Chapter 18
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Chapter 18: Safe Landing
After taking off normally, the flight state required little frequent operation, with the computer system assisting in semi-automatic driving. The pilot only needed to occasionally adjust the aircraft’s attitude to adapt to different airflow zones. The most dangerous moments were during takeoff and landing.
The airport’s radar almost firmly locked onto Lin Mo’s passenger plane, guiding it into the best landing path and altitude. The flaps moved, and the ascent and descent gradually decreased. The landing gear began to lower slowly from the belly of the plane and under the wings. Fire trucks and ambulances awaited on both sides of the runway, and foam sprayed up like small mountains at the end of the runway.
The airplane thundered down onto the runway, executing a textbook-style landing. The landing gear tires created a puff of smoke on the ground as the wing’s lift decreased to a minimum. Finally, the plane glided to a stop on the runway, its speed gradually slowing as Lin Mo adjusted the engines and rudder, steering off the runway and following the guidance system to the parking position.
At the precise moment the plane came to a complete stop, cheers erupted in the cabin and the command center of the emergency group. Countless people finally felt their hearts drop, as if a heavy stone had been released.
From there, Lin Mo no longer needed to do anything. The airport’s boarding stairs connected to the plane, and passengers eagerly rushed down at lightning speed. On the ground, they joyfully embraced each other and leaped, their thrilling journey firmly etched in their memories.
As Lin Mo opened the cockpit door, he was immediately surrounded by flight attendants, who showered him with kisses. The head flight attendant, a beautiful woman, was the first to greet Lin Mo with a bright blush. After all he had endured in countless battles, even facing the life-and-death situations brought about by the "Absolute Spatial Prison" great forbidden spell, Lin Mo almost fled at that moment. The warmth bursting forth from the flight attendants’ hearts was something he, as someone lacking romantic sensitivity, could hardly withstand.
“Mr. Lin, thank you so much!” A crowd gathered around Lin Mo, who was simply trying to grab his belongings and leave. It was clear why they recognized him immediately; the airport implemented a real-name ID system that allowed immediate access to the complete list and detailed information of all the people on the flight.
“You’re welcome; it was the least I could do,” Lin Mo replied formally, not believing he had done anything extraordinary. He just thought about reporting in quickly, anticipating yet another upcoming celebration, briefing, or news spotlight. He expected the military would not grant him any special exceptions; he had missed his chance, and it was as simple as that.
Lin Mo knew from previous memories how annoying such old routines could be. After all, being a Dragon Knight meant living off the skies; what kind of dangerous situations hadn’t he faced before? This was no big deal at all.
If he accidentally revealed that he was a Dragon Knight from another world, he would either be considered insane and forcibly medicated or interrogated and dissected. If his former comrades from the Dragon Knight Legion in the Su Lan Empire found out, they would surely laugh uncontrollably. This thought sent a shiver down his spine; he realized that one cannot easily oppose the might of the state.
“No, you saved everyone; you’re a hero! On behalf of the entire airline, I express our gratitude!” A middle-aged man in uniform, presumably leading the emergency team, enthusiastically gripped Lin Mo’s hand, his excitement affecting his speech. “Saved everyone” was a broad phrase here; it referred not only to the passengers and crew on the plane but also to the airport, the airline, insurance companies, and various governmental departments. If even a single life had been lost, those involved would face dire consequences.
The loss of the airplane was minor in comparison to the people onboard and their social networks. The media exposure and economic fallout could be disastrous; there was no telling how many individuals were liable for any fallout. For the airline, the consequences could be severe.
Therefore, the members of the temporary emergency team from multiple organizations were immensely grateful to Lin Mo. He not only saved the airline and the aircraft manufacturer’s face but also protected their jobs and livelihoods. Their families’ gratitude toward Lin Mo would surely be immense. This accomplishment was significant, in both a personal and professional sense.
“It’s nothing; I’ll take my leave!” Lin Mo, unfazed by the fact that he had saved nearly a hundred lives and the accompanying interests, just wanted to get moving. Although the airport was not the originally intended destination, he still had to wait for his transfer, which would take up more time.
“Why not take a moment to rest? Don’t worry; we’ll cover your hotel stay tonight, and we have a celebratory dinner prepared for you. Tomorrow morning, we’ll send a special vehicle to your next destination,” the middle-aged man said, patting his chest. As soon as the plane safely landed, the emergency team had set everything in motion. If they had foreseen such an incident, the airline would have preferred to lose ten times the money instead of experiencing this event. Such negative impacts were often fatal; who would dare to fly with them in the future?
Caring for passengers, rewarding calm and competent crew members, especially Lin Mo, who saved everyone onboard, the airline would certainly not hold back its appreciation. The emergency team on the ground knew well how harsh the cockpit conditions were with a shattered windshield, and they were thoroughly amazed by Lin Mo’s physical resilience. They just hadn’t learned that Lin Mo was about to become an Air Force pilot; otherwise, they would have been reassured, believing that a pilot’s physicality could not be poor!
Moreover, Lin Mo’s experience as a Dragon Knight in another world far surpassed the physical requirements expected of pilots.
“Sorry, but I really have urgent matters; I can’t delay!” Lin Mo found himself slightly intimidated by the crowd of people surrounding him. They were all civilians; he couldn’t very well fight his way out. Had this been in another world and he called out to his dragon companion, it would have sent everyone scattering like frightened birds.
As a Dragon Knight, he represented high-level strategic military power; he couldn’t be a spectacle for others to gawk at. If he were, it would cheapen the role of Dragon Knights, which needed to maintain a certain level of respect. After all, how would they intimidate enemy nations?
Even here in this world, having lost his companion, Lin Mo still considered himself a Dragon Knight deep down. After all, the honor of soaring through the skies was not something just anyone could experience.
The middle-aged man in uniform finally found himself outmatched by Lin Mo’s determination and had to relent: “Well, Mr. Lin, I’m truly sorry. Rest assured, I’ve arranged for someone to take you where you need to go. Here’s my business card; feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything.” He could only express his regrets. No one could have anticipated today’s unexpected incident, and yet, it concluded so positively, leaving everyone pleased. He believed the other passengers wouldn’t cause too much trouble for the airline, and ultimately he handed Lin Mo a business card, hoping it would open doors for the young man in the future.
“Thank you, Manager Shi!” Lin Mo accepted the card with both hands, glancing at the information written on it—Shi Guojun, holding a significant position.
Several others also presented their business cards, doing what Shi Guojun had done. They viewed this composed young man favorably for having safely piloted such a large passenger plane to the ground. Not only did he excel in learning abilities, but he exhibited excellent mental resilience, indicating a future of limitless potential. Just a few cards from them could aid him in his future endeavors.
“Kid! You’re impressive! Here’s my card! If you need anything, contact me, and I’ll help!”
“I’m Yu Tie, vice president of Dahua Company. I now consider you a brother! If you ever face difficulties, I’ll brave any danger to help!”
“I, Old Zhang, owe you my life. Here’s my card. If you need a job, come find me—whether you want to be a civil servant or work in a state-owned enterprise, it’s all up to you!”
Some elite passengers also offered Lin Mo their business cards, grateful to have avoided a disaster. Luck was with him today, and he would surely reap future rewards because of his bravery. Many wanted to exchange phone numbers, but Lin Mo’s phone had already perished in the fusion process, and he couldn’t remember his old number. He could only decline, saying his number had been lost and he hadn’t gotten a new one yet.
Cards of various impressive qualities filled Lin Mo’s hands as he accepted them one by one, expressing his gratitude. He did not expect these people to be part of his life in the future. Their promises might not hold true; they merely indicated they were thankful for his actions at that moment. He couldn’t ignore their kindness or treat them coldly; etiquette still mattered.
After traveling in a specially assigned business car for seven hours with his luggage, Lin Mo finally arrived at the assembly location for special recruits: the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aviation University.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aviation University, formerly known as the Northeast Democratic United Army Aviation School (the old Northeast Aviation School), started with several old Japanese fighter planes and trainer models. They sought out all available spare parts and fuel, building a supply chain while overcoming the difficulties posed by the Nationalist bombings and incessant harassment. They broke the conventional three-step training method and jumped straight to advanced trainer aircraft. Over time, in 2004, the previously connected Air Force’s Second Aviation Academy, Changchun Flight Academy, and Seventh Flight Academy merged to form the Air Force Aviation University, consisting of seven campuses covering an area of 19 million square meters, located across Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces.
