Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 852 Piloting the Li-2 Transport Plane, a 4000-kilometer voyage through Central Asia

After the four-hour class, Ivan and Fang Wen were taken to their classroom dormitory by the college to rest.

Ivan closed the door and asked earnestly, "Was that tactic you just mentioned true?"

Fang Wen unbuttoned his shirt, sat on the bed, and said, "It's true, but whether it's suitable for them is another matter."

He was telling the truth; that tactic was indeed based on his understanding of the German Air Force.

However, achieving that effect is not easy.

Ivan, as a veteran pilot, had also figured it out.

"Yes, your tactics require coordination and practice, and they probably can't master them. But experienced pilots might be able to implement them. I'll definitely find a way to make them work when I get back to Moscow."

Seeing Ivan's excited expression, Fang Wen was not optimistic about him.

In the Soviet Union, it was difficult to predict the future military prospects of a soldier who had been marked with a stain by the NKVD.

After all, they were old friends who had collaborated many times, so Fang Wen couldn't help but offer a reminder.

"Ivan, do you really think you can go back to Moscow after completing the transport mission?"

Ivan was stunned and began to think about the question seriously.

The more he thought about it, the paler his face became.

"Then what will I do in the future?"

Fang Wen analyzed for him: "Wait for your opportunity. You are an excellent pilot, and there will always be opportunities. Now that industry is relocating eastward, there will be a lot of transport missions, and air transport is indispensable. With your qualifications, I think they would be willing to keep you here. As long as you can get back on your feet here, you will still have the opportunity to go to the front lines and fight against the German Air Force in the future."

Ivan nodded: "You're right. But I must tell my comrades on the front lines about this tactic; they need it."

Immediately, Ivan took out his notebook and began to discuss the tactical plan with Fang Wen, writing it down in his notebook.

One night passed.

There was a knock on the door.

Fang Wen, who was already awake, got out of bed and opened the door.

Outside the door stood Air Force Lieutenant Xie Lianke, who had picked them up at the train station yesterday.

"Mr. Fang, the supplies have arrived at the train station and we need you to come and receive them before they can be loaded and transported to the airport."

The cyclotron components have finally arrived.

Fang Wen suppressed his excitement and calmly said, "Wait a moment, let me put on my clothes."

He closed the door and said to Ivan, "Get up, come with me to the train station to inspect the goods."

The two men got dressed and went outside, where they boarded a military vehicle led by Xie Lianke.

The military vehicle drove out of the academy and arrived at Yekaterinburg train station half an hour later.

The freight yard is located west of the train station, with large boxes piled up on the open ground.

Standing nearby were officers and soldiers escorting the shipment, as well as a group of workers preparing to load it.

Fang Wen walked over and handed the goods over to the escorting officer.

After checking Fang Wen's pass, the escorting officer took out a list and said, "Please sign for this."

“I need to check it,” Fang Wen replied.

Immediately, the on-site inspection began.

One by one, the boxes were opened.

Fang Wen examined it carefully.

A copper vacuum flat cylindrical cavity.

A pair of D-shaped boxes, with a semi-hollow, semi-circular copper cavity.

High-frequency ceramic insulating posts and quartz insulators.

These are the components of the vacuum chamber and the D-shaped accelerating electrode system.

Two magnetic pole heads, excitation copper coil (winding), industrial high voltage rectifier cabinet.

These are the components of the magnetic field generating device.

Ultra-fine air inlet nozzle and ultra-fine connecting tube, micro-pressure regulating gas cylinder, fine copper tube gas transmission circuit, and filament low-voltage power supply.

These are the components of the particle generating end (ion source).

Other components include high-frequency shielded copper busbars, water-cooled RF feed tubes, rotary vane vacuum pumps, mercury diffusion pumps, mechanical pointer instruments (magnetic field current, RF voltage, vacuum reading, filament current), band switches, voltage adjustment knobs, etc.

Fang Wen checked everything one by one and finally signed the acceptance form.

Immediately, the workers began to move the items. Fang Wen quickly instructed Lieutenant Xie Lianke to communicate with the workers and tell them to handle the items carefully.

To prevent any accidents, Fang Wen stayed at the freight yard every moment, watching as boxes were loaded onto trucks by manpower and hoisting equipment.

After all the supplies were loaded onto the truck, Fang Wencai returned to the airport with the truck.

Upon arriving at the airport, there were no workers unloading the cargo.

Ivan joked, "Let the students who attended our class yesterday come and help out; they should pay some tuition."

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener, and Lieutenant Xie Lianke of the Air Force at the academy actually reported it to the academy.

Subsequently, a large group of aviation students arrived at the airport, along with airport ground staff who came to help.

With their help, and with the use of cranes for loading and unloading aerial bombs, all the boxes were successfully unloaded and then directly loaded into the Li-2 transport aircraft.

After completing these steps, Fang Wen inspected the Li-2 aircraft, confirmed that there were no major problems and that it had sufficient fuel, and then submitted a takeoff request to the airport.

After obtaining permission from the airport, Fang Wen and Ivan boarded the plane.

The interior of the Li-2 transport aircraft.

Fang Wen pulled the hydraulic lever of the cargo door, and the aircraft cargo door slowly closed under hydraulic power.

Fang Wen turned to look at the cargo inside the hold.

The boxes containing special components were firmly secured to the anti-slip steel frame in the cargo hold, and no amount of pushing could move them.

Fang Wen and Ivan exchanged a glance, then went forward to the cockpit and sat in the pilot and co-pilot seats of the Li-2 transport aircraft.

This Soviet-made Li-2 transport aircraft was copied from the classic DC-3 model. It uses twin-engine piston power and a rear tricycle landing gear. The operation process is complicated and rigorous, with strict standards for every step, allowing no room for error.

Because the plane was being flown in the Soviet Union, even though Fang Wen had used his special abilities to check and found no problems, they still followed the Soviet procedures.

Therefore, Fang Wen, as the pilot, said in a deep voice: "Verify the full aircraft inspection procedure."

Ivan immediately flipped open the flight checklist on his knee and cooperated in verifying each item.

Fang Wendao: "Where are the flaps?"

"Flaps down 20 degrees, takeoff preset position, lockout intact," Ivan said.

"Landing gear locked?"

"The tailwheel landing gear is fully deployed, the locking mechanism is engaged, and the indicator lights are normal."

"Fuel system, lubricating oil pressure?"

"The fuel tanks in both wings are supplying fuel smoothly, there is no leakage in the fuel lines, the lubricating oil pressure and temperature of both engines are within the standard range, and the fuel is fully stored to meet the needs of long-distance flight."

This was followed by calibration of the heading gyroscope, zeroing of the altitude pointer, locking of the horizon instrument, verification of radio communication frequency bands, confirmation of cabin airtight locks, and secondary verification of cargo hold securing cables.

After confirming that all the pre-inspection items were correct, Fang Wen raised his hand and turned on the engine start switch in the engine compartment.

"Activate left-hand drive."

As the start button was pressed, a loud mechanical roar came from outside the cabin.

The piston engine slowly turned, the propeller rotated from slow to fast, the blades cut through the air, creating a strong airflow.

At first, the engine jerked slightly, and after several bursts of combustion, the speed gradually stabilized, hot exhaust gas was ejected from the exhaust pipe, the engine body vibrated slightly, and it entered a stable idling state.

"The left engine starts normally, the speed is stable, and there is no abnormal vibration." Ivan kept a close eye on the instrument readings and reported in a timely manner.

"Activate right-hand drive."

Immediately afterwards, the right engine ignited and started simultaneously.

The roar of the two engines mingled together, echoing throughout the airport, the powerful engines causing the entire fuselage to vibrate at a low frequency. Once both engines reached a stable idling speed, all pressure, speed, and temperature indicators stabilized within safe ranges.

Fang Wen reported to the control tower via the airborne radio: "Number 874, model Li-2, both engines have started, all aircraft are in normal condition, requesting runway taxiing."

The control tower replied: "Runway 02 is cleared for taxiing. Wind direction is due north, wind speed is level 3, and there is no airspace interference."

"receive."

Fang Wen released the brake and slowly pushed the accelerator, causing both engines to rev slightly.

The massive Li-2 transport aircraft glided smoothly at low speed, slowly heading toward runway number 2.

Airport ground staff and flight school students along the route waved and watched the transport plane slowly take its place.

After arriving at the runway starting point, Fang Wen adjusted the landing gear hub steering column to straighten the fuselage.

Then I pressed the accelerator.

The twin-piston engine instantly unleashed even greater power, its roar rising sharply to a deafening intensity.

The propeller rotates at high speed, creating visible airflow vortices.

With tremendous thrust, the Li-2 transport aircraft began to accelerate and sprint down the runway.

The aircraft's speed increased rapidly, from initial velocity to full speed, and the runway sped backward.

The characteristics of the tricycle landing gear cause the front of the fuselage to dip slightly. As the speed increases, the nose gradually rises due to the force, and the fuselage becomes more stable.

Ivan stared intently at the airspeed indicator and loudly announced the numbers: "Airspeed 120, 140, 160 kilometers per hour! Reaching the critical speed for takeoff!"

Fang Wen gently pulled the lever back.

The nose of the aircraft slowly rose, the front landing gear lifted off the ground first, followed closely by the main landing gear, and the entire massive Li-2 transport aircraft took off from the runway and into the air.

The moment it took off, Fang Wen immediately reduced the throttle, adjusted the aircraft's attitude, and climbed steadily while retracting the landing gear.

The mechanical landing gear slowly retracted into the fuselage, and the cabin door closed.

As the landing gear retracts, the aircraft's drag decreases, the vibration of the fuselage weakens, and the flight attitude becomes more stable.

Once the altitude reached 500 meters, Fang Wen gradually retracted the takeoff flaps, switched to cruise mode, and the aircraft became completely stable before flying towards the vast eastern airspace.

The cabin was still noisy, but the turbulence and vibrations of takeoff were gone.

The Yekaterinburg Airport and the sprawling Ural industrial region outside the window gradually shrank and eventually disappeared.

Ivan, who was acting as the co-pilot, watched Fang Wen operate the vehicle the whole time and was very surprised by how skillfully Fang Wen piloted the Li-2 into the air.

He couldn't help but ask, "Fang, have you ever flown a Li-2?"

“No,” Fang Wen explained while piloting the plane, “but I have the production technology data for the DC-3, and I even built a bomber based on the DC-3.”

"You have this type of bomber?" Ivan asked in surprise.

Fang Wen sighed, "Unfortunately, even if it had been produced, it wouldn't have been of much use; it only participated in two military operations."

“I understand.” As a member of the Soviet air force aiding China, Ivan naturally knew why and did not continue the conversation.

During the subsequent flight, the two pilots tacitly remained silent.

The plane departed from Yekaterinburg Airport and flew to Lanzhou, China.

The entire journey is 4000 kilometers.

The route took them through areas that Fang Wen had never been to before.

The first area it flew over was the Kurgan region.

There are vast grasslands, basins, and hills here.

The Kurgan people, who still maintain nomadic customs, live in this vast region.

However, the population is not large; a small number of Kurgan people live scattered throughout this vast area.

Beyond the Kurgan region lies Akzhar, the area inhabited by the Kazakhs of the former Soviet Union.

Compared to the more southern regions, which are mostly pastures, the area Fang Wen flew over was planted with large quantities of wheat, suggesting it was a very important grain-producing region in central Soviet Union.

After flying several hundred kilometers further, we finally came across a city.

The city's name is quite difficult to pronounce: Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Despite its long name, the area is not large. Apart from some ancient fortress ruins, the rest consists of various small and medium-sized smelting plants that process locally mined copper, lead, silver, and zinc.

It is one of the few industrial cities in this large region of the Soviet Union.

After flying over Ust-Kamenogorsk and continuing southwest for more than 400 kilometers, you enter Xinjiang.

This place is currently controlled by a warlord surnamed Sheng. He used to be closely allied with the Soviet Union for a long time, but now that the Soviet-German War has broken out, the Soviets have no time to deal with him. He has lost his backer and will probably turn to the Nationalist government again.

Fang Wen cleared his mind and focused on driving.

The plane traveled via Altay, Hami, Jiuquan, and Zhangye before finally arriving in Lanzhou.

The long-distance flight, covering 4,000 kilometers, traversed the heart of Central Asia and the northwestern border, taking 12 hours.

The plane finally arrived over Lanzhou.

Long-haul flights are extremely taxing, and even though Fang Wen's physique is far superior to that of ordinary people, he was still somewhat tired.

He looked down.

This was once the largest Soviet-aided airfield dedicated to the Chinese Air Force, where many Soviet-made fighter jets were parked.

Looking down now, the entire airport is empty, the taxiways and parking positions are bare, and not a single Soviet fighter jet can be seen.

After the outbreak of the full-scale Soviet-German War, the Soviet Union was preoccupied with its own problems and all the warplanes and pilots that had been sent to China were transferred back to the Soviet Union and sent to the western front, leaving only a small number of logistics and guard personnel to stay in this area.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone and called to the ground. "Number 874, arriving in Lanzhou, requesting descent."

A slightly broken Russian reply came over the radio: "This is the Lanzhou Soviet-aided airport. The runway is in good condition. Flight number 874 is cleared to land."

"Received, approaching for landing."

Fang Wen put down the microphone, pressed down the camera head, and began to descend.

As he approached the ground, he followed the standard landing procedure for the Li-2, lowered the landing gear, locked his attitude, and slowly aligned himself with the runway.

The tailwheel landing gear touched down first, and after a slight tremor, the fuselage gradually hugged the runway.

The propeller reverses to slow down.

Along the long runway, the massive transport plane gradually slowed down and eventually came to a stop.

Fang Wen turned off the engine, and he and Ivan got up and walked out of the cockpit.

Several Soviet logistics personnel who remained at the airport came to meet them. Upon seeing Ivan's officer's ID and Fang Wen's pass stamped by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they immediately stood at attention and saluted.

Looking at the empty and deserted airport, Ivan sighed, "This used to be very lively. Now, it's just an empty field."

“Yes,” Fang Wen replied, then gave instructions: “Ivan, you stay at the airport and watch over the planes and cargo hold supplies. I’ll go into the city to find someone.”

"Don't worry," Ivan solemnly replied, "I'll stay here and keep watch."

After giving his instructions, Fang Wen left the airport.

A rickshaw sped past on the roadside outside the airport; it was empty.

Fang Wen waved for the rickshaw to stop, got in, and gave the address: "To the Yingbin Hotel in the city."

The driver turned the cart around and hurried towards the city.

Ten minutes later, the rickshaw stopped in front of the Yingbin Hotel in the city.

After entering the room, Fang Wen quickly scanned the hall and locked onto his target.

At several tables in the corner of the hall sat more than ten people with distinctly different demeanors.

They were neatly dressed and spoke in a manner completely different from the locals; they were the engineering team that Taishan Base had previously sent to the Soviet Union to handle the technical coordination of radio plant construction.

Everyone immediately noticed Fang Wen entering and stood up.

"General Manager, you're back!" (End of Chapter)