of Beiping.

In the heart of Beiping (Beijing) stands the solemn and majestic Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the most representative landmark of Beiping.

Even when viewed from high above, the Forbidden City complex appears particularly magnificent, with its red walls and golden tiles gleaming in the sunlight, showcasing the majesty and nobility of the imperial family.

Besides the Forbidden City, there are also the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace.

As the plane descended, children could still be vaguely seen chasing after it on the street.

The aircraft swept past the ancient city wall, headed south, circled once near the Nanyuan Aviation School, determined its landing position, and then swooped down, landing steadily on the empty runway.

The school's teachers were already waiting at the airport.

He looked at the brand-new piston-engine long-haul aircraft with a look of surprise and delight.

(End of this chapter)