"It's time for me to do something." While everyone was busy with their respective careers, Kang Fan also started doing substantive work on his earth-shattering invention.

As the sown area of ​​crops increases, the development and production of chemical fertilizers and pesticides becomes increasingly important. Kang Fan believes that Meixiang’s students can continue to develop new types of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and highly effective insecticides, which are highly toxic and widely used in the contemporary world.

Organophosphorus pesticides can never be used again. Therefore, he is now thinking about how to build several airplanes for spreading pesticides, flying sowing grass, killing insects, etc. This idea seems to Zhong Hanqiang to be completely crazy!

"Are you kidding, Kang Fan?" Zhong Hanqiang was dumbfounded.

Kang Fan couldn't help but laugh, "Now the students are very busy, and you are the only one who can help me. Just show your attitude."

Zhong Hanqiang knew that as long as Kang Fan decided to do something, he would definitely do it, but building an airplane was a very important matter. He could not imagine how Kang Fan could build an airplane! But help was necessary.

The gasoline engine of Zhong Hanqiang's van was disassembled and studied by Mei Xiang's classmates and then reinstalled as it was. However, this engine is very light and has a high weight/horsepower ratio. As the engine of the proposed aircraft, it is

It couldn't be more suitable. So, the two people removed it from the truck and made the necessary modifications: on the premise of ensuring the performance of the engine, they removed as much weight as possible and used it to drive a vehicle.

A hand-cut wooden two-blade propeller with a diameter of two meters.

Then, two highly skilled carpenters were hired to make the aircraft fuselage, wings, ailerons, rudder, etc. out of fine wood according to the parts drawings drawn by Kang Fan himself. The gaps between the skeletons were supported by partition frames to form a complete structure.

The fuselage shape, wing shape and movable airfoil are covered with a skin made of resin-impregnated cotton/nylon fabric. The main landing gear wheels and tail wheels directly use new carriage wheels and are equipped with springs.

Shock absorber. A specially made cabin made of wooden boards, with seat cushions and backrests installed. The cabin is equipped with an engine operating device, a simple movable airfoil operating device and a brake device controlled by a steel cable, and a windshield is installed.

Glass.

After injecting gasoline, several test runs and taxiing were conducted on the ground, and necessary improvements and improvements were made to address the exposed problems. Next, it was time to conduct the extremely dangerous lift-off test. Just in case,

Kang Fan made a huge parachute out of silk and rope, folded it and carried it on his back.

This aircraft is made into an upper and lower wing structure with high lift. In the event of an engine shutdown accident in the air, it can glide safely to the ground relying on the huge lift generated by the wings. It is actually a powered glider, not to mention, the aircraft's

The engine is excellent enough.

Zhong Hanqiang had never been exposed to aviation before, so he couldn't understand the theories that Kang Fan talked about. Kang Fan was an aviation enthusiast and had a lot of research on aviation theory. He was the main force of the school's model aircraft team in middle school and entered the military area.

The special operations team then conducted rigorous airborne training and accumulated practical flight experience. In fact, before Kang Fan built this aircraft, he had already made several models for gliding tests. The last test was done in Chiang Saen Camp: Kang Fan

With the help of the officers and soldiers, the unpowered aircraft rose into the sky like a kite, proving that the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft he designed was reasonable. The design drawings of this aircraft were based on several successful models in the experiment.

For sure, Kang Fan kept it secret just because he was afraid that Mei Xiang and everyone would object because of the danger.

On the flat and wide lawn in front of the Chiang Saen Camp headquarters building, under the watchful eyes of Zhong Hanqiang and the officers and soldiers, Kang Fan increased the accelerator after several short-distance rolling tests. Immediately, the powerful

The engine drove the huge propeller, pulling the light aircraft forward at lightning speed, sliding on the ground for less than a hundred meters before successfully rising into the sky!

According to historical records, in December 1903, the Wright brothers of the United States made the first successful flight in human history in a homemade airplane. However, Kang Fan made the first successful flight in Ningwufu, Shanxi, China, in March 1898, five years ahead of schedule.

The jurisdiction completed a manned flight of the aircraft.

Kang Fan is confident enough in the performance of the aircraft he built. What he was most worried about at first was the change in the center of gravity of the aircraft after the engine was installed, which would affect the stability of the aircraft. Now it seems that the aircraft flies very smoothly, and the trimming problem should have been successfully solved.

.When more powerful gasoline engines are available in the future, the performance of the aircraft will be even better.

Kang Fan focused on testing the aircraft's movable wing operating device and conducted several turning, ascending and descending tests. He felt that the control was a bit clumsy, but it was still usable and needs to be improved in the future. Along the Jinxing Railway Line under construction

, maintaining an altitude of about 200 meters, flew back and forth several times, and finally found Mei Xiang, who was wearing a white coat and sitting on a carriage, distributing medicines to the road construction officers and soldiers. Kang Fan worked hard to control the aircraft to maintain a stable altitude and speed.

, flying in circles around the carriage.

Everyone on the ground looked up at the sky, and of course Mei Xiang was no exception. When she looked at her, she felt something was wrong: Who was it not Kang Fan who was driving this crude and shabby plane?! Her heart pounded violently.

She jumped up and jumped out of the carriage in a hurry, waving excitedly to Kang Fan in the sky. Kang Fan saw it and waved to Mei Xiang with a free hand. After that, he blew a kiss and smiled mischievously.

"You stupid soldier!" Mei Xiang was so excited that she burst into tears. Since the implementation of the Jinxing Railway Plan, Mei Xiang, the Minister of Medical and Health Affairs of Ningwu Prefecture, has led a large number of medical staff to serve at various construction sites, seeing little and far from Kang Fan.

But he didn't expect that this guy would do something earth-shattering behind his back, which made people both love and hate him at the same time!

Mei Xiang’s classmates were very interested in the plane built by Kang Fan and Zhong Hanqiang, but the first thing most students said when they saw the plane was: This thing can actually fly? Of course, they are used to seeing these exquisite things.

For students of the 21st Century Aircraft, this thing with an exposed engine and made of wood and strange cloth cannot be associated with the word "aircraft" in any way. But it is a pioneering work after all. Kang Fan's hero

The image in the minds of the students has grown even bigger.

On the basis of the existing aircraft, Kang Fan and several classmates from Mei Xiang made further improvements: covering the exposed engine with aluminum alloy sheets to make a fairing, which not only protected the engine but also reduced air resistance.

A cooling air inlet was added to the belly of the fuselage, a rear cockpit was added, simple instruments were added to the front cockpit, and a top cover and walls were added to the entire cockpit, making it closed. The fuselage and wing structures were improved.

, increased strength and reduced weight. The aircraft's control system was redesigned to make the aircraft more responsive and easier to maneuver. A fuselage fuel tank was added, which doubled the idle time. The entire cover was sprayed with white paint and red paint.

On the tail of the plane were written two large characters in regular script: Ning Wu.

After the above improvements, the maximum take-off weight of the aircraft exceeds 500 kilograms and the wingspan reaches 10 meters. However, due to the large enough power of the engine, the aircraft's performance has still been improved a lot: the idle time has reached more than 2 hours and 50 minutes.

, the maximum speed was visually estimated to be around 200 kilometers/hour. Since there was no oxygen equipment, the altitude only reached about 3 kilometers and then did not continue to rise.

Kang Fan drove the plane and used the compass to navigate. He took turns taking Mei Xiang's students to experience the fun of flying. He enjoyed the beautiful and spectacular views of the surrounding great rivers and mountains from the air, which inspired the students' passion for innovation and patriotic enthusiasm, and the effect was great.

It is much better than taking a few sensational theoretical classes, and the originally envisioned use of aircraft has long been forgotten.

A few days later, Kang Fan piloted the "Ningwu" to complete the first artificial rainfall feat over the area under the jurisdiction of Ningwu Prefecture! The seats in the rear cockpit of the plane were removed, a temporary medicine box was installed, and a total of more than 500 sprays were sprayed.

The silver iodide produced by the Ningwu Prefecture Chemical Company was upgraded, and several aerial pesticide tests were carried out, with excellent results.

Looking from the air, you can see vast farmland, pastures and fruit trees all over the mountains and plains as far as the eye can see. Large-scale irrigation systems and roads extend in all directions, and granaries and factories are rising from the ground. It's really exciting!

After Kang Fan landed, Hu Pinzhi, Yu Hao and other officials greeted him respectfully, as if he were Emperor Guangxu, and they only had to kneel down.

Kang Fan understood their behavior. In the eyes of these contemporary people, he was the legendary hermit who could ascend to heaven and earth, and call for wind and rain, and he could repeat such "feats" as long as he wanted. He was simply a god!

Although they were extremely envious, none of these officials proposed to have a try in heaven, and every time Kang Fan warmly invited them, they tried their best to refuse, which really made Kang Fan unable to understand the reason.

Now, Ningwu Prefecture's industrial system is still in its early stages of development, but it will not take long to grow. By then, special aviation gasoline engines, light and strong aluminum alloys, new instruments and meters, radio communication equipment, etc. will all be available.

After production, the conditions for developing new aircraft will gradually mature, and it is time to consider establishing an aircraft manufacturing factory. However, Mei Xiang’s classmates currently have their own work to do, and there is currently no manpower available to be responsible for this work, and Kang Fan

He wanted to do it but couldn't because he had to go to England again.

Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi had always been obsessed with these two novel characters, Kang Fan and Mei Xiang, and had expressed it to Hu Pinzhi many times. When Kang Fan went to England this time, he planned to visit the palace. Mei Xiang still had lingering fears about the last time he entered the palace.

, I didn’t want to go, but I couldn’t resist the temptation of traveling with Kang Fan, so I agreed after some kind words from Kang Fan.

"You should be well prepared. Cixi must be sick again, or she would not specifically ask you to go," Kang Fan said.

Mei Xiang nodded, "I understand. I'm afraid that after Ci Xi's illness is cured, she will keep me again."

Kang Fan smiled and said, "You can stay as long as you want. Living in the palace is a wonderful thing that ordinary people can't even imagine."

Mei Xiang pouted angrily.

"This time I won't tell Guangxu that you are my sister." Kang Fan said.

Mei Xiang was amused, "Then what are you going to say about me?"

"I said you are my best friend." Kang Fan smiled.

Mei Xiang was anxious, "You can't say that I am your wife!"

Kang Fan shook his head, "I haven't married you yet."

"Then when will you marry me?" Mei Xiang asked.

Kang Fan pointed to the sky, "I will marry you when God allows us to return to the era that belongs to us."
Chapter completed!