26: War Killer: Equipped with 100-kilogram fuel-air explosive bomb!

August.

Peng Lin chose a cooler day and invited Factory Director Gu, who had just been promoted from Chief Engineer to factory director, to the test flight field.

“Is this the new type of aircraft you developed?”

Factory Director Gu’s expression was strange.

He carefully observed the new aircraft Peng Lin had developed, somewhat at a loss for how to evaluate it.

This time, it wasn't because the new aircraft Peng Lin developed was too advanced, but because it was too crude.

This new aircraft adopted a delta wing, tailless design, with a wingspan of 2.5 meters and a fuselage length of 3.5 meters.

The entire fuselage was made of very simple plywood.

Even at the rear of its engine, there was a small wooden propeller.

If it weren't for the fact that there was indeed an engine inside this new aircraft, Factory Director Gu would even suspect it was something a carpenter casually made.

“Chief Designer Peng, are you sure this thing can fly?”

“If I’m not mistaken, the engine inside is a motorcycle’s four-cylinder two-stroke piston engine, right?”

Factory Director Gu looked back and forth several times, practically doubting his life.

If this thing hadn't been designed by Peng Lin, and if he hadn't been invited to watch the test flight,

He might have even kicked the plane apart himself!

“This is a new type of drone; not only can it fly, but it can also fly far,” Peng Lin explained with a smile.

After hearing his words, Factory Director Gu circled the strangely shaped aircraft once more.

“I still don’t believe it.”

“It has no wheels or landing gear, which means it can’t take off from a runway.”

“The small wooden propeller is at the tail of the aircraft, which means it’s not a helicopter either.”

“So how exactly does it fly?” Factory Director Gu asked back.

As a factory director, he started out as a Chief Engineer, so he understood technology extremely well.

Therefore, no matter how he analyzed it, he couldn't find a way to make this “crudely made” aircraft fly.

“Then I’ll tell you, it uses rocket-assisted takeoff!” Peng Lin said with a smile.

Immediately, he had people move this “sickle” built for testing onto the launch pad.

And a small rocket booster, about the size of a man-portable rocket launcher, was installed underneath it.

“Launch!” Peng Lin gave the order.

Subsequently, a fierce blaze erupted from the launch pad.

Accompanied by a “whoosh” sound, the “sickle” drone flew into the sky.

And after flying at an altitude of about 500 meters for a period of time, the rocket booster installed underneath it automatically detached.

Immediately after, the motorcycle’s four-cylinder two-stroke piston engine started, driving the wooden propeller to begin rotating.

At the same time, the sky was continuously filled with engine noise similar to a motorcycle’s roar.

And because the aircraft now had initial velocity and flight conditions,

Even relying solely on such a four-cylinder engine and a wooden propeller, it flew steadily in the sky.

Although its flight speed was not comparable to a fighter jet, it still reached 200 kilometers per hour, roughly equivalent to a helicopter.

“This drone can really fly!” Factory Director Gu looked up at the sky, somewhat stunned.

He swore this was absolutely the crudest aircraft he had ever seen.

But surprisingly, the speed of this plywood and wood-made aircraft was really not slow.

“How far can it fly?” he continued to ask.

That’s right, Factory Director Gu used “how far can it fly,” not “how many kilometers of endurance.”

Because in his eyes, he still felt this thing was like a toy.

So he didn't use professional terminology to inquire about its parameters.

“At a cruising speed of 200 kilometers per hour, it’s normally 2000 kilometers.”

“I’ve set it to fly around the city, so flying for ten hours continuously is no problem at all,” Peng Lin continued with a smile.

“How much?”

“Can it fly for ten hours?”

“Using gasoline as fuel and a motorcycle engine, this new type of aircraft can fly beyond 2000 kilometers?”

Upon hearing this data, Factory Director Gu finally realized the uniqueness of this aircraft.

Because even the most advanced fighter jets of the Dragon Country, such as the J-6 and J-7, had a maximum flight range of only 2000 kilometers.

He changed his address for it from “this thing” to “new type of aircraft.”

Factory Director Gu began to carefully recall Peng Lin’s design for this aircraft.

He found that although the aircraft’s materials were somewhat overly simple, its design was indeed refined within its crudeness.

For example, at the wingtips, Peng Lin added vertical winglets to enhance flight stability.

This was also the reason why the aircraft had been flying steadily.

At the same time, Factory Director Gu also began to take seriously the purpose of this new type of aircraft.

“What’s the payload capacity?” he began to ask for more detailed data.

“About 50 kilograms.”

“If some endurance can be sacrificed, the maximum payload can reach 100 kilograms.”

“But in that case, I estimate the endurance wouldn’t exceed 300 kilometers,” Peng Lin said.

For a drone, every kilogram of increased load has quite a significant impact on endurance.

“A payload of 50 kilograms, flying 2000 kilometers, wouldn’t that mean it could fly from our Changhe Military Factory all the way to the southern regions of Yue Hou Country?”

“If it carries 100 kilograms and flies 300 kilometers, that’s enough to fly from our country’s border to the capital of Yue Hou Country, Hanoi City!”

Listening to the buzzing engine sound, Factory Director Gu finally realized the seriousness of the problem after a delay.

What if this new aircraft was filled with explosives?

He suddenly slapped his thigh, an expression of sudden realization on his face.

“No wonder your new aircraft is so crudely made, even using wood!”

“Even the landing gear was omitted!”

“So you never considered the issue of this new aircraft returning?”

Factory Director Gu was shocked.

He was even startled by Peng Lin’s thinking and idea!

What kind of weapon could launch a 50-kilogram shell from Changhe Factory to Hanoi City, the capital of Yue Hou Country?

Other than long-range missiles, Factory Director Gu couldn't think of any other equipment.

But long-range missiles were too expensive; they were used to deliver nuclear weapons, not to transport shells!

And what about the new aircraft developed by Peng Lin?

Given its “crudely made” plywood and wooden exterior, and that motorcycle engine, its cost could at most not exceed 20,000 yuan.

Although 20,000 yuan was not a small sum in that era,

Compared to long-range missiles, it was far too cheap.

Moreover, if a war broke out, and Dragon Country could use this thing to launch large-scale attacks on enemy military command centers, Air Force bases, communication facilities, transportation hubs, logistics warehouses, and industrial facilities in the rear,

The chaos and losses caused would be unimaginable!

Factory Director Gu looked at Peng Lin and gasped!

How much genius thought and ideas would it take to concoct such a useful new type of suicide aircraft?

“A drone carrying 50 kilograms or 100 kilograms of shells flying directly to the enemy’s command headquarters – I can’t even imagine the scene!”

Thinking of these things, Factory Director Gu’s heart could no longer calm down, no matter what.

Long-range precision strike capability, like a missile, was achieved by Peng Lin at a cost of 20,000 yuan!

This was simply maddening!

“Shells?”

“Who said the warhead of the ‘sickle’ suicide drone had to be shells?”

“I think it’s more suitable to directly equip it with a fuel-air explosive!” Peng Lin said quietly.