King of the Wilderness

Lin Yu’an didn’t speak. He opened the PDF document. Emily leaned over from the other side and read it with him.

The gift contract clearly stated that this DHC-2T Turbo Beaver aircraft, registration number N777LA,

was given to Mr. Lin Yu’an as a personal gift from Brian Lorde, as acknowledgement of his outstanding talent and as a foundation for future cooperation.

Another agreement showed that Brian had prepaid for a whole year’s top-tier temperature-controlled hangar usage rights at Fairbanks International Airport’s private aircraft operation base, which includes a dedicated lounge and maintenance room.

Lin Yu’an quickly estimated the value of this generous gift in his mind.

A basic DHC-2 Beaver: about 500,000 US Dollars.

Modification with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbine engine and supporting systems: about 800,000 to 1 million US Dollars.

Top-notch Wipaire amphibious floats: about 200,000 US Dollars.

Top-level Garmin avionics system and luxurious interiors: about 400,000 to 500,000 US Dollars.

Top-tier hangar usage rights and related services at Fairbanks for a year: about 100,000 to 150,000 US Dollars.

Total value, easily over three million US Dollars!

Brian not only gifted him, but he presented a flawless super gift that exceeded his expectations in both form and substance!

"This guy..." Lin Yu’an’s lips curled into a knowing smile. He knew this was more than just a congratulatory gift.

This was Brian’s way of showing him the astonishing strength and absolute sincerity of CAA.

At the same time, it was telling Lin Yu’an that his Oracle was very valuable and that Brian’s generosity was beyond his imagination as well.

"So..." Aliya’s eyes sparkled, full of expectation, "Darling, can we fly to our new home now?"

Lin Yu’an smiled and said, "Darling, I’m afraid we need to wait a little longer."

"Why?" Aliya was a bit puzzled, "Haven’t you already got the license?"

This question also attracted a curious look from Emily, who was by their side.

Lin Yu’an put down his knife and fork, "Obtaining a PPL is just getting a permit to learn. It proves that I know how to safely pilot an aircraft."

"But what we’re about to face is an epic level route stretching over 2,000 miles, crossing numerous mountains and borders. To complete this migration, there are at least four issues we need to solve."

"I trained using Hank’s Cessna 185, which is a typical tailwheel aircraft. Hank has already endorsed me for tailwheel, which qualifies me to fly a Beaver."

"However, that Turbo Beaver’s engine power exceeds 600 horsepower, far above the FAA’s stipulated standard of 200 horsepower."

"So, I must receive a high-performance aircraft endorsement, which requires me, under Hank’s supervision, to undergo specialized conversion training on the Turbo Beaver to prove I can fully handle its powerful engine."

"And the most critical and time-consuming step." His tone became extremely serious, "A PPL only allows me to fly under visual flight rules."

"This means the weather must be good enough for me to clearly see the horizon and the ground. But across the thousands of kilometers of our route from Alaska to Wyoming, it can’t always be sunny."

"We are bound to encounter conditions like clouds, precipitation, and reduced visibility. Without an instrument rating, once I enter a cloud, I become blind — it’s illegal and extremely dangerous."

"Only after obtaining an IR can I fly safely under instrument flight rules, relying entirely on the cockpit instruments, in clouds or adverse weather. Essentially, without an IR, there’s no true all-weather flying freedom."

He looked at his two loved ones, continuing to explain the strict requirements for obtaining an IR: "I need to accumulate at least 50 hours of solo cross-country flight experience and complete 40 hours of instrument flight-specific training, requiring at least a few weeks of intense flying and learning."

"Then there’s the cross-border flight procedure; our route must cross Canadian airspace."

"This means, for every flight, we must submit detailed electronic flight plans and passenger information to the customs and border management departments of both the US and Canada in advance."

"Moreover, we need to select a designated entry airport within Canada to land and complete customs procedures. This process, while not difficult, is very cumbersome. I must thoroughly study it to ensure everything goes perfectly."

He looked at them, eyes full of responsibility: "Licenses and endorsements are merely paper qualifications. True confidence comes from absolute familiarity with the aircraft and the route."

"I need to spend enough time flying that Beaver in multiple long-distance flights within Alaska. I need to understand its temperament under different loads and weather conditions."

"I need to ensure that when I’m carrying you, carrying our future hopes, every operation I perform comes from well-honed muscle memory, not just book knowledge."

"So, the coming month will be the most critical experience accumulation period in my flying career."

"I will obtain the instrument rating as quickly as possible, then use plenty of time to build absolute rapport with my new companion, that Turbo Beaver."

His eyes gleamed with infinite vision of the future, "When that time comes, I will truly independently sit in the captain’s seat of that plane and say to my family..."

"Welcome aboard, ladies. Our destination is our Kingdom!"

Having heard such a detailed plan, Aliya and Emily felt immensely reassured.

They knew that the man before them would never let victory get to his head. He understood better than anyone that there are no shortcuts to safety. Every step must be firm and secure.