Chapter 64: Emergency Conscription

Inside the Ministry of Defense office.

Director Yang suddenly received a red phone call.

"What's wrong?"

He picked up the phone.

In the video on the phone appeared the face of someone he knew very well.

The vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Something happened; there's a rebellion in A Shou Guo."

"They're rebelling over there? That place is the Middle East."

"It's far from us."

Director Yang said.

"There is a project department of our company there, all staffed by personnel from Dongda."

"There are as many as 400 people."

"The local rebels have already surrounded their project department."

"The local embassy tried to negotiate, but was refused."

"Thus the entire embassy evacuated to that project department."

"Now the ambassador there is blocking the door negotiating with them, but he probably can't hold out much longer."

"The rebels' emotions are becoming increasingly agitated."

"Inside the project department, plus the embassy's firearms, there are at most a few dozen guns, and even less ammunition."

"The current situation is very dire; we need military assistance."

A calm voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Including the embassy staff, there are now 450 Dongda personnel."

"Now we need a way to bring them back safely."

After he finished speaking, Director Yang immediately began to recall whether there were any troops stationed near A Shou Guo.

But he thought it over carefully.

No, Dongda originally has very few troops stationed overseas.

Especially the Middle East, that powder keg.

The navy, however, could possibly make visits worldwide.

But unfortunately, the navy currently on overseas visits has no ship in the Middle East region.

"There is not a single unit of our country's army, navy, or air force nearby."

"The nearest is a destroyer squadron visiting southern Africa, but getting them there would take at least five days."

"Time-wise, it's simply impossible."

Upon hearing that, the other end instantly realized the situation had become thorny.

"Can the air force do it?"

"We could load some army personnel onto our transport aircraft and then bring them back safely."

Director Yang's hand slightly bent as he carefully considered the range of the Ilyushin Il-76.

"Not enough."

"Our country currently has no suitable aircraft."

"And are you sure they have an airstrip?"

"Large transport aircraft generally require a very long runway."

"The older Ilyushin Il-76 needs an even longer runway, and its cargo space is quite limited."

"It basically can't carry that many people; at least two aircraft would be needed."

"Moreover, its fuel tank capacity is relatively small and its range short; at least one aerial refueling and two ground refuelings would be needed in between to get there."

"If we use the Ilyushin Il-76, we can only adopt this method: loading armed army personnel onto the aircraft."

"Then after the armed army personnel disembark, we would directly defend on the spot."

"Only then might we be able to rescue them."

A helpless voice came from the other end of the phone.

"As far as I know, they only have a runway 600 meters long."

"And it's merely a piece of land that has been slightly leveled."

"It's not that kind of professional runway."

"Moreover, the key point is that if we openly dispatch the army to interfere in another country's internal affairs, the impact would be very bad."

After hearing that, Director Yang immediately knew the matter was troublesome.

"A dirt runway simply cannot be compared to a concrete one."

"Furthermore, the key now is how to fly there quickly."

While Director Yang was frowning and thinking of a solution,

he suddenly saw a photo of a missile boat placed beside him.

"Right!"

"Isn't that kid Zhang Wen working on a transport aircraft?"

"And half a month ago, he even asked me for permission to use the air force test flight base."

"Maybe there could be a way?"

Director Yang immediately said: "Make two preparations; first send two Ilyushin Il-76s to the location. Refuel in the air along the way. Also refuel twice in a third country. This part will be coordinated by your Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

I have a new transport aircraft here that is still under testing. I don't know if it can be used, as a backup.

Okay.

The other party immediately hung up the phone; they must have gone to coordinate.

Director Yang picked up the phone and called the test flight base.

Inside the Air Force Test Base.

Zhang Wenzheng looked up at the aircraft in the sky.

This flight was not bad.

He shouted over the walkie-talkie.

The Y-20 has been tested at this test facility for over ten days.

Payload, fuel consumption, flight range, economical cruising speed, etc., have all been tested.

Zhang Wen looked at this large aircraft with a face full of pride.

The aircraft descended slowly.

The aircraft's engines reversed, thrust reversers engaged, and spoilers deployed.

The aircraft came to a steady stop on the runway of the field.

The test pilot got down, and a group of engineers immediately rushed up to inspect the aircraft's various components.

Things such as metal fatigue.

How does it feel?

Guo Chen?

Guo Chen lowered the helmet in his hand and said: 'Feelings are not bad; the aircraft has no major problems.'

Especially when fully loaded.

Flight conditions under various weights are relatively stable.

Of course, I haven't tested it under extreme conditions, but transport aircraft rarely encounter such situations.

Guo Chen explained.

Zhang Wen directly pulled him and walked off the runway.

Come on, how are the various instruments doing?

Very good.

Guo Chen said: 'The conditions of all instruments are very precise.'

That's right, I actually prepared three full sets of backups.

Zhang Wen said proudly.

After all, a transport aircraft can't be compared to a fighter jet.

Adding just one kilogram to a fighter jet is a big deal.

Adding one kilogram to a transport aircraft?

It's just a drop in the bucket.

It doesn't care at all about tens or hundreds of kilograms of weight.

Thus Zhang Wen prepared all kinds of instruments in three full sets of backups.

Things like airspeed indicators, attitude indicators, etc.

Through cross-verification with three sets of sensors.

Errors were avoided to the greatest extent.

As for the airframe material, being a transport aircraft, it definitely needs to handle heavy loads.

Zhang Wen directly went to several academics specializing in materials research to seek advice.

Finally found a material that is strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant.

The key is that it is also light.

To make this aircraft, Zhang Wen also found a steel plant in the North Sea via the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

He specifically had them produce a batch.

Its durability is definitely not a problem.

Zhang Wen lightly pulled Guo Chen to go eat.

Come on, let me tell you, today's cafeteria braised pork elbow is delicious.

Zhang Wen laughed.

Okay.

Just then.

The test flight base commander's phone suddenly rang.

What? You want to find Zhang Wen?

Okay, I'll go find him right away.

The commander immediately put the phone on the table.

He rushed downstairs directly.

He saw Zhang Wen on the way to the cafeteria.

He grabbed Zhang Wen.

What's wrong? What happened? Why the rush?

Zhang Wen, being pulled, looked bewildered.

Someone is looking for you; come with me quickly.

The base commander said, panting.

"Good."

Although I didn't know what was happening, I saw his tense expression.

Zhang Wen realized something had happened.

He didn't dare delay even a minute.

He rushed straight to the telephone.

He answered the phone.

"Hello, I'm Zhang Wen."

"Finally found you."

"How is your plane?"

"The basic tests are complete, but the extreme conditions haven't been tested yet."

Zhang Wen immediately said he had recognized the voice—it was Director Yang's.

"How many tons can the payload carry?"

"What is the flight range?"

Director Yang asked two questions in a row.

"Fuselage length 47 meters, wingspan 45 meters, height 15 meters. Maximum takeoff weight 220 tons, maximum payload over 66 tons, maximum range 7800 kilometers, maximum speed 800 kilometers per hour, service ceiling meters. Cargo hold volume 400 cubic meters. We use the turbofan 8 engine independently developed by our Sky-supporting Aircraft Factory; in the future we will replace it with a better engine, and the parameters will be greatly improved."

Zhang Wen did not hesitate, the test paper uh spoke all the parameters.

"Enough."

Director Yang's voice immediately relaxed a little.

"Now, there is an important task."

"Are you willing to accept?"