Chapter 346.2: Aviation Fuel is a Big Problem

Dawn City Industrial Zone, Goblin Technology's factory.

Mosquito, sitting amidst a pile of parts and a blackboard, along with his four self-taught apprentices, was still pulling his hair out over the mission assigned by the administrator.

To push the limits of speed, they first needed to solve the problem of the engine. The ideal situation would be to directly use a turbojet engine.

However, even for a structurally simple turbojet, it still required components like a compressor, combustion chamber, and turbine.

The working temperatures of fan blades and compressor blades weren't too demanding; they could use A3-Type Aerospace Aluminum alloy. However, the turbine blades required more consideration.

Working at temperatures over a thousand degrees would significantly weaken the strength of steel and titanium. Hence, nickel was the only choice.

Yet, even the single-crystal nickel alloy, in high-heat working environments, faced the risk of melting. Therefore, the blades usually had tiny internal passages and holes cast within them.

This was a complex process, not only demanding extremely strict requirements for the material itself but also for the casting process.

Fortunately, Steel Plant 81 expressed willingness to help find a solution for the engine blades.

It wasn't realistic to make the MiG's engine, but creating something like the grandfather of MiG, the Ta183, was still worth trying.

Enough quantities of long-range jet-powered missiles, or rather, jet aircraft, could at least give the New Alliance a slight advantage in the air.

For Goblin Technology, the assistance from friendly competitors was undoubtedly good news.

If they could produce the blades, at least half of the troubles they encountered with the turbojet engine would be reduced.

However...

Before Mosquito could celebrate, he immediately realized a more severe problem than the engine.

They were out of fuel!

In reality, there were many choices for aerospace fuel.

However... They were in the wasteland!

The New Alliance's oil supplies mainly relied on the Camu Tree plantation, but this biomass oil was too light, lacking highly branched isoparaffins.

It was fine as an industrial raw material for New Alliance industries, as their demand for isoparaffins wasn't too strict. Even processing it into general fuel was feasible, as it could be ignited even without processing.

But aviation fuel had much higher requirements.

The critical component of aviation kerosene was highly branched isoparaffins, followed by a series of issues like sulfur content and impurities.

Even if they reduced the requirements for fuel heat value and density, there was simply no technology to refine biomass oil into aviation fuel.

Because there was no Camu Tree species in reality, there was no way for him to replicate the issue.

Biomass oil itself belonged to the forefront of energy-saving and emission-reducing research. Although there were plenty of interim results and PowerPoint presentations, nobody had heard of any company using oil crops to replace oil fields while solving carbon emissions and industrial raw material problems.

Oil grown in fields?

What a great idea?!

If such a thing really existed in reality, the whole world would go crazy!

As everyone was trying to come up with a solution but couldn't, Chasing Souls suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence. "What about trying solid fuel? Like burning coal?"

Taking Lives, sitting nearby, suddenly brightened up. "Are you talking about the

Lippisch P.13A

?"

Killing Gods yelled in excitement, "Bro, I've seen that thing!"

Though it was in a game...

Stopping Fights shook his head and picked up the chalk from the ground. "Don’t be ridiculous. That thing uses a ramjet engine, right?"

As he spoke, he drew a simple structural diagram on the blackboard, looking somewhat simpler than a turbojet.

But only a bit.

"This thing is still a concept so far. Although it's being researched again now and hyped as a breakthrough for a hypersonic aircraft with speeds N times faster that what we can currently achieve. However, the problem of thermal protection has yet to be solved, and insufficient fuel heat value is also a big issue. As for the P13A... that thing is just a concept plane, it has never seen action. Whether it has been produced or not remains a mystery."

Mosquito gave him a strange look. "Aren't you working at a drone factory?"

Stopping Fights smiled embarrassedly. "Hehe, it's just a hobby... What's the big deal? You also run a furniture factory, don’t you?"

Mosquito rolled his eyes. "I really do run a furniture factory."

Stopping Fights chuckled. "I didn't say you didn't."

Although the problem still hadn't been solved, the atmosphere of the discussion became more lively.

Everyone was throwing out ideas, even though many were unrealistic. Nevertheless, it was better than silently watching time pass.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Mosquito got up to open it, and found out that the person standing outside was an NPC guard.

Seeing the black uniform, Mosquito was puzzled for a moment before blurting out a phrase in the federation language. "It's not us."

The guard was confused. "What... What do you mean it's not you?"

Noticing the guard's perplexed expression, Mosquito coughed awkwardly. "Nothing... It's just a habit, hehe."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Every time a guard came to them, it was never for a good reason; either something exploded or something caught fire.

He was almost developing a reflex.

The guard stared at Mosquito for a while, but didn't say anything. Instead, he handed over the package he was holding. "Someone asked me to deliver this package to you."

"A package for me? Who?" Mosquito took the package, puzzled.

"A young girl, about... This tall... With golden hair. She didn't leave a name, just asked me to deliver this package to Goblin Technology." Saying that, the guard gestured the girl’s height.

Mosquito immediately realised who she was and said, "Oh, Pai? Thanks!"

"Sure thing." After delivering the package, the guard didn't stay longer and left after completing the mission assigned by the administrator.

The door closed.

Mosquito, holding the package, proudly returned to his apprentices.

An NPC's gift!

At a time like this, he naturally had to show it off!

The 4 guys immediately noticed what he was holding. Killing Gods was the first to lean in, curious. "What are you holding?"

Mosquito grinned. "Do you remember that girl from yesterday?"

Chasing Souls was surprised. "Pai?"

Mosquito shook the package in his hand triumphantly. "A gift from her." Upon hearing this, everyone was first surprised, then shocked.

"Whoa?"

"You animal!"

Mosquito rolled his eyes. "Get lost! Can't she be admiring my extensive knowledge, wanting me to be her mentor?"

Killing Gods retched. "I'm gonna throw up."

Ignoring that dude, Mosquito opened the package.

But when he saw what was inside, he was momentarily stunned.

Inside the package was a glass bottle filled with transparent liquid.

Examining it for a moment, Mosquito's expression was somewhat bewildered. "What's this?"

Chasing Souls rolled his eyes. "Aren't you supposed to have extensive knowledge?"

"Something given by an NPC, probably a mission item... Shouldn't you drink some?" Stopping Fights goaded.

Honestly, Mosquito did think of drinking it. However, he had to smell it first.

As he unscrewed the bottle cap and brought it close to his nose, an odor that penetrated his nostrils made his eyes water.

"What the heck?!"

How can something smell so terrible?!