Chapter 40: Night Blind Landing

Dr. Yu Ying returned to his command post, and his voice rang out once again: "Zhao Tianyu, report on the situation at the Jinwan Airport."

Zhao Tianyu replied excitedly from the other end: "Planes are still continuously landing in the skies above Jinwan Airport. The four of us are closely monitoring the models and quantities of the landing aircraft. So far, all the planes from the Russian '1st Guards' and the Chinese 'August 1st' aerobatic demonstration teams have landed; the Chinese Navy's J-15 and Y-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft have landed; the Chinese Air Force's J-16, J-10C, and Y-20 have landed, and I just saw a Caihong drone land as well. I think most of the participating military aircraft have landed by now."

"Very good. Keep tracking the aircraft landings and report at any time," Dr. Yu Ying replied with satisfaction.

随后，于英博士发布了第十条指令：“操控员就位，接手飞机控制，航速350，高度3000，继续盘旋。”

"Received, speed 350, altitude 3,000, continuing to loiter," answered the operator Cui Yinuo loudly, sounding full of energy again after having had a meal.

Not long after, the calm mezzo-soprano of the ZH Control Tower came through once again: "HK001D, ZH Tower, report your fuel level and endurance time."

Navigator Zhou Zixuan immediately responded: "ZH Tower, HK001D, fuel remaining at 25%, endurance time two hours."

The ZH Tower mezzo-soprano replied: "HK001D, ZH Tower, received. Maintain altitude, continue to loiter, expected to land in half an hour."

"That's fantastic!" People in the hangar jumped up, clapping and congratulating one another, their excitement beyond words. Meanwhile, the female engineers in the flight control room immediately and energetically began preparations for the landing.

At 20:30, the voice of the ZH Tower mezzo-soprano sounded again: "HK001D, ZH Tower, cease loitering and waiting, execute night instrument landing procedure immediately, runway 36R, altimeter setting 1015."

Navigator Zhou Zixuan: "ZH Tower, HK001D received, cease loitering and waiting, execute night instrument landing procedure, runway 36R, altimeter setting 1015."

Dr. Yu Ying issued the eleventh instruction: "Operator, cease loitering and waiting, execute night instrument landing procedure, runway 36R, altimeter setting 1015."

"Received, cease loitering and waiting, execute night instrument landing procedure, runway 36R, altimeter setting 1015," replied operator Cui Yinuo calmly.

Almost everyone held their breath and gathered in front of the big screen. On the screen, the runway lights of Jinwan Airport were clear and straight, and the runway was slowly drawing closer. The camera's infrared night vision function was enabled, making the scene as bright as day even in the pitch-black night.

At this moment, Zhao Tianyu and his three companions were standing on the periphery of the runway apron, using their mobile phones to stream the audio and video feed of the entire airport in real time.

The night was deep and dotted with stars, and the straight runway appeared exceptionally tranquil under the bright, colorful lights. In the distance, a low hum pierced the silence of the night as a drone slowly approached. Its color blended into the dark night sky, its outline shimmering faintly in the night air under the illumination of the fuselage lights, with the naked eye barely able to discern its streamlined body and flashing navigation lights.

The drone's rotors emitted a soft blue glow that harmonized with the starlight in the night sky. It hovered in the air for a moment, as if confirming the position of the apron and the surrounding conditions. Accompanied by a faint mechanical sound, the drone began to descend slowly, the rotation speed of its rotors gradually decreasing to match the rate of descent. The drone's downward-facing lights were blindingly bright, illuminating the apron as if it were daytime.

Suddenly, communications officer Sun Mengjie cried out in alarm: "Report, the wireless communication link is experiencing interference, and the signal is unstable."

Everyone was jolted with a cold sweat by these words. Dr. Yu Ying abruptly stood up and urgently issued the twelfth instruction: "Operator, abort landing, hover and wait, report altitude."

"Received, abort landing, hover and wait, altitude 150," Cui Yinuo hurriedly replied.

"Communications officer, engage the 5G communication link," Dr. Yu Ying ordered urgently.

"Report, 5G link engaged, signal is still interfered with, signal remains unstable," Sun Mengjie replied with a slight tremor in her voice.

"Communications officer, engage the Tiantong satellite communication link," Dr. Yu Ying issued the fourteenth instruction.

"Report, Tiantong satellite link engaged, link connection failed," came Sun Mengjie's voice, tinged with a cry.

Everyone's heart leapt into their throats, and the hangar was so quiet that the drop of a pin could be heard.

"Communications officer, turn the satellite receiver power to maximum," Dr. Yu Ying issued the fifteenth instruction.

"Report, satellite receiver power adjusted to maximum, Tiantong satellite link connection still failed," Sun Mengjie's crying was now distinctly audible.

"Communications officer, continue searching for satellite signals," Dr. Yu Ying issued the sixteenth instruction.

"Received, continuing to search for satellite signals," Sun Mengjie was now almost sobbing uncontrollably.

Time ticked by second by second. Everyone stood frozen in place as if instantly solidified, waiting through what felt like a prolonged century.

About two minutes later, communications officer Sun Mengjie suddenly cried out at the top of her lungs: "Report, Tiantong satellite link successfully connected, signal is stable and strong."

Dr. Yu Ying immediately issued the seventeenth instruction, shouting urgently: "Operator, stop hovering, engage instrument landing system, land immediately."

"Received, stop hovering, engage instrument landing system, landing immediately," Cui Yinuo shouted back while instantly entering the landing commands.

On the large screen, the drone shook its body slightly at an altitude of 150 meters and then began to descend slowly. The tricycle landing gear fully extended, emitting a faint frictional sound the moment it touched the ground, after which the propellers began to decelerate until they came to a complete halt. The landing process of the drone was smooth and fluid, swift and steady, with almost no perceptible vibration.

Warm applause erupted in the hangar, and people hugged each other with tear-filled eyes. In the flight control room, the flight control engineers embraced in a group, tears of joy staining their young faces.

Dr. Yu Ying also closed his eyes, collapsing heavily into his seat, unable to utter a single word.

Following the successful landing of the drone, the roaring runway returned to peace. The drone sat quietly on the runway, like a nocturnal traveler finding a temporary resting place after completing a journey. The surrounding air seemed to grow even more serene with its landing, with only the distant wind and the faint clamor of the far-off city reminding everyone that the world was not entirely asleep.

At this moment, Zhao Tianyu's voice came through: "Report, the drone has landed successfully. We are contacting the tow truck to prepare to move the aircraft off the runway."

Dr. Yu Ying stood up once again, his voice somewhat hoarse as he said, "Received, Tianyu, report the aircraft relocation status at your end at any time."

He then issued the eighteenth instruction: "Operator, shut down the engine."

"Received, engine shut down," Cui Yinuo replied happily while wiping the tears from her face.