Chapter 227: Flight (part 2)

How long did it take humans to go from gazing at the sky to attempting flight?

Wu Qingsong didn’t know the answer to this question.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to go through the same trial-and-error process as the pioneers. As a modern visitor, even though he didn’t have specific knowledge of many things, such as aerodynamics, it didn’t stop him from digging useful fragments from the increasingly hazy depths of his memory.

This glider—or powered paraglider—was roughly triangular in shape because that was the shape he remembered from the powered paragliders he had seen. It was also the shape of the only flying object he had ever played with—a kite—which gave him some confidence.

To ensure success without risking Ling’s safety or his own heroic image, he made several slightly different wooden models to test which wing design would be the most stable.

Larger wings should provide greater lift, but materials were limited. The available fish bones, wood, and other items could only be so large. Additionally, the larger the wings, the higher the power requirements, which could be counterproductive.

In Wu Qingsong’s memory, powered paragliders didn’t have very large wings. However, to be safe, he maximized the use of the materials at hand.

The fish bones naturally curved gave the wings a mysterious beauty that Wu Qingsong found satisfying. The canvas certainly wasn’t as good as professional skin materials, but it was lighter than wood.

If Ling’s abilities were a bit stronger, she might have been able to create a better aircraft entirely from her materials. However, given the current conditions, Wu Qingsong was already satisfied with the results.

The two of them sat on the odd-looking water glider, just enough to completely submerge the wooden float beneath them. The total weight of the glider, plus the two of them, was estimated to be over 600 kilograms, which made Wu Qingsong a bit concerned.

However, there were already more than a dozen carefully selected harpies in the sky ready to assist. Even if something did go wrong and Ling couldn’t react in time, they could still ensure their safety. For them, the biggest question was whether this thing could take off, not whether it would crash after takeoff.

Wu Qingsong nodded to Ling, “Let’s start!”

Ling’s abilities were immediately activated. A frame with a propeller appeared out of thin air, firmly attaching itself to the two main supports behind them, just as Wu Qingsong had envisioned. 

It then began to spin slowly.

The feeling was quite strange because there was no noise at all. There was no roar of an engine, not even the hum of an electric motor. The only sound was the whooshing of the propeller blades as Ling’s efforts made them spin faster and faster.

“Gradually increase the speed,” Wu Qingsong said, observing the glider’s condition while standing behind Ling.

As the propeller’s speed increased, their little aircraft moved slowly across the calm sea, prompting gasps from onlookers. Encouraged by Wu Qingsong’s continuous cheering, Ling made the propeller spin faster and faster, causing the aircraft to speed across the water.

Wu Qingsong began to worry whether the wooden supports and floats below could withstand such force. But then, as the wind speed increased, their aircraft suddenly lifted slightly off the water. It touched the surface once more before finally taking off into the sky.

The sensation of speed, the bumps, and the jolt at the moment of liftoff made Ling close her eyes. 

But moments later, she heard Wu Qingsong’s excited laughter, “Ling! We did it!”

She finally opened her eyes. They were now nearly ten meters above the sea, with Wu Qingsong skillfully controlling the aircraft’s direction, guiding them higher. Cheers erupted from the beach where Ram and the others stood. Although the bird people watching nearby were less impressed. After all, flying was nothing extraordinary for them.

The wings began to shake, causing Wu Qingsong some concern about their durability. However, they soon stabilized, allowing them to fully enjoy the thrill of flying over the bay.

Wu Qingsong didn’t fly for too long. One reason was the difficulty of controlling the aircraft, and another was Ling’s safety. Although Ling’s abilities should allow them to fly for a long time, this was their first test flight. Getting airborne was already a huge success, and there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

“Alright, that’s enough. Let’s glide down,” he told Ling.

The trouble came during the landing. 

Wu Qingsong had never piloted any kind of aircraft, so he had no sense of speed or distance. To be honest, breaking free from the earth and soaring into the sky felt exhilarating. But when it came time to return to the ground, the sensation of the entire surface rushing up to meet him was suffocating.

It was at this moment that Wu Qingsong truly understood why people say takeoff and landing are the most dangerous parts of flying. 

The poor maneuverability of this aircraft made him consider the danger of crashing. So, he had Ling restart the propeller, lifting them back up to an altitude of about ten meters, and then gestured to the nearby bird people to come closer.

“Wu?” Ling asked in surprise.

“I underestimated the complexity,” Wu Qingsong said. “You go down with them first. I’ll figure out how to land.”

Ling was a bit reluctant, but she ultimately followed Wu Qingsong’s instructions. With the help of several bird people, she carefully transferred to a wooden bucket suspended in the air and, under their protection, flew back towards the beach.

With his concerns alleviated, Wu Qingsong could finally focus entirely on controlling the aircraft. This time, since he had lost power, he had no chance to start over.

Carefully, he guided the aircraft towards the sea. The sensation of the whole world rushing towards him at high speed made every hair on his body stand on end. He did his utmost to keep the aircraft steady, aiming for a smooth landing on the water. However, the first contact with the sea caused the aircraft to lose balance completely. It crashed headlong into the water, breaking the floats and wings, flipping several times, and splashing water everywhere before finally coming to a stop and starting to sink.

People gasped instinctively, but soon a giant undead octopus lifted Wu Qingsong out of the water and quickly swam towards the shore with him.