C9 What Money Do You Want Me to Donate?

As Lu Ming meticulously reviewed the blueprint, his anxiety intensified with every detail he uncovered. The design was far from straightforward. The so-called Black Vajra boasted a passenger capacity that was nothing short of astonishing, and its power system was entirely unconventional.

Typical jetliners relied on high-thrust vector engines powered by aviation kerosene. However, the blueprint in his hands revealed a hybrid oil-electric powertrain that ran on heavy oil. Heavy oil, a byproduct of refined petroleum, was laden with residues and impurities and was no longer suitable for further refining. Yet, it was remarkably inexpensive. While aviation kerosene fetched a market price between 5,000 to 6,000 yuan per ton, heavy oil cost a mere 2,000 yuan.

For a two-hour flight, an aircraft would consume roughly 23 tons of fuel. By using heavy oil, the savings on fuel costs alone could reach 70,000 yuan per flight. Moreover, this aircraft could switch to electric power mid-flight, further slashing expenses. And with the Black Vajra's designed speed, a journey that typically took two hours could be reduced to just thirty minutes. That's a potential savings of over 100,000 yuan per trip. Multiply that by ten flights, and you're looking at a million yuan in savings. And considering that a plane flies multiple times a day, the economic implications were staggering.

Additionally, this aircraft was equipped with an internal pressure system capable of automatically regulating cabin pressure to comfortable levels, addressing passenger discomfort issues. But such features didn't come cheap. The production and maintenance costs must be substantial.

The plane was impressive, but the financial investment it required was daunting. Changming Aviation Technology Company simply didn't have the funds to spare at the moment. Lu Ming let out a heavy sigh after finishing his review.

"Little Lu, the state of commercial aviation in Great Zhou Country calls for bold action," Xu Wenn said, clearly understanding Lu Ming's concerns. The more sophisticated the aircraft, the steeper the costs of production and maintenance. For a company like Changming Aviation Technology, facing such a hefty investment was a decision that would hurt.

"How many passengers can today's turbofan airliners carry at once?"

Xu Wenn posed the question calmly, noticing that Lu Ming was still lost in his regret over the excessive investment.

"Most airlines currently operate the C310 model, which carries about 60 to 80 passengers. The C320 can handle around 100, and even Boeing's 7 series large aircraft max out at about 200..."

Lu Ming replied, his confusion evident.

It's not that airlines don't want to build larger planes; it's just that the larger the aircraft, the heavier the takeoff weight and the more advanced the technology required. If it were feasible, who wouldn't want to lift a trainload of people into the sky?

"Have you noticed that the Black Vajra can carry 400 passengers in one go?"

"What? 400 people?"

Lu Ming was momentarily stunned, quickly flipping to the last page of the blueprint to check the overall specifications.

Sure enough, there it was in black and white: the aircraft was designed with two decks, with a standard capacity of 400 passengers—double that of Boeing's 7 series.

This meant that in a single flight, the Black Vajra could do the work of two.

Under ideal conditions, that's a profit of an additional 200 passengers.

In other words, the Black Vajra not only reduced flight costs but also increased profits.

What did this mean? It meant that airfares could drop once more!

If this technology were offered to commercial airlines, wouldn't they clamor fiercely to get their hands on it?

Great Zhou Country has over 2,000 commercial aircraft, taking off and landing in different cities at various times throughout the day, with over 15,000 flights daily.

Even so, there are still over a billion people in Great Zhou who have never experienced a single flight!

Clearly, this represents an enormous market.

Indeed, with the Black Vajra in play, dominating international commercial aviation would be as easy as eating and drinking.

"I can't wait; I must take these blueprints back to the research institute right away!"

Lu Ming had cast aside the last shred of doubt in his mind. He envisioned a grand scene where Black Vajras filled the skies, crisscrossing the surface of Blue Star in endless streams.

Xu Wenn had provided merely the blueprints. To make this a reality, they would need to undergo rigorous testing, then build a prototype, followed by test flights, and finally, enter into official service.

However, Xu Wenn had no intention of getting involved in the subsequent work. He had provided the blueprints out of a sense of duty to his student, Lu Ming, and even more so to help save Great Zhou Country's aviation industry. And as for Lu Ming's dedication to the cause, that was the sole reason for his assistance. Xu Wenn never expected anything in return.

"Master! You've not only rescued Longming Aviation, but you are also the beacon of hope for the future of Great Zhou's aviation!" Lu Ming exclaimed, dropping to his knees and fervently kowtowing several times before rising and heading out of Dinghai University.

Watching Lu Ming's zealous departure, Xu Wenn shook his head with a wry smile. His student still had much to learn about composure. It was only a matter of time before he'd be back, seeking guidance.

"Ah, the things I worry about!" Xu Wenn muttered as he prepared to return to his lab to continue his research.

"Thud!"

Just as he turned, a black mass collided with his chest. Xu Wenn stumbled, nearly falling over.

"What the—? You again? Didn't I tell you to get out of here fast?"

Xu Wenn's face darkened as he looked down at Lulu, who was now sitting on the ground, nursing her forehead. She wore an expression of utter dejection. Earlier, in the auditorium, Xu Wenn had left her behind, and the students had given her odd looks. She felt so awkward she could have dug a villa out of her shoe with her toes.

Lulu had followed them out, unnoticed by Xu Wenn and Lu Ming, who were engrossed in their conversation, oblivious to her live broadcast.

But Lulu hadn't understood a word of their discussion. She was utterly baffled throughout.

"Um... Professor Xu, my live stream viewers have donated some money, hoping you'll recover soon. Could you... maybe say hello to my fans?" Lulu asked timidly, her newfound knowledge of Xu Wenn's status as a Dinghai University professor making her exceedingly cautious and deferential.

"Donations? For me? What on earth?" Xu Wenn was completely taken aback.

He was the one known for his generous donations, and now, unexpectedly, he was on the receiving end.

Wow!

He wondered if the system would consider the money others donated to him as his own income.

"Why are you donating money to me?"

Xu Wenn touched his nose, looking at Lulu's pitiful expression. His heart melted a bit, and his voice softened.

"We looked into your background and learned that you've had a congenital disease since childhood. We... we all want to help you out!"