Jin Boyuan watched the altimeter climb, 500 feet, 1000 feet, 1500 feet, 2000 feet. The city spread out beneath them, a carpet of lights against the darkness, beautiful and distant. Zhou Yuxi adjusted their heading with small movements of the pedals and cyclic, bringing them onto their desired course with the precision of an experienced pilot using invisible highways in the sky.
"Flight controls are responsive and normal," she reported, running through what sounded like a standard post-takeoff check. "Engine parameters stable, turbine temperatures, oil pressure, and fuel flow all within normal ranges. Rotor RPM holding steady. Hydraulic systems maintain proper pressure. No warning lights or cautions. We're climbing to 8,000 feet and will level off there for cruise. At that altitude, we'll optimize fuel consumption while maintaining adequate safety margins."
