85: There are so many good things! I decided it was you.

Chapter 85: A Treasure Trove of Goodies! You're the One, Strategic Transport Aircraft!

The seven o'clock morning sun, under the California weather, was still scorching.

Lu Ze walked down the secluded road, his steps unconsciously quickening.

Lucy didn't live at home; she actually lived in the employee dormitory, and although Lu Ze knew the room number before, he had never actually visited it.

In other words, this was his first time entering Lucy's boudoir.

However.

When Lu Ze arrived at Lucy's dorm room, and knocked on the 'unassuming' door.

He was instantly dumbfounded.

'Damn, this is an employee dorm room too?'

'America sure knows how to play favorites; the differential treatment is too great.'

Lu Ze couldn't help but inwardly complain.

Sure enough, it was a wicked 'capitalist' society, where the concept of unfairness permeated every aspect of life.

This dorm room not only had one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom, but even the living room was nearly twenty square meters, larger than his entire employee dorm room.

Others lived in houses; his was, at most, a 'cage' he was squeezed into.

"Why did you wake me up so early?" Lucy rubbed her eyes sleepily. "It's only seven o'clock; I'm going back to sleep for a bit."

Her thin pajamas barely concealed her ample figure, looking like a size too small.

"It's time to get up. Didn't you say we needed to go to the Air Force base early today?" Lu Ze said helplessly.

This Air Force base was hundreds of kilometers away from the LLNL Laboratory, and the 'reporter tour group' was scheduled to start at one in the afternoon. If the two of them didn't leave early, they wouldn't make it in time.

"I know."

Lucy ruffled her messy hair, her eyes still half-closed.

How long had it been since she woke up at seven in the morning? Was this kind of regular schedule something a 'waste' like her could enjoy?

After nearly a minute with her eyes closed, and just when Lu Ze thought she had fallen asleep, Lucy picked up a key from the table and tossed it over. "You go get the car; I need to wash up."

With that, she walked directly into the bathroom.

At this moment.

Lu Ze looked at the car key in his hand, silently praying: 'Damn it, please don't break down now. Next time, I'll take you to the best 4S shop for a thorough spa treatment. Any package, any oil, you choose.'

He really couldn't understand why Lucy bought such an old classic car, a generation older than her.

Was it because older cars knew how to be considerate?

He had driven this car a few times when he went out with Lucy before. Every time they reached the small town of Livermore, the car would either break down or have engine trouble, burning more oil than gasoline.

Fortunately, there was one good thing: the car's air conditioning was excellent.

'People from Guangnan Province would probably love it,' Lu Ze murmured.

After all, the key indicators for cars that people in Da Xia's Guangnan Province look for are 'air conditioning cold enough to freeze your head, and ventilated seats!'

12 PM.

A Volkswagen Beetle, weathered by years, slowly pulled into a secluded parking lot.

After more than four hours of driving, the two finally reached their destination.

"Lucy, we're here." Lu Ze patted the person in the passenger seat, who was still sound asleep.

This was already the southern region of California, about three to four hundred kilometers from Livermore. Another hour of driving would take them to Los Angeles.

This was why Lu Ze had been urging Lucy; if they were late, they really wouldn't make it.

A moment later.

The two followed a group of reporters armed with cameras, waiting for inspection at the soldier's guard post.

"Hold onto this; don't lose it." Lucy handed over a small square 'paper slip.' "If it's lost, you'll need to fill out forms to leave, which will be very troublesome."

"Press pass?" Lu Ze twitched his mouth.

This document even had his photo and position specifically engraved on it, as well as the news media organization he worked for.

Goodness, they were really going all out with this act. Could they even make 'fake IDs' for this?

Ten minutes later.

After inspection, the two successfully entered the Air Force base with the group of reporters.

'Is today really some kind of reporter interview day?' Lu Ze frowned.

These reporters were either from American print media or well-known television media like CNN and Fox. There were even a few military commentators he had seen on TV.

Although it didn't seem fake, it was too much of a coincidence.

Before he could figure it out.

As soon as he stepped through the Air Force base entrance, a massive sign appeared before his eyes.

[Edwards Air Force Base.]

Looking at the name, Lu Ze's mouth curved into a smile. "There are quite a few good things here... In terms of Air Force equipment, aren't there few places that have more?"

He naturally couldn't be unfamiliar with the famous Edwards Air Force Base.

This was one of America's highest-spec Air Force bases, and also the primary test flight site for various aircraft.

Throughout America's aircraft development history, many fighter jets and bombers made their first public appearances and first test flights at this base.

Even the first flight of the B-21 Stealth Strategic Bomber, more than ten years in the future, would take place at 'Edwards Air Force Base' for testing and its debut.

'Unfortunately, the B-21's development will have to wait until 2015, and its first flight even later, in 2023.' Thinking of this, Lu Ze sighed regretfully.

Otherwise, if he could replicate a B-21 Strategic Stealth Bomber, that would be amazing.

Just then, a voice broke his thoughts.

"Lu Ze, which area do you plan to visit first?" Lucy handed him a strawberry sundae ice cream, asking in confusion, "Don't you have a target you want to see here?"

It should be known that even the hangar area here covered more than ten square kilometers. If you wandered aimlessly, you might not even finish exploring one hangar area in a day.

And the entire Edwards Air Force Base exceeded 1200 square kilometers, larger than many cities, though over 90% of the area consisted of desolate deserts and wasteland.

"Which one to visit first?" Lu Ze stroked his chin.

Looking at the dense array of planes on the surrounding tarmac and in the hangars, it was a treasure trove in his eyes.

As for fighter jets alone, not only were there the most advanced F22, but F15, F16, F/A-18, and others were also lined up in groups on the tarmac, waiting for reporters to photograph and visit.

As for bombers, let alone antique-level equipment like the B-52 and B-1B, even a B-2 Bomber was directly on public display.

At the same time, the B-2 Bomber was surrounded by the largest number of reporters taking pictures.

Seeing this situation, Lu Ze's heart was stirring: 'If I were to replicate another B-2 Bomber, it seems it wouldn't be impossible?'

'You can never have too many of these things.'

Each opportunity to encounter a B-2 Bomber was quite rare; there were only 21 in the entire world.

When it appeared at regular airshows, it would just fly overhead. There were rarely such 'static display' opportunities, let alone allowing you to touch it for five seconds at close range.

'It's just that the achievement points would probably be greatly reduced... Let's keep it as a backup.' He thought to himself.

Even if it would be greatly reduced, considering its 'scarcity' and 'high value,' it would still yield two or three tens of thousands of achievement points.

It's just that this replication would only yield the physical object, without any technology.

His gaze slowly drifted further away.

Next to the bomber area were reconnaissance aircraft and early warning aircraft, and further away were several models of refueling aircraft.

The KC-10 aerial refueling tanker, the KC-130 aerial refueling tanker, and the KC-135 aerial refueling tanker, which was currently America's main force.

Looking at these massive behemoths, Lu Ze's heart stirred: "It also seems like a good choice."

Aerial refueling tankers—just from the name, one can see their importance to the Air Force.

These are the supply stations for various aircraft high in the sky, significantly increasing the range and endurance of various aircraft, and increasing effective payload.

For example, a bomber formation with a range of 5000KM can only carry a maximum of 10T of ammunition, but with a powerful weapon like an aerial refueling tanker, it can completely reduce its fuel to cover 3000KM and carry several more tons of ammunition.

If fuel is insufficient, the accompanying aerial refueling tanker can provide replenishment.

It can even increase the aircraft's combat radius, allowing it to fly eight thousand or even more than ten thousand kilometers instead of the original five thousand, acting like a large 'healer' continuously providing fuel.

Lu Ze fell into contemplation: "This is also the most urgently needed technology for Da Xia."

Da Xia currently used aerial refueling tankers modified from the H-6K and would only purchase Il-78 aerial refueling tankers from Ukraine two years later.

However, the Il-78 was also delayed until after 2016 for delivery, by which time the Y-20 would have been developed, and the YU-20, modified from the Y-20, would have entered service by 2022.

It could be said that Da Xia in 2009 was indeed in great need of aerial refueling tanker technology.

"Then why would I replicate a refueling tanker?" Lu Ze snapped back to reality. "Wouldn't it be better to just replicate a large transport aircraft?"

Replicating an aerial refueling tanker is not as good as directly replicating a large transport aircraft.

After all, aren't aerial refueling tankers just modified from transport aircraft and large aircraft? For example, that KC-130 was upgraded based on the C-130.

The main technical difficulty of an aerial refueling tanker lies in the research and development of the fuel delivery pipeline, but carrying capacity and endurance are the fundamental aspects of an aerial refueling tanker. In this regard, transport aircraft certainly have the advantage.

Having clarified this point.

After looking around, he finally spotted his desired target.

Lu Ze pointed to the massive object in the distance: "Lucy, I'm more interested in that aircraft."

"That's..." Lucy squinted, finally seeing its full outline. "You want to visit this Strategic Transport Aircraft?"

Her words were full of surprise; this Strategic Transport Aircraft didn't seem very popular, did it?

There were hardly any reporters surrounding it. Compared to the crowd around the B-2 Bomber, where one couldn't even squeeze in, this was a world of difference.

(Second update, sorry, I'm a bit drowsy from the medicine.)

(First day of June, asking for monthly votes! Two hundred monthly votes for an extra chapter, just a little bit more to go.)