July 2, 625
The next month came around, and I was back in the Capital.
Like the last few times I was picked up from the terminal by a chauffeur and taken to the Magic Spire. Sawn treated me well.
I was just as eager as he was to see the success of this project, so I didn’t mind getting right back into work. I wondered if I’d be sleeping inside my office, because there was a lot to do this month.
I took the elevator up and got admitted through the teleporter, arriving on the office floor. I walked in and found Sawn coordinating with several of the others within the office.
I had learned last month that the people who operated in Sawn’s office were the greatest minds Sawn had procured. Now, half of them were working on Project Wright. I could see several devices scattered across long metal tables, all of them some form of Mana Engine. Nobody but Sawn, Ovidius, and I had access to the core enchantments, but through a little modularity and magic encryption, we were able to separate the core enchantments into their own pieces, giving us total control over them. Even if one was stolen, which was inevitable, my rudimentary encryption would ensure that it couldn’t be reverse engineered.
The encryption was barely encryption in my book, and yet it would do its job just fine. A series of redundancies, extraneous enchantments, and inert conduits made it so that simply looking at the enchantment would yield nothing. It looked like the most complex piece of work ever devised and yet 90% of it did absolutely nothing. The last 10% was the actual enchantment, hidden among all the other arrays, only decipherable by three people. Without knowing which conduits or arrays to activate specifically and which ones to tune to an inert frequency, the enchantment wouldn’t work.
Because of that we were able to produce it without worry, dedicating sheer manpower and resources to it without concern of it getting leaked or stolen. After all, we wanted to get everything out as soon as possible.
All of the summoners and warlocks had been working on measuring the Mana Engine’s power output and efficiency, as well as building an actual plane. The plane had been built a while before I arrived and the measurements were finished not long ago.
As I had thought, my Mana Engine was incredibly efficient. I had certain specs that I needed it to hit, primarily the propeller’s rpm, and Sawn had worked on making sure it hit those minimum and maximum numbers. I couldn’t really measure torque or horsepower at different rpms so just rpm would have to do.
A Mana Engine armed with two Authority 5 White Crystals could barely hit my designated maximum of 3000 rpm at full power with a 4-blade 11 ft diameter propeller, leaving little room for comfort. It was amazing to me that two little crystals could deliver such power, but Sawn wasn’t that impressed and decided that moving up to Authority 6 Crystals would be better. It would provide far more longevity and afford more power when it was necessary, such as on the field of battle.
As for whether the cost was worth it, that was up to him. I knew that he could easily procure thousands of Authority 6 Crystals but I didn’t know what he planned to sell these things for. All that would be left to him. I just had to design the moneymaker.
So, even before the Mana Engine was fully specced out, he had built the frame of the aircraft. What was great about the frame was that it required damn near nothing. No fuel tank, no engine, even the conduits to control the flaps and fins were nothing but enchanted metal wires. There were no hydraulics that had to be run off of a turbine and there was no need to accommodate air intakes that a turbine would use because it didn’t need air. There were also no electronic systems because that didn’t exist in this world which meant no radar, and things like an Aerial could be easily mounted with its own Node if need be.
The most complicated part besides the Mana Engine was probably the landing gear since I had to design a suspension for it. Even then, the designs for that kind of stuff already existed and I just had to piece things together. I didn’t have to remake the wheel and everything came together so easily that I wanted to tear my hair out. It was little more complex than a fucking child’s drawing, the biggest middle finger to every engineer that ever lived on Earth.
All run off of two little rocks and some fancy drawings.
No matter. It was getting built and it was a necessary weapon.
Sawn was ready for test runs by the time I got back. He had promised me that I would be the one to test the product, so I had to go and fly the thing. I was also the only one who understood how to fly it, even just conceptually. Nobody else knew what the hell an aileron, rudder, or elevator did, and they didn’t understand g-forces in this context, or perhaps at all. They didn’t know how turns should be made, they didn’t know how to manage the kinds of speeds the aircraft could push, they didn’t know what it meant to be at certain altitudes, they didn’t know what to do if things went to shit and they had to bail.
So for the sake of safety, I was the one to fly. It was also because I was the inventor, and Sawn wanted me to be the face of flight.
I knew he was preparing to make this a big deal. It would change everything, and he was about to make some unfathomable profits that would make his company stand on top of all others. The plane would make him a behemoth, and I had brought it to him.
However, I underestimated just how much he was doing.
It was on July 5th that I stood on the outskirts of the Capital, beyond the massive walls surrounding the city. Sawn had created a hangar where all the tests for the aircraft were conducted, as well as where a runway had been built. It was only smooth dirt and not tarmac but it would have to do. It wasn’t like I was flying a jet or an airliner anyway.
Inside the hangar I looked at the plane before me. It still jarred me to see it. It felt like something that shouldn’t exist in this world but here it was, built to match my vision.
It was a two seater aircraft with the same design as one of the most iconic fighter planes in America, the P-51 Mustang.
Propped up on its two front wheels, the tilted plane had a stepstool leading up to the wing where the pilot would climb to reach the cockpit. There were a few summoners around it checking the metal paneling of the plane. Everything underneath besides the structural components was wood, providing a degree of insulation. I had described just how cold things got at higher altitudes, as well as how thin the air got. Because of that Sawn made sure there was an air moderator within the cockpit and plenty of insulation.
The glass of the canopy was also reinforced with enchantments and designed to break off in an emergency. I made sure that, in case it went down, I wouldn’t be trapped in a metal coffin. To that end I also had him make a parachute, which I checked personally.
Sawn walked up to my side.
“She’s beautiful. Not even in the air yet and I can already see it.”
“Yessir. If it performs as it should, I should be able to reach 20 thousand feet today.”
“How long do you want to fly?”
“I’m certainly not using anywhere close to the 12 hours of range it has. Honestly, I’ll probably go for about half an hour before coming back down. Then Ovidius can join me.”
“Sounds like a plan,” He nodded, glancing at me, “By the way, I have some news.”
“Yeah?” I listened, watching the summoners step away from the plane to prepare for the flight.
He nodded, “I’ve prepared a big event to showcase the plane. The invitations were sent a week ago, and it will take place before you leave for the front lines, on the 18th. We will be inviting most nobles. Dukes, Grand Dukes, Sovereigns, Marshals, Generals such as your own, other major business owners, and however many thousands of people that can join them. I’ve even sent an invitation to the Royal Family. I’m hoping the King will be able to attend but I’ve yet to get a definite response.”
“Holy shit. Pulling out all the stops, huh?”
“Of course. This is a monumental event and perhaps the biggest opportunity I’ll have to expand infrastructure for Sawn Industries to support these things. We need to take full advantage of this. We should have your so called helicopters out as well by that time. I have a feeling that nobles will take a fancy to a stable ride in one of those.”
“I suppose. I’m not sure how I feel about becoming so famous though.”
“Don’t worry so much. Just make sure you can fly this damn thing safely. It still worries me that the only thing you have to rely on so high up is four spinning metal blades and a pair of wings.”
“Eh. Occupational hazard.” I shrugged.
He rolled his eyes, “More scared of being famous than flying 20 thousand feet up in a metal can.”
I chuckled as he turned his head to call for the other summoners.
“Are the checks clear?”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Yes sir,” One of the summoners nodded, smiling, “Everything is in place. It can fly whenever you’re ready.”
Sawn looked at me for an answer. I smiled and walked over, jumping on top of the wing. The canopy was propped open.
When I looked inside at all the controls, I got a wave of goosebumps. Inside my mind, I suddenly felt something call out to me.
I quickly jumped into my 6th Star, sending a burst of power out through a drone and quickly arriving at the object sending out the call.
It was actually a parachute. I was surprised, but then I remembered how way back when, I got a pair of aviation goggles. I suppose the rest of the equipment for a pilot should be in there as well, especially since I was in the Vietnam era.
I quickly summoned it, the backpack appearing on my back. It was snug, and I fastened what I needed to before climbing into the cockpit.
It was actually comfortable. Since there was so much available space, they didn’t skimp on luxury. I settled in nicely.
Sawn yelled, “All personnel, prepare for first flight!”
Everyone scrambled as my cockpit closed, Sawn’s last words slipping through.
“Today, we write history!”
The cockpit snapped closed, everything going quiet.
I looked down at all the controls before grabbing the 5 point harness and strapping myself into the seat. Once I was secure I took out the enchanted master key for the plane, slotting it into the control panel before pressing the master power button.
The cockpit lit up soundlessly. I gave it a few seconds before hitting one of the pedals on the floor, sending a bit of power to the wheels and making them turn.
I drove the plane out of the hangar, workers running around like ants to get instruments ready for my flight. I heard the main Aerial click on, a voice coming through as I drove onto the runway.
“Come in Cooper.”
“I hear you Tower.”
“This is Sawn.”
“That’s what I meant. How are we?”
I smiled while aligning myself with the center of the runway, pointing the craft into the distance.
“Everyone is making last second preparations but it’s nothing you need to worry about. Runway is clear. You’re free to fly.”
“Copy Tower. Spinning up now.”
“Why are you calling me Tower?”
“Because you’re supposed to be in a tower. Not my fault you didn’t build one.”
“An unnecessary expenditure. I can see you just fine from here.”
“No fun.”
I chuckled as the propeller started spinning. It was smooth, even, lacking the personality of a high octane engine like every bland electric car.
Soon I started feeling the vibration of the propeller spinning, There was an rpm meter on the console in front of me that I watched rise by the hundred. Soon it was sitting at 600 rpm. I had to hit the brake to keep the plane from rolling forward.
I sat there for a few minutes like that, craning my head and checking all my control surfaces, making sure everything was nominal.
Everything was moving as it should and nothing was blowing up yet, so I clicked the Aerial.
“Cooper to Tower, everything is looking good and buttery smooth. I’m ready to launch.”
“Copy Cooper. We’re ready for you to take this step. For all of humanity.”
I didn’t respond, knowing he was recording everything that went through the Aerial. As he said, we were writing history right now.
It was nothing conceptually new to me but this was still my first time ever flying a plane like this.
“To think I’m about to do this without a license. A first for everything.”
I said that while grabbing the throttle, gradually moving it forward while letting off the brake. The plane started to roll forward as the propeller kicked up in speed, rpms rising by the hundred, quickly climbing to a thousand.
I started picking up speed down the runway, continuing to push the throttle forward, feeling the power behind the propeller as it pushed me back into my seat. My body was tense, my heart rate high, and I was laser focused as the rpm hit 1500.
I could feel the wings start to produce lift, a bit of pressure coming from underneath me as I pushed the throttle even farther. It was two thirds down the runway when I let off the throttle, the rpm now sitting at 2000.
Then I angled the control stick between my legs back, the flaps moving and angling me upward. My tail came off the ground, the front wheels lingering a bit longer before they too caught air.
I continued to angle up a bit more before pushing the throttle a little farther forward, my altitude climbing. Once I passed the end of the runway I hit a button and let the landing gear fold into the wings.
I continued climbing even after that finished, gaining as much altitude as I wanted. There was no altimeter so I had no idea how high up I was. That was technology that was well beyond this world so I’d have to make do visually.
I looked out of the canopy, seeing everything getting smaller and farther away. The runway was a few miles away from the Capital, enough to generally keep our project a secret. Still, Sawn had sent out a grand invite promoting flight, so there was no way people weren’t on the lookout.
Thinking about how high I’d have to get to avoid warlock spellfire I continued climbing, pushing the throttle more until I was sitting at a pretty 3000 rpm. There was a fuel gauge measuring the power within the Mana Engine and it hadn’t budged at all. Still, I looked at it occasionally, checking every system multiple times to make sure I wasn’t missing anything despite my near perfect memory.
Finally, after I had climbed to what seemed to be 5000 feet, I leveled out and sat there for a bit, checking out the sights. I smiled, banging my fist on the wall of the cockpit next to me.
“Hahahaha! FUCK YEAH! This is what I’m fucking talking about! I designed this shit motherfucker! I’m flying this plane! I brought flight to another world!”
I let out a few screams and cackles before taking a few breaths and calming myself. Finally, I clicked the Aerial and called back.
“Cooper to Tower, I’m in the air and holding steady at low altitude. All systems nominal, no immediate outstanding problems. She’s looking good.”
“Copy Cooper,” Sawn’s voice came through, as well as a host of cheers and applause, “Take your time and let us know when you’re ready to proceed with the test list.”
“Roger. I’m going to start now, beginning with a roll.”
I said that before tilting the control stick. The ailerons adjusted and the plane rotated. I felt my body move within the harness, avoiding the urge to tighten myself down a bit more and completing the roll.
Once I was upright again I stopped, smiling.
“Roll complete, Tower. All is good.”
“Copy Cooper.”
“Now I’ll test the rudder.”
I glanced down at another control lever on the wall. I pushed it forward and felt the plane shift left, then pushed it back and felt the plane shift right. Finally I set it back to level, satisfied.
“Rudder is a-okay, Tower.”
“Copy Cooper. Go ahead and send data.”
“Roger.”
I started letting off numbers and stats, things like how many seconds it took to complete a full roll with full stick tilt and how many degrees the rudder caused the plane to shift per second at full activation. I also threw in a small note about the harness. It would need to be improved for more intense maneuvers.
“Data received.”
“Copy. I’ll climb to medium altitude and do a loop next.”
“Be safe.”
I angled the control stick back and started climbing again. I easily doubled my altitude and then went a little higher. I could be completely off but I was thinking I was at about 15 thousand feet. I compared how the ground looked to how things looked when I flew on passenger airliners on Earth. Those things cruised at around 35 thousand feet and I seemed to sit at about half that height.
Once I leveled out I released a long breath. Then, I pulled the stick back again.
I was forced back into my seat as the g’s bore down on the plane. I angled all the way up, pointing straight up to the sky and feeling a type of vertigo that I had never experienced before.
I kept my composure though, reaching a peak before titling and adjusting my angle, completing the flip and heading back down toward the ground.
I felt my breathing hitch when I pointed straight down to the planet. I knew I had over 10 thousand feet between me and the ground but it certainly didn’t feel like it, especially when I felt the plane pick up so much speed.
I probably dropped 5 thousand feet in the process of leveling back out, taking my time as I felt more g’s. I wasn’t interested in testing structural tolerances right now.
Once I was straight again I looked out the canopy and saw the Capital and the little runway not far from it. With my eyes I could see even the people in the streets despite being an unknown amount of miles away.
I clicked my Aerial, “Loop complete. Not dead yet.”
“Copy Cooper. Last main test is the fly-by. What is that, by the way?”
“You’re about to find out, Tower. Sit tight.”
I flashed a devious smile before snapping the control stick back. After getting a feel for how the plane moved I was confident enough to perform compound maneuvers.
The plane dove, dropping thousands of feet in the direction of the runway. I continued to drop my altitude, the ground getting closer and closer. I got nervous but I knew I was safe.
I could visualize exactly where I was in relation to the ground. I could probably fly this thing with my eyes closed and guess my altitude based on the feeling of the plane rising or falling. My visualization, courtesy of my Mind Palace, was that good, let alone when I had good eyes open.
So I forced down my nervousness and dropped to just a few hundred feet above the ground, aimed straight for the runway.
There was a building with a glass room at the top next to the hangar. I aimed for that and dropped my altitude even lower, getting on its level.
Sawn’s voice came through.
“Cooper, what the hell are you doing?”
“A fly-by, sir.”
“Don’t do it Cooper.”
“I’m gonna do it Tower.”
I grinned and went full throttle, the rpm shooting up to 4000 and the plane holding the speed gained from my descent. The propeller spun so fast that the sonic waves from the tips of the blades screamed in my ears despite the insulation.
I was getting closer to the Tower faster than I thought.
Sawn yelled.
“Cooper, no!”
“Cooper yes!”
I laughed and flew across the runway before tilting the plane so the top of my canopy was facing the glass of the building.
Then I zipped by, activating the time dilation ability of my coat.
I looked up, seeing the screaming and panicking faces of all the summoners inside the room, seeing my faint reflection in the glass. I was only 50 feet away, going over 400 miles an hour, and Sawn’s crazed face was worth every ounce of risk this took.
Yet, the only thought in my mind was how much closer I could’ve gotten as my adrenaline surged, the plane snapping past the building and shattering glass.
First day of flight: Massive success.