Chapter 82: 81, Disciple Reports For Duty, Formulating New Flight Path
Taishan Airlines flight apprentice training has begun to show results.
The apprentice Pan Jiafeng, taken under General Manager Fang Wen’s wing, has exceptional talent and rapid progress, and has already begun actual flight training.
The trainer aircraft used for flight is a modified version of the heroic fighter jet ‘Qingyun Hao’ that sank the Izumo Japanese warship.
It is reported that Taishan Airlines’ tung oil for aircraft project with Boeing Trading and several tung oil merchants has made progress, and two United States passenger aircraft are expected to arrive at the coastline port next month, pre-leased to Taishan Airlines for expanding new flight paths.
Merchants who signed tung oil trade contracts are actively shipping, some tung oil has arrived and is stored in the dock warehouse, and the aircraft property certificates they eagerly await will be issued upon the aircraft’s arrival at the port.
The above news is a summary of recent reports on Taishan Airlines by several Shanghai newspapers.
For Fang Wen, now that Taishan Airlines is on track, he can no longer just pilot aircraft back and forth on flight paths every day as a pilot.
More importantly, he must fulfill the duties of airline company general manager, manage the company from a broad perspective, and then seek other War of Resistance preparations.
Therefore, getting the flight apprentices on duty as soon as possible is something he urgently needs to accomplish.
Pan Jiafeng will be the model example among the flight apprentices.
To this end, Fang Wen arranged for Pan Jiafeng to conduct Boeing 80 actual flight training during the next flight maintenance period.
This actual flight includes not only Fang Wen and his disciple Pan Jiafeng, but also the other nineteen flight apprentices from the training center, as well as Training Director and teacher Shao Sishen.
October 20, 1932, Taishan Airlines suspends flights for maintenance.
The flight apprentices, led by Shao Sishen, enter the Boeing 80.
Inside the aircraft, Fang Wen is talking with Pan Jiafeng, explaining some Boeing 80-related flight essentials.
The apprentices watch enviously.
Shao Sishen directs the apprentices forward: “Sit properly in the seats. This actual flight observation is very rare. The general manager has something to say to you.”
After the flight apprentices sit in the passenger seats, Fang Wen walks over and says: “You don’t need to envy Pan Jiafeng. As long as you work hard, you can receive the same treatment. I announce that starting today, every month we will select one outstanding apprentice for two days of actual flight instruction.”
His words excite the flight apprentices. Learning with Fang Wen is a great honor.
An apprentice raises his hand to ask: “General Manager, can we also take you as our master?”
“It depends.” Fang Wen smiles in response. Taking Pan Jiafeng as a disciple was due to his excellent flying talent, while the other flight apprentices are still lacking in his eyes and basically impossible to take as personal disciples.
Subsequently, the Boeing 80 actual flight training begins.
When Pan Jiafeng sits in the pilot seat, Fang Wen says seriously: “Sitting in this position, you must consider the 20 living lives behind you. Unlike fighter jet piloting, a passenger aircraft has only one requirement: stability. Therefore, during the upcoming actual flight training, do not improvise; you must follow the flight rules completely.”
To train a batch of qualified civil aviation pilots faster and better, Fang Wen has summarized some standardized steps from his more than one year of civil aviation piloting experience. As long as they are strictly followed, combined with flying foundation, one should be able to pilot civilian aircraft smoothly back and forth on fixed flight paths.
Pan Jiafeng is the first to implement the standardized steps. He nods firmly: “Understood, Master. I will strictly comply.”
“Begin.”
Immediately, under Fang Wen’s gaze, Pan Jiafeng starts.
He acts while reporting loudly.
“Checking the aircraft’s overall condition, fuel gauge full, starting engine, engine instruments normal, checking electrical switches, cabin lighting normal.”
“Checks complete, requesting takeoff from control tower.”
This step was added by Fang Wen. As Taishan Airlines’ flight paths increase, good communication with the airport control tower is essential, and even a Taishan Airlines coordinator will be stationed at the airport control tower.
For this time, it has already been arranged with the control tower, no application needed.
Fang Wen plays the role of control tower staff, imitating radio reply: “Boeing 80 takeoff request approved, runway clear, cleared for takeoff.”
Immediately, Pan Jiafeng starts the aircraft and accelerates on the runway.
Fang Wen reminds from the side: “The Boeing 80 has three propellers, one piston engine each on left, right, and center providing power to the propellers. Plus being a biplane, lift is strong, and takeoff speed requirement is correspondingly lower. Watch the speedometer.”
Pan Jiafeng, sitting straight, looks down at the speedometer and pulls up the fuselage when reaching the preset speed.
The aircraft takes off successfully.
After reaching altitude and stabilizing, cheers erupt from the apprentices in the back.
Although they are not piloting themselves, with their flying foundation, feeling Pan Jiafeng’s piloting process gives them the sense that through diligent study and training, they too can achieve the same as Pan Jiafeng.
Actual flight training continues. Stable flight in the air is not difficult; the main points are confirming the flight path and stable turns.
Pan Jiafeng passes all of Fang Wen’s assessments on these.
Next is the most important: passenger aircraft landing.
Passenger aircraft are large, landing control relatively difficult. For example, it’s like the difficulty difference between an automatic transmission electric car with reverse camera and a semi-trailer truck backing into a garage.
Human visual range is limited. Landing Qingyun Hao, the entire visual range is controllable. Landing a passenger aircraft like Boeing 80 requires a broader observation range; for safety and stability, must strictly follow established data.
Fang Wen looks serious: “Do not land rashly. First, confirm landing direction. Second, consider speed and descent angle. Strictly follow the steps.”
“Understood, Master.” Pan Jiafeng focuses intently on operation, aligning the fuselage with the runway, slowly descending.
Fang Wen suddenly says: “Fuselage veering left, correct it immediately.”
Instantly, large sweat beads slide down Pan Jiafeng’s forehead.
The Boeing 80 is a 3-engine propeller aircraft; fuselage deviation during descent landing could cause one side to tilt and strike the ground.
Though the probability is not high, it is something pilots must avoid.
He quickly performs remedial operation, gradually straightening the fuselage.
This slight anomalous operation causes vibration inside the aircraft, startling the flight apprentices in the back.
“See that? As captain, any mistake causes serious impact. If the back were passengers, what would they think?” Fang Wen asks sternly.
Pan Jiafeng admits his error shamefully: “Master, it was my fault. I didn’t strictly follow landing standards. I will never make this mistake again.”
“Remember that well. Including when you teach your own students later, tell them: without absolute talent, don’t do self-righteous foolish things.”
Fang Wen warns meaningfully, not just to Pan Jiafeng, but to the other apprentices in the aircraft.
This lesson comes from his own experience. Without mechanical perception ability, in this reborn life, he Fang Wen would be destined to be just an ordinary pilot, limited to civil airliner piloting.
The first Boeing 80 actual flight training ends. Though there were minor issues during landing, Pan Jiafeng adjusts in time and lands smoothly on the runway.
Just this is not enough for independent piloting; he still needs more practice.
Therefore, he continues co-piloting.
And after return flights, he gets two hours of actual flight training opportunities.
With his excellent flying talent, he becomes increasingly proficient at piloting the Boeing 80.
After 30 hours of actual flight training, Fang Wen confirms Pan Jiafeng can pilot independently.
Thus, at the end of the last actual flight training, he hands him a set of Taishan Airlines captain-specific uniform.
“As a civil aviation pilot, you qualify. This uniform is yours. Wear it, and tomorrow you will pilot the Boeing 80 for the flight.”
Pan Jiafeng takes the uniform, overjoyed: “Thank you, Master. I will fly every flight well.”
“Good. The sooner you fly independently, the sooner I can relax.” Fang Wen says with a smile.
Subsequently, Pan Jiafeng begins formal flights, but initially still needs Fang Wen watching from the side to prevent issues.
Only after five consecutive round-trip flights without error does Fang Wen let him fly independently.
With Pan Jiafeng’s addition, more than half the month can be handed to him for flying, and Fang Wen can finally free himself up.
Taishan Airlines has one more pilot, and Fang Wen has more time to fulfill general manager duties.
A new day arrives. Fang Wen lazily gets out of bed, leisurely washes up, and eats the breakfast Shunzi bought.
“Today’s steamed buns are good. Not from the canteen, right?”
“They are canteen steamed buns. I see Young Master is in a good mood and has an appetite.” Shunzi replies cheerfully.
“Your dad went to work at Taishan Airlines. Don’t slack off. Study culture classes well and strive to get into the next batch of flight apprentice class.”
“Young Master, what does the administrative director position you arranged for my dad do?”
“Manages people and affairs. Everything except Manager Liu’s area, he can manage.”
“Really? Then my dad is set. Tomorrow, have him get me a security captain position, okay?”
“Sure, ask him yourself.”
Shunzi is instantly speechless.
Fang Wen sets down his bowl and chopsticks, puts on his custom straight-fitting suit, straight-leg pants, and a pair of patterned leather boots.
Heads straight out the door.
Walking up the road, past the airport gate, he arrives at the Taishan Airlines office.
This is rare since the company’s founding: the general manager arriving early for work. Employees see him and come out to greet.
“Good morning, General Manager.”
“Morning, General Manager.”
Fang Wen smiles in response, goes straight to the chief accountant’s office and administrative office, greeting Shopkeeper Liu and Fang Shouxin.
“Come to my office. Things to discuss.”
The three sit in the general manager’s office.
Fang Wen opens: “I’ve spent most of my time flying and paid little attention to company matters. Now I have time. Tell me any situations.”
Shopkeeper Liu reports first: “I’ve always handled the company’s finances. Even Bada Company shareholders who wanted to interfere were blocked by me.”
“What did they want to do?” Fang Wen asks.
“They wanted to plant their own people to skim from Taishan Airlines. I told them, at company founding, it was agreed no Eight Great Families could steal, so I was chosen as chief accountant. They said nothing and left. Later, Bada Company sent someone saying, as shareholders, they should have shareholder perks. He asked me to make two gold medal tickets per family for free flights.”
Gold medal ticket is a good name, but free flights cannot set that precedent.
Aircraft have limited seats. Two per Eight Great Families means 16 gold medal tickets. If they all fly or rent them out, the company’s business is ruined.
Fang Wen feels a chill inside. Eight Great Families have many people and issues, wanting welfare yet demanding hugely.
He says: “No. Not one gold medal ticket. But we can make internal tickets: two per family per month, free on company flights, as shareholder welfare. These tickets are valid only for the period, must be collected and destroyed upon verification to prevent reuse.”
Shopkeeper Liu nods: “Good method. Upholds rules, minimal loss, shuts their mouths. I’ll have it done.”
“Anything else?” Fang Wen asks.
Shopkeeper Liu shakes his head. Fang Shouxin’s turn.
“I’ve just joined and am learning the company situation, not good to comment rashly. Mainly about the tung oil for aircraft project I took over.”
Fang Shouxin takes out an English telegram and hands it to Fang Wen.
“Neil sent a telegram. The two aircraft in the United States are loaded on ship, he’s coming too. Expected arrival in twenty days.”
Looking at the telegram, Fang Wen ponders.
Once the two aircraft arrive, airplane leasing can start immediately.
Taishan Airlines needs to plan new flight paths, and tung oil merchants demanding aircraft property certificates should be issued.
He speaks.
“Now discuss new flight paths and aircraft property certificates.”
The three first discuss new flight paths.
Map spread out, marked with four new flight paths.
Shanghai direct to Nanchang, range 600 kilometers.
Shanghai direct to Wuhan, range 700 kilometers.
Shanghai direct to Fuzhou, range 600 kilometers.
Shanghai direct to Jinan, range 700 kilometers.
These four flight paths fit Boeing 247’s 1200 km max range, even allowing two round trips per day for max carrying capacity.
Need to select two first.
Shanghai to Nanchang, covering southeast hinterland.
Shanghai to Fuzhou, connecting coastal ports.
Shanghai to Wuhan, covering central south region.
Shanghai to Jinan, covering the entire Central Plains.
Shopkeeper Liu opines: “Other paths are fine, but the Jinan one—any issues? Japanese Army amasses in Northeast, may invade south anytime. Jinan is Central Plains core, bound to be attacked by Japanese. Then our flight path fails midway?”
Fang Wen nods: “It would fail midway, but we can’t ignore aviation demand there just because Japanese might invade Central Plains. If they really attack Jinan, people there will retreat south. We’re providing aid—good publicly and privately, right?”
Shopkeeper Liu strokes his beard and nods: “Yes. Merchants can seek private gain but not forget national foundation. No country, no commerce. We should contribute. I agree with this flight path.”
