Two elderly former Soviet pilots boarded the cab of their ancient Li-PG passenger and cargo aircraft.
The main pilot sat down heavily in the chair that was so worn that the seams were exposed. He touched his red rosacea and took out a 500ML bottle of vodka from his old flight suit - the one on the label.
A brown bear indicates that the vodka is produced in Russia and has a formidable alcohol content.
Putting the bottle into his mouth, the pilot, who was already in his fifties, raised his head and drank several sips, then stretched it to the side and handed it to the co-pilot.
"Yakov, take a sip!"
The co-pilot grinned, revealing a set of jagged yellow teeth.
He took the vodka and poured two sips into his mouth without hesitation. He gritted his teeth and half-closed his eyes, enjoying the burning sensation caused by the high-strength alcohol sliding through his esophagus and into his stomach. The nerves in his body seemed to be affected.
The excitement of knowing the truth was completely activated at once.
Completely different from the tired look he had just entered the cockpit and was half asleep in the dark. The co-pilot Yakov seemed to be resurrected on the spot with full blood and entered a state of excitement.
After capping the wine bottle and handing it back to its owner, the main pilot Osbelev, Yakov quickly turned on the switches of various instruments. In fact, there were not many switches.
It was launched in the early 1980s and has been used as a multi-purpose passenger and cargo aircraft. Some models have also been converted into reconnaissance aircraft.
However, with the disintegration of the huge former Soviet Union, the divided Ukraine did not have the ability to maintain these aircraft. Except for a small number that still served in the army, the rest were either acquired by private companies or abandoned in the aircraft cemetery.
There is mold inside, and the fate is the same as that once glorious empire.
This airplane touched Osbelev and Yakov very much. It was the tool on which they relied for their livelihood.
They are both of Ukrainian origin. After the disintegration, both of them, who had stable jobs as pilots, were both unemployed. Later, the Air Force dealt with a batch of Li-PG passenger and cargo aircraft. Together, the two of them came up with a few
I bought it with my savings and used it to transport goods and occasionally people.
As former Air Force pilots, they seem to be very high-ranking, but in fact, during the period when the motherland was divided, their lives were worse than dogs. It was good to have a job.
Business has not been very good recently, and Osbelev is about to fall ill. With no income anymore, he can no longer afford to fly.
But things quickly took a turn for the worse, and luck struck Osbelev hard on the head.
A week ago, a middle-aged man who claimed to be the owner of a trading company came to the door and said that he had a business to take care of Osbelev, but asked Osbelev not to interfere with anything except flight routes and timetables.
thing, being blind and deaf in the whole process.
After some conversation, the old-fashioned Osbelev smelled something unusual.
This transportation business may not be as simple as it seems - the destination is Somalia, Africa. When he heard the name, Osbelev's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
That's not a good place.
When you go to the desert of an out-of-control country to transport a batch of goods that you can't ask or see, the water inside is as deep as you want, and there's no guarantee it's weapons or something.
Today's so-called trading companies are probably arms dealers.
It's not like Osbielev has never taken on such a job before.
In order to survive and live, he and his partner Yakov sometimes had to put aside their dignity as Soviet Air Force officers and take on some odd and even illegal jobs.
Just as Osbelev was thinking about how much more he should charge this guy to be worthy of his adventure, and deliberately dilly-dallying, the visitor slapped a stack of U.S. dollar bills on the table.
It was a stack of three bundles of US dollars, with the familiar green color, Franklin's face, and the attractive 100-dollar figure.
Osbelev almost burst out laughing on the spot.
The customer told him that if he agreed, the $30,000 would be considered a deposit, which would be used to refuel and maintain the aircraft. He would wait at a cargo airport in the suburbs after a week, and everything else would be arranged by the customer themselves. As for the flight route and where to fly,
Where to refuel and where to land, all the specific route lists will be sent to Osbelev.
Sure enough, when Osbelev and Yakov checked all the instruments of the plane and found them normal, the middle-aged man from the trading company appeared on the plane.
"Osbielev, is there any problem with your plane?"
The guest looked at the outdated instrument panel of this old-fashioned aircraft and expressed a little concern.
Osbelev slapped his chest and said: "No problem! I know every part of this plane very well. Its condition has never been so good now. Just like a young man in his early twenties, give him ten
Not enough girls! Hahahahaha!"
When he smiled, his mouth opened, and the strong smell of vodka rose to the sky.
The guest frowned, but didn't say anything.
In the area of the former Soviet Union, these big-haired and dim-witted people all drank vodka as Coca-Cola. It is said that some pilots still don’t know how to fly a plane if you don’t give them vodka.
"This is the flight schedule. You must strictly follow the above routes and locations to fly and refuel. Remember not to make any mistakes!"
Osbelev took the flight schedule, read it carefully with a frown, and then gave a thumbs up: "No problem!"
"Then everything is left to you. When you get to Somalia, someone will meet you. The landing location is a bit troublesome. It is not a regular airport, but I think it won't be a problem for you, right?" the guest said.
Osbelev continues to take care of everything. When is it now? If it doesn’t work, it has to work! This is a big deal. The final payment will be enough for him and his partner Yakov to go to the Black Sea to enjoy the beach and sunshine for a long time.
After a period of time, it was enough to pay for my pile of bills. Everything depended on this business.
The guest nodded and got off the plane with a little worry.
After Osbelev saw the guests leaving, he closed the cabin door and posted the flight chart above the cab.
"Yakov, this transaction is not going to be easy."
Yakov looked at the flight arrangement, nodded and said: "Yes, refuel twice...Flying more than 8,000 kilometers, this is really a long journey..."
"I can't worry about that anymore, making money is more important!" Osbelev pushed the joystick, lightly stepped on the accelerator, and the plane began to slowly slide towards the runway take-off position.
They all knew that this was a difficult voyage, during which they refueled twice, and the refueling points were all in some unsafe third-world countries. Every time they stopped to refuel, they would have already been damaged by low-quality fuel.
Fortunately, this aircraft is originally from the former Soviet Union and uses two Wright R-180 Tornado engines produced under license from Schwertsov M-6. Although this aircraft is an older model, it is absolutely durable and durable.
Hold!
However, in the face of generous rewards, all risks are just a cloud.
Their employer promised them a generous bonus if they arrived at the designated destination in Somalia on time. The two of them were no longer in the Soviet Air Force. They were flying for themselves, not for the salary they were paid decades ago.
Soviet Air Force flight. The sooner you complete the mission, the sooner you can get the money, and then return to the country where you live to continue your small life. This is the right way.
Amidst the roar, the Li-PG transport plane slowly flew into the sky and quickly disappeared into the clouds in the distance.
On the ground, the customer who hired Osbelev and Yakov stood in a corner of the airport, watching the plane disappear from his sight, then picked up the satellite phone and dialed a number.
"Everything is done, let's get ready in the laboratory."
He looked at his watch.
"All evacuation will begin in twenty-five hours." (To be continued)