Spark

"What the hell kind of plot is this?"

Sitting on the plane flying back to Chengdu from Hailan, Chen Nian looked at the information sent by Chen Guo, and a familiar yet unfamiliar word almost flashed through his mind involuntarily.

And it's not his fault, because the current plot is really a bit...

It's so much like the past repeating itself.

It's just that this time the protagonist being targeted has changed.

"Britain, Germany, and France have all responded. It seems that this time they are really planning to tie us to death."

"However, their reasons are very good. They want to curb the momentum of war and protect world peace."

"Cuba is indeed lucky. At that time, no one would help us for such a reason."

Chen Guo's tone was a little emotional, but after hearing his words, Chen Nian didn't know what to say.

Yes, at that time, when the United States launched a brazen attack on another small country for almost the same reason, the only one who was really on the side of the weak was China.

——

But then again, from this perspective, the plot has not actually changed at all.

They are still a bunch of opportunists, and they still help whoever is strong and whoever wins.

But now, we are the ones who are strong, and we are the ones with the greatest chance of winning.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Nian continued to ask:

"So even under such circumstances, is the United States still determined to launch operations in Cuba?"

"I mean, their enemy is not just Cuba, and it's not just us."

"Quite the opposite."

Chen Guo sighed and continued:

"It's because the enemy is not just us, that they want to take action."

"It will only be good for them to involve more countries, and there will be no harm. I think they will even wait a little until the personnel are ready before taking action."

". A very reasonable guess."

Chen Nian nodded and said.

Indeed, the purpose of launching the war in Cuba was not to occupy it, but to find an outlet for domestic pressure.

The country of Cuba itself, including their land, their resources, and their population, is meaningless to the United States.

What really matters is the war itself.

Therefore, the longer this war lasts, the better it is for them.

"So, if that's the case, isn't what we are doing playing into their hands?"

"It can also be said to be a trick."

Chen Guo denied it, and then continued to explain:

"In short, what the two sides are doing now is a collision of conspiracy."

"They need time and we need time."

"The key to victory or defeat lies in whether we can strike a decisive blow before they use this war to stabilize the domestic political situation."

The decisive punch.

There is no doubt that it refers to the Nantianmen project.

Chen Nian breathed a sigh of relief and said no more.

At this time, the plane was still two hours away from the airport in Chengdu where it was about to land.

"Change the course, let's go directly to Nantianmen Base."

"They are about to conduct power system testing. If I am there, maybe it will be smoother."

At the same time, inside the Nantianmen base.

On the huge test platform, a triangular vehicle composed of three latest model "Xiangyun" LITV nuclear-powered engines connected in series is undergoing its final inspection.

Lin Yongming and Lei Gang stood in the command hall on the side of the test platform, looking through the glass at the "Tang Zhuan No. 1" which was about to complete its first takeoff.

Neither of them spoke, but just watched silently, until the staff who came to deliver the pre-inspection report broke the silence. Lei just said:

"This thing looks a bit familiar. But I really can't remember where I've seen it before."

Hearing his words, Lin Yongming smiled and replied:

"If it doesn't look familiar to you, something is wrong. Does it look like a Mi-32?"

"Oh! I just said it!"

Lei Gang suddenly realized, and the familiar feeling in his mind finally settled.

The Mi-32 is a project that Russia once had high hopes for, but ultimately failed to materialize.

Like Tangzhuan-1, it adopts a triangular fuselage system design with a size of 40X36 meters, even larger than an Airbus A320.

It itself is a bizarre product of various crazy technological attempts during the Cold War, with the purpose of achieving the maximum load of a vertical take-off and landing vehicle.

According to its design standards, six D126 engines will provide it with more than 200 tons of lift. Excluding its own weight, the payload alone can reach an astonishing 60 tons.

You know, the payload of the Mi-26 is only about 21 tons.

It can be said that this design has reached a very high level in terms of advancedness and extremeness. If it can be built, it may become a typical representative of Russian violent aesthetics.

Unfortunately, this design has many technical flaws. The complex vortex generated by the three-rotor has brought unprecedented challenges to flight control.

In addition, Russia itself is at a disadvantage in terms of materials. Without high-strength lightweight materials, the inevitable internal stress of the triangular design will tear the entire body into pieces the moment it takes off.

Therefore, until the end of the Cold War, this aircraft was not built - I have to say that this is also a major regret in a sense.

But now, after decades, this regret has actually been made up for in China.

However, the ultimate goal of the Nantianmen project team is not such a triangular helicopter at all, but only uses it as a power test platform.

Recalling all the details about that "legendary plane", Lei Gang suddenly became interested.

"So you said, is it possible for us to apply this technology to helicopter design?"

"Now that all our technologies are mature, there are no difficulties from materials to flight control. After completing the Nantianmen, it will not be difficult to build a batch of small vertical take-off and landing vehicles, right?"

"I think the triangular design is very good! There is enough carrying space and flexibility is guaranteed. In addition,"

"But why are we doing it?"

Lin Yongming interrupted Lei Gang and confused him with one sentence.

"Why do it? Of course it's for use!"

"In the future, fusion projects and superconducting projects will progress faster and faster. Our country's terrain is complex and changeable. Helicopters can only be said to be getting better and better."

"No, I mean, why do we use a triangular body design?"

"The maximum thrust of a Xiangyun engine has reached 220 tons. If it is in the stamping state, it can reach 350 tons."

"Then tell me now, what kind of triangular body are you going to use this thing for?"

"How can we transport such heavy things? A single-engine vertical take-off and landing carrier aircraft is enough."

Lei Gang scratched his head in embarrassment - he indeed subconsciously ignored this.

"It seems so. Forget it, let's take a look at the test first. How long will it take?"

Lin Yongming glanced at his watch and replied:

"Two hours, starting around 4 o'clock."

"That's still early, we."

Before Lei Gang finished speaking, Lin Yongming's cell phone suddenly rang.

He picked up the phone, said a few words briefly, then hung up the phone and said to Lei Gang:

"I'm not going anywhere, just wait here."

"Chen Nian's plane just landed at the airport and will be here soon."

"I'll take him to take a good look at the engine later. If he has any suggestions for improvement, we can use it in the next version."

"clear!"

Lei Gang instantly became energetic and went through all the parameters he was already familiar with in his mind.

——

However, when Chen Nian arrived at the command hall, he completely forgot about this incident and only went to chat with Chen Nian about his daily life and his health.

Different from other people's purely "technical exchanges", whether it was Lin Yongming, Lei Gang, or Chen Guo, they all watched Chen Nian grow up little by little.

So to them, Chen Nian is definitely not only a materialized representative of advanced technology and the core of Spark, but also a real, flesh-and-blood junior.

Talk about work right away when they meet. Even if they plan to do this, they can’t actually do it.

"This period of time in Hailan can be regarded as a good rest. You are still young, so you have to pay attention to your health."

"Don't be like us when we get old and it will be too late to start exercising again."

"I know, I haven't fallen behind in this short period of time."

Chen Nian answered with a smile, then turned to ask:

"How is the situation of Tangzhuan No. 1? Have the takeoff parameters been set?"

"It's basically no problem. The engine warm-up has been completed. Wait for half an hour and after the self-check is completed, you can take off."

"The take-off load this time is about 420 tons, which is a light-load take-off."

"After the first successful takeoff, we will reach the ultimate payload of 600 tons. At that time, we will have to be more careful - there is a risk of blowing up."

"Mainly because this test is a pure power test and the cooling system is relatively simple."

"How many reactors are they?"

Chen Nian suddenly asked.

"Single reactor with 3 engines."

"That should be no problem. Engine 3 can still withstand the thermal load of a single reactor."

Chen Nian is very confident - he has repeatedly verified these parameters. If there is a problem, it is either a problem with the process or a problem with the system itself.

However, under the premise that the Nantianmen project team adopted an extremely simplified and high fault-tolerant design, the impact of process problems has been minimized.

Theoretically speaking, the probability of not being able to fly is much greater than the probability of blowing up.

Several people were waiting for the self-test to be completed while discussing the technical details. Half an hour later, as "ready" feedback came from various parts of the command center, this time the power test officially began.

Chen Nian looked at the strange triangular vehicle from a distance, and couldn't help but feel a little bit of anticipation in his heart.

420 tons load capacity.

Even in the history of the entire aviation industry of mankind, it is an epoch-making milestone.

As the countdown sounded, the reaction pair that reached the subcritical state began to release tremendous heat to the three engines.

After the heat flows through the "combustion chamber", it undergoes a volume expansion process and turns into turbulent airflow, pushing the turbofan to start rotating at full speed.

Visible light refraction begins to appear under the engine, but compared with a fuel-driven turbofan engine, it is so quiet.

There was no fire and no Mach ring visible, so Tang Brick-1 flew steadily.

The 420-ton load was as if it didn’t exist. Under the control of the advanced flight control, the fuselage did not even vibrate significantly.

It's easy to lift a heavy weight!

The four people in the command hall applauded in celebration, and as Tang Brick No. 1 landed, a greater challenge followed.

This time, it is the ultimate load of 600 tons.

The reactor will enter a supercritical state, and flammable gas will be added to the core of the reactor. This crazy technology will take the fission temperature that humans can achieve to a higher level.

The treated gas is then ejected directly, rather than just using heat to do the work of expanding the air.

Core stamping solutions.

With great momentum, Tangzhuan No. 1 took off again.

It was still stable, but after just two minutes it had to land back on the platform.

Of course, even these two minutes are enough to go down in history.

Even Chen Nian became excited. He looked at Lin Yongming and Lei Gang and said:

"Very good! If it can be equipped with an efficient heat dissipation system, the supercritical stamping state can be maintained for at least half an hour, which is enough to be used as the main power during the take-off and landing stages."

"Yes, this is originally a plan for handling heavy take-off and landing. Not to mention half an hour, 10 minutes is enough!"

"This verification was a complete success! Next, it’s Nantianmen."

Looking at Tangzhuan No. 1 parked quietly in the distance to dissipate heat, everyone's eyes were filled with light.

For China, the successful test flight of Tangzhuan-1 is a major progress and an important bargaining chip for subsequent strategies.

But at the same time, on the other side of the sea, chips began to be placed on the scale.

Havana.

The few drug traffickers who "escaped into Cuban territorial waters" have still not been caught, and even their existence has gradually become a tacit understanding.

But no one cares about this. The US Navy has begun frequent mobilizations. The first to bear the brunt is the protagonist of time, the river troops.

After a series of negotiations and confrontations, the two parties reached an agreement and decided to shelve the matter temporarily.

When the news was released, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

——

But only those "mercenaries" who are actually in Cuba know that this is by no means a signal that the crisis has been resolved. On the contrary, it is likely to be a...

The official call to attack.

And their prediction was not wrong.

In March 2017, late one night, gunshots pierced the night sky in Havana.

A special operations team of the American River Force encountered German armed personnel stationed here on an inland river near Bahia Honda.

It took less than a minute for both parties to confirm each other's identities and complete unsuccessful negotiations.

Subsequently, a rocket hit the assault boat on which the Hechuan troops were riding.

The first shot was fired like this