Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 260, Section 259: Elite Pilot Test, 8000-kilometer Supply Transport for the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army
After breakfast, the physical fitness test began.

Doctors and nurses from the industrial park's medical ward conducted this test.

Under the nurse's guidance, the three Red Army soldiers began to measure and record basic information such as height and weight.

Then came the vision test. In the era of piston-engine aircraft, everything was done with the naked eye, so good eyesight was essential.

The vision test process is actually quite similar to the future, using a logarithmic vision chart. The test subject is also blindfolded on one side and undergoes the test under the guidance of a nurse.

There is also color blindness testing. If someone is colorblind, they will not be able to distinguish between aircraft with different paint schemes.

Next is the hearing test; a qualified pilot must also have normal hearing.

The doctor holds a tuning fork next to the subject's ear and assesses their hearing sensitivity by striking different tuning forks.

Tuning forks of different frequencies can be used to detect different ranges of hearing loss.

This was also what Fang Wen was worried about, since the three of them should be in a war environment for a long time, and the sound waves generated by the explosion could easily damage their eardrums.

Fortunately, all three passed.

Next is the cardiopulmonary function test.

Flying at high altitudes and performing difficult combat maneuvers can put a strain on the heart and lungs due to changes in air pressure, and it is not suitable for those who do not have the necessary skills.

There were no electrocardiogram machines in the Republic of China era. Doctors could only assess a patient's cardiopulmonary function by observing their respiratory rate and depth, and by listening to the sounds of their heart and lungs.

According to the assessment, all three are in very good health.

If all the above checks are passed, the next steps are balance and coordination tests, physical fitness tests, and flexibility and joint mobility tests.

Having his competitive spirit ignited by these three, Pan Jiafeng whispered, "Master, I don't think they'll perform as well next time."

"Really? I think they can do it too." Fang Wen gave a different opinion. These three were selected contestants similar to elite soldiers, so their physical fitness should not be a problem.

The two continued watching.

The balance and coordination test uses a swivel chair and a balance beam to assess vestibular function and body balance and coordination.

The three of them passed easily.

The physical fitness test consists of sprinting, sit-ups, pull-ups, and standing long jump, which respectively assess explosive power, endurance, core strength, and upper and lower limb strength coordination.

All three performed well, but each had a different focus.

Qi Baoqian excels in endurance and upper and lower limb coordination, which is likely related to his frequent reconnaissance and special operations.

Du Jiahuai has excellent core strength, upper limb strength, and coordination, which Fang Wen believes is related to his frequent crawling and shooting.

Shao Deqing has the strongest explosive power and good endurance, making him one of the most capable fighters.

The last item in physical fitness is a test of flexibility and joint mobility.

This was added by Fang Wen at the last minute. The purpose of adding this was to take into account that the members of the elite aviation team would be involved in many difficult and complex flight operations in the future, and their physical flexibility also needed to be taken into account.

The assessment item is: sit-and-reach.
The requirement is to sit on the ground with your hands flat in front of your toes.

This was a bit difficult. The three Red Army soldiers had never done this move before and were initially a little unaccustomed to it, but with their perseverance and persistence, they all completed the posture.

Fang Wen clapped and said, "Congratulations on passing the physical fitness test. Now let's go eat. We'll start the psychological test this afternoon."

The three stood up, lined up, and left together.

Pan Jiafeng wanted to go with them.

"Where are you going?" Fang Wen called out to him.

“Talk to them,” Pan Jiafeng replied.

“No, this will interfere with their afternoon test,” Fang Wen said seriously, and Pan Jiafeng had no choice but to give up.

At 3 p.m., the three were taken to another room in the industrial park's office area.

That was Fang Wen's office in the industrial park; he was the one who conducted this test.

The first tester, Qi Baoqian, entered and stood in front of Fang Wen.

Fang Wen looked up and asked, "Please briefly describe one of your experiences of successfully overcoming a difficult situation."

Qi Baoqian remained standing ramrod straight and began to speak directly.

“Last year, our unit had just captured a county town and was organizing a propaganda campaign. I was sent to the outskirts of the town for reconnaissance. At that time, I was on the same mission as another comrade when we encountered a platoon of routed enemy troops. When they saw that there were only the two of us, they tried to surround and kill us. We decided that I would draw their fire while my comrade would attack from the flank. We fought for two hours that day. I led those men around the mountain twice, and later, with the help of my comrade, we captured them all.”

From this one question alone, Fang Wen could tell that the other person had a very strong mental fortitude and was the kind of person who remained calm and composed in the face of adversity.

He said with satisfaction, "You can leave now. Call the next person in."

The second test subject, Du Jiahuai, entered.

Fang Wen asked, "How do you usually stay calm and make decisions when facing an emergency?"

Du Jiahuai was stunned for a moment, and then replied, "Sir, I only know one principle: don't panic when things happen, or you'll only make things worse. So when I'm fighting, I don't think about those things. I just focus on aiming, firing, and then following orders."

Fang Wen nodded. This question assesses the test subject's emotional response and control under high-pressure conditions.

But Du Jiahuai provided a suitable answer in his own way.

Fang Wen couldn't help but say, "You're a good shot. When you learn to fly a plane and shoot Japanese devils with a machine gun, you'll have to be accurate too."

"Yes," Du Jiahuai replied, standing at attention.

"Go out and call Shao Deqing in."

Then, the last one, Shao Deqing, walked in.

Fang Wen thought for a moment. This person was the most difficult to understand. He was a cavalryman, a communications officer, and skilled in close combat. He should be a front-line combatant.

He asked, "Were you selected through a process?"

Shao Deqing blushed: "Sir, I was chosen. Don't disbelieve me. Although I haven't been in the Red Army for long, I'm no worse than anyone else."

He has a straightforward personality, but seems to lack experience in handling affairs; he's a new recruit.

Fang Wen made an initial assessment, then asked, "Describe a situation where you felt extremely tense or stressed, and how you handled it."

Shao Deqing recalled: "Once, I rode a horse to deliver an order, a distance of about 2 kilometers. At that time, the entire unit was in mobile warfare. When I arrived at the destination, the detachment had already left, but the encirclement troops had just arrived. Hundreds of enemy soldiers walked past me. Because it was dark, they didn't realize that the person on horseback was the enemy, and they didn't notice that I was the one with the problem. I didn't dare to speak at the time. I saw some clothes on the supply wagon, so I used my gun to pick them up and changed into them. Then I rode out and delivered the order to the detachment. Does that count?"

"Yes." Fang Wen nodded.

Changing clothes while surrounded by hundreds of enemies and then leaving unscathed—that takes real mental fortitude.

Having passed the physical and psychological tests, Fang Wen felt that these three Red Army flight cadets were highly qualified and had the potential to become elite pilots.

Next, it's time to conduct the high-altitude test.

In the evening, Fang Wen and Pan Jiafeng brought three Red Army flight cadets to the port.

"Tonight is the last test, testing your adaptation to high-altitude environments. It's not too difficult; consider it a warm-up before formal flight training. However, it does involve some danger. We'll discuss the details inside the plane. Now, board."

After Fang Wen finished speaking, he led the way into the Xuanming Ship.

Pan Jiafeng warmly came over and introduced himself: "Hello, my name is Pan Jiafeng, a member of the elite aviation team. From now on, we will be colleagues. Let's board the plane together."

Led by Pan Jiafeng, the three entered the Xuanming.

Fang Wen then explained the situation.

"This flight mission is from Yangon to a certain location in Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. The round trip is 8000 kilometers and will take two days. In addition, the temperature at the destination is currently -16 degrees Celsius or even lower, so there will be many unexpected situations. You should be mentally prepared." Fang Wen described the difficulty of the flight before entering the cockpit.

Next, Pan Jiafeng will have a discussion with the three.

Pan Jiafeng, who was on equal footing with him, spoke much more relaxed.

"Let me introduce this aircraft. It is called Xuanming. It is a Shuiyun II long-range seaplane manufactured by Taishan Aircraft Manufacturing Plant. It has a range of 4000 kilometers, a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, and a maximum speed of 300 kilometers per hour. Just last month, it completed a flight across the Pacific Ocean from Asia to America."

His description greatly surprised the three Red Army flight cadets.

Having spent long periods on marches, they have a very precise understanding of speed and time.

The fact that the plane they were on could cover such a long distance in a single day made them realize for the first time how useful airplanes are as a means of transportation.

Shao Deqing had read more books and had more experience, so he exclaimed in surprise, "You mean that China also has its own domestically produced airplanes!"

"Yes. Not the kind used for publicity. Our Shuiyun-1 aircraft has already entered commercial use, and the aircraft manufacturing plant is producing it every month," Pan Jiafeng said proudly.

At that moment, Fang Wen's announcement came over the intercom: "The plane is about to take off. Pan Jiafeng, instruct your colleagues on flight safety precautions."

The Xuanming seaplane took off, and Fang Wen controlled the aircraft while observing the situation inside the cabin.

Pan Jiafeng was fond of teaching others, and the three flight cadets were also eager to learn.

They had a lecture-style discussion about the internal structure of the Xuanming, from the mooring bay at the nose to the mobile machine gun compartment at the tail.

That's good; it saves a lot of teaching time.

Fang Wen felt that many basic teaching tasks could be handed over to Pan Jiafeng, since Pan Jiafeng had also trained flight apprentices at Taishan Airlines.

Brushing aside his thoughts, he returned to the long-haul air transport.

This shipment delivered 2 tons of compressed dry rations and 1 rounds of 7.92mm bullets to the newly established Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.

Although the supplies were not plentiful, they were a rare replenishment for the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, which had penetrated deep behind enemy lines.

To ensure success, the flight path must be stable and secure.

Therefore, the flight was split into two nights.

The first night's journey: from Yangon to Yichang Water Airport (Yangtze River) and then to Hancheng Water Airport (Yellow River).
The reason for stopping in Yichang was to pick up a batch of cotton-padded coats there to keep the Anti-Japanese Allied Army soldiers warm.

On the second night, we flew directly to Tangyuan County in Heilongjiang Province, then returned that evening, refueled at Hancheng Seaplane Airport, and finally returned to Yangon.

Time passed little by little.

The Xuanming was flying at an altitude of 4000 meters.

Under the cover of night, they traversed more than 2100 kilometers and arrived at Taishan Sea Airport near Yichang in 10 and a half hours.

Fang Wen turned on the radio, but used a non-aviation frequency to make a call.

"Magnolia has arrived. Calling the ground."

A moment later, the ground responded: "303 received, ground instructions are being implemented."

They were using secret codes, and if they didn't match, that's where the problem arose, but thankfully nothing happened.

Subsequently, the seaplane base was illuminated with lights to provide guidance.

Fang Wen controlled the plane to land.

After a short taxiing, the plane landed on the water.

Then a small steamship sailed by.

Sun Debiao stood at the bow of the ship, directing the crew to move the clothing and supplies to the bow. Then Pan Jiafeng and three Red Army pilots carried them onto the plane.

After the supplies were unloaded, Sun Debiao spoke with Pan Jiafeng.

"Tell the general manager that none of the people involved tonight know what they're doing. Besides, they all know the rules and won't talk about these clandestine nighttime affairs."

Pan Jiafeng nodded, said goodbye to Sun Debiao, and the plane closed its cabin door.

After he reported the situation, the plane took off immediately.

More than two hours later, the plane arrived at Hancheng Water Airport, more than 500 kilometers away.

The sky was already beginning to lighten.

Fang Wen looked down from the sky and saw an ancient city on the west bank of the Yellow River, which was Hancheng.

There are also many buildings on the banks of the river near the county town.

These buildings, constructed along the Yellow River, form the town, and the seaplane airport is also located there.

After a brief radio communication, the plane landed at the seaport.

Fang Wen got out of the cockpit and informed the four people inside.

"We'll stay here during the day, rest for 4 hours on the plane, and then come with me to the county town for fun."

Pan Jiafeng asked, puzzled, "General Manager, we have to fly tonight, wouldn't it be better to get more rest?"

“You think this is a real game? This is all an act.” Fang Wen explained, “I’m here for sightseeing, which is why I’m making this stop again. Of course, it has to be for show. The four of you are my companions, so you have to act too. Don’t mess it up.”

Pan Jiafeng immediately understood and stopped asking questions. The three Red Army flight cadets, however, had no reaction. They had experienced this kind of thing many times and found it quite normal.

(Yellow Riverbank in Hancheng during the Republic of China era)

The 4-hour break is over.

Fang Wen had already rested, and the three Red Army flight cadets got up on time.

Pan Jiafeng was still a little sleepy, but seeing that everyone had gotten up, he quickly got up.

The cabin door opened, and Fang Wen and his group walked out of the cabin and down the floating platform to the airport dock.

The dock had a rather steep stone staircase carved out of the riverbank cliff, with wooden railings on both sides to prevent accidents.

Fang Wen and his group of five took the escalator and arrived at a small town on the banks of the Yellow River.

This place was originally an abandoned ferry crossing on the Yellow River, but it has become active again due to the rise of waterway routes.

Fang Wen strolled leisurely through the small town.

The first thing he checked was the operation of his own seaplane airport.

Passengers preparing to board the seaplane sat in the adjacent seaplane waiting area, with suitcases and even pets beside them.

Seaplanes are not normally allowed to carry live animals, but this was a special request from Fang Wen, since the space on a seaplane is cramped and live animals running around could cause inconvenience.

However, this was difficult to implement. The wealthy women insisted on bringing their pets, and with the increase in water routes, it became a major problem. Ultimately, due to numerous protests, the rule had to be canceled and changed to only allow small cats and dogs.

Fang Wen walked past the waiting room, and ahead was the ticket office and office building, where several passengers were buying tickets.

Selling tickets for the entire Yellow River shipping route without the support of the internet would be a complex undertaking.

From the starting point, telegraph operators at all seaport stations begin transmitting passenger information. This includes how many people disembarked at each station and how many tickets can be resold. These telegraph operators then compile the information and submit it to the airport manager, who will then formulate a ticketing plan based on the actual situation.

Just say "manager," and the manager arrives.

The manager of Hancheng Water Airport walked over with a big smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)