Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 990

“So, this is how the framework came about?”

At Hyang’s question, Da Vinci bowed his head and replied,

“That is correct.”

“Hmm….”

Listening to Da Vinci’s answer and re-examining the sketches, Hyang pointed out a problem to Da Vinci.

“It seems like this windmill is used for lifting and descending, is that right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then how will it move?”

“Isn’t this a flying machine? What’s the difference between a flying machine and a flying monk’s tool [a type of hot air balloon or glider]? A flying monk’s tool only needs to lift and descend, but a flying machine needs to fly in the desired direction to fulfill its purpose, doesn’t it? If it only lifts and descends like this, it seems inferior to a self-propelled flying monk’s tool?”

“Ah……”

“I will allow you to contemplate. However, if you cannot solve this part, it will only become a plaything for pleasure-seekers. In that case, no matter how much I want to, I cannot request production permission from the Emperor.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

Da Vinci, receiving what felt like permission rather than actual permission from Hyang, took the sketches with a stiff face and left Hyang’s office. Hyang, watching Da Vinci disappear through the window, wore an intrigued expression and muttered.

“Now, I wonder what solution Da Vinci will come up with. But is it possible with a steam engine?”

In the case of the self-propelled flying monk’s tool, it was possible because it had a massive gas bag. However, the thrust-to-weight ratio of the steam engine was the problem. The output was much lower compared to its size, so the flight speed of the self-propelled flying monk’s tool was not very fast. Still, thanks to the advantage of being able to move in the desired direction in the high sky, it was only used by the military for reconnaissance or communication.

It could never be used for transportation, and it was also pushed aside by the flying monk’s tool for tourism, making the self-propelled flying monk’s tool an obsolete existence. Therefore, Hyang was negatively considering the adoption of a steam engine as the power plant for the flying machine.

“If that were possible, I would have made it first…..”

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, George Cayley of England had conceived of an ‘Aerial Carriage’ powered by a steam engine. It was a helicopter with four disc-shaped rotors and two propulsion propellers, but it ended up as a model.

In addition to this, there were continuous attempts to use steam engines as power plants for airplanes, but they all ended in failure. Eventually, the Wright brothers succeeded in flight by adopting an internal combustion engine, leading to the rapid development of airplanes.

* * *

“…..Therefore, I received the order that ‘contemplation is permitted, but production is not.’”

“I see. That part was there.”

Da Vinci’s explanation filled Artisan Gong with disappointment, and he nodded.

“Then what are we going to do now?”

“We have to contemplate how to move it. And actually try to fly it.”

“Isn’t production forbidden?”

“To be precise, he said he wouldn’t ask His Majesty the Emperor to allow production.”

Gong Artisan expressed doubt at Da Vinci’s words.

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Not at all!”

“Huh?”

“Think about it! Why are we requesting production permission? Isn’t it because of the budget issue?”

“That’s right.”

“I have a lot of money!”

“Aha!”

Gong Artisan slapped his forehead at Da Vinci’s words. Among the artisans working in Area 51, Da Vinci was the richest. No, Da Vinci was considered quite wealthy not only in Area 51 but also outside. Da Vinci said in a confident voice.

“You can’t find the answer just by scribbling on paper! If that were possible, I would be a genius who would go down in history! So there’s only one way! Even if it’s just a model, we have to actually make it and identify the problems!”

“So you’re going to make a model with your own money?”

“That’s right! So, are you going to join me?”

“Of course!”

Thus, Da Vinci and Gong Artisan joined hands and jumped into the production of the helicopter.

* * *

Da Vinci and Gong Artisan gathered at Da Vinci’s workshop as soon as their respective work was finished and put their heads together.

“To move in the desired direction, we need to push or pull, so the conclusion is that we need to attach a thruster.”

“A windmill-type thruster would be good.”

“Should we put it in the front or the back?”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to control if it was in the back?”

The two chatted and repeatedly added and subtracted from Da Vinci’s sketches. As they redrew the tattered sketches over and over again, Da Vinci’s helicopter gradually took on a proper appearance.

“The problem is the propulsion engine. Should we install separate engines to rotate the windmill for lifting and descending and to move the propulsion windmill?”

Gong Artisan shook his head at Da Vinci’s suggestion.

“Then it will be too heavy. Space is also an issue. We have to go with only one engine.”

“Then we need to install a distributor.”

“That’s right.”

At this time, ‘power distributors’ were not unfamiliar concepts to the Empire’s artisans. They were already being applied to various machines used in the Empire’s textile workshops.

“Hmm….. A leather strap seems too weak.”

“Then, how about using a chain?”

“That would be good.”

In this way, after two months, the two were able to complete the first blueprint.

“Now, let’s make a model!”

“That’s great! My hands were already itching!”

The two, satisfied with the blueprint they had completed, immediately began making a model. The two completed a model with a clockwork instead of a steam engine and immediately began experimenting.

“First, let’s check if it floats properly.”

“Let’s do that.”

The first experiment, attempted with excitement, failed spectacularly. The model they made only repeated lifting and sitting down slightly, and could not float properly. What was even worse was that the fuselage attached to the bottom of the windmill, which was responsible for lifting upwards, rotated in the opposite direction to the windmill’s rotation. And at a fairly high speed.

“Why on earth?”

“Why!”

When an unexpected phenomenon occurred, the two, unable to find the cause, tore at their hair and pondered. As they continued to ponder, Gong Artisan opened his mouth.

“A long time ago, when I made a model of a warship powered by a steam engine, there was something similar to this. At that time, the Supreme Emperor came up with an answer, which was to create two windmills and rotate them in opposite directions. What if we apply that?”

“Huh?”

Da Vinci, who did not properly understand Gong Artisan’s words, raised an issue.

“Then wouldn’t it spin around in place?”

“So, we make the wing direction of the windmill opposite. If this side turns to the right and goes forward, the other side turns to the left and goes forward.”

“Hoo……”

Da Vinci, nodding and adding interjections to Gong Artisan’s explanation, jumped up from his seat and unfolded a piece of paper.

“It seems like it might work?”

Thus, the second attempt began.

* * *

The second attempt was half success and half failure. First of all, the phenomenon of the fuselage spinning around was caught. However, it still couldn’t float properly and was just shaking in place.

“It seems like this part is due to the lack of power from the clockwork.”

“It seems so. Hmm……”

Da Vinci’s expression was not very good even as he nodded.

“What’s the problem?”

At Gong Artisan’s question, Da Vinci pointed to the windmills protruding to the left and right of the model.

“I don’t like it.”

“You don’t like it?”

“It’s not beautiful.”

Gong Artisan put his hand on his forehead at Da Vinci’s answer.

“Then what are you going to do? Is there any other way to catch the fuselage from spinning around besides that method?”

“That’s true. Still, it’s not beautiful. Hmm……”

Gong Artisan, stroking his chin and doing this and that calculation, looked at Da Vinci.

“It might be possible?”

Thus, the third challenge began. Finally, in the third challenge, the two smiled brightly.

“We finally got over one hurdle!”

“Hahahaha!”

The two, laughing loudly and patting each other’s shoulders, shouted confidently.

“Then let’s go to the next one!”

The second hurdle was the problem of movement.

“The design seems to be correct……”

“Right?”

The two stroked their chins as they looked at the properly refined and completed blueprint. The helicopter the two made had a particularly good shape. This was because the experience accumulated from the previous attempts was incorporated.

First of all, there were a total of four windmills on the helicopter. To be more precise, it was equipped with two coaxial contra-rotating rotors. One for vertical take-off and landing, and one for propulsion from the rear. The two, who had suffered from the reversal phenomenon of the rotor and fuselage, had adopted a coaxial contra-rotating rotor for the propulsion windmill as well.

“It’s certain that the design seems to be correct, but whether it’s really made properly can only be known by actually making it.”

“That’s right. It’s impossible to control with a model.”

-Whether real movement is possible can only be known by having a person board and operate it.

“Hmm……”

The two, who were worried about finding a solution, soon came up with a similar answer.

“We have to go to the Supreme Emperor.”

“As expected, to the Supreme Emperor……”

The two, having reached an agreement, soon headed to Sugang Palace with the blueprint and model.

* * *

Hyang, seeing the blueprint and model presented by Da Vinci and Gong Artisan who had come to see him, involuntarily blurted out a curse.

“You crazy!”

‘No, why is this coming out here!’

The model submitted by Da Vinci and Gong Artisan resembled the helicopters of the Russian Kamov company. And the helicopter drawn in the blueprint they submitted that they wanted to actually make resembled the Defiant-X that Bell had put out in the ‘Helicopter Integrated Multi-Purpose Plan’ conducted by the US military in the 21st century. To be more precise, it resembled the appearance that would come out if all the shells of the Defiant-X were removed.

‘So, how on earth do you have to grind it to get this kind of result!’

While Hyang, who was 넋이 나간 [넋이 나가다 (neoksi nagada) is a Korean idiom that means to be stunned or to lose one’s mind], by the unimaginable blueprint, was screaming inwardly, Da Vinci and Gong Artisan were only looking at the floor with pale faces.

It was because of the curse Hyang had uttered.

‘We’re dead!’

‘How should we beg….. Should we just ask to be saved…..’

While the two were restless, Hyang examined the blueprint once again.

‘Looking at it again, there are limitations.’

There were definitely limitations in the blueprint and model submitted by Da Vinci and Artisan Jang. The limitations of the power plant were expected from the beginning, and there was another limitation in the helicopter they designed.

-It is possible to take off, land, and move, but fine adjustment is impossible.

‘If that was possible, computers would have come out already.’

“Hmm…..”

Hyang, who had reviewed the blueprint several times, came to a conclusion.

“The two of you may raise your heads.”

When Da Vinci and Gong Artisan, who had been looking at the floor, raised their heads, Hyang smiled and continued.

“Did you two enjoy this interesting game alone? I’m disappointed. Let me join in too.”