"Hello, Mr. Mavi! I've often heard your name back home," Shen Hongshen greeted Mavi warmly, shaking his hand. Even though this was their first meeting, they felt an instant connection.
"Really, Mr. Shen Hongshen? I hope they weren't all bad things," Mavi joked. By now, he had developed a strong mental fortitude. No matter which country's high-ranking officials he encountered, he could remain composed and handle any situation with ease.
"Haha, of course not! Mr. Mavi, everyone only has good things to say about you!" Shen Hongshen laughed heartily.
The group of air force officers standing behind him was taken aback. It was the first time they had seen their leader speak so casually and warmly with a young man. Normally, he was always serious, as if everyone owed him money.
The respect and treatment Mavi received were entirely due to his skills and achievements—it had nothing to do with his age.
"Mr. Shen Hongshen, since you've traveled a long way, I've specially arranged for a Mi-26 helicopter at the airport to welcome your delegation. This way, we can save a lot of time on the road," Mavi said, motioning for the group to follow him to the helipad.
The Chinese delegation consisted of over 30 senior officers. Logically speaking, a single helicopter wouldn't be able to accommodate so many people, as most helicopters have a seating capacity of only six or seven. At least five helicopters would be needed to transport a group of this size.
However, such logic didn't apply in Russia.
Because on the helipad, there stood a massive light-gray helicopter—more than ten times the size of a regular one! Its sheer scale left an unforgettable impression.
Even a Boeing 737 looked like a "little brother" next to it, completely overshadowed.
The Mi-26 is a twin-engine, multi-purpose transport helicopter from Russia. It remains the largest and heaviest helicopter still in active service today. Its NATO codename is "Halo."
It measures 40 meters in length (compared to a Boeing 737's 37.8 meters), has a rotor diameter of 32 meters, a height of 8.14 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 56 tons! It boasts a top speed of 295 km/h.
With its superior performance, the Mi-26 is capable of carrying out numerous military missions. Additionally, it excels in disaster relief and civilian support operations. Its payload capacity allows it to transport 80 fully armed soldiers or 60 wounded personnel on stretchers, making it a true behemoth of the helicopter world.
Seeing this colossal machine up close, all 30+ Chinese air force officers, including Shen Hongshen, were left speechless by the sight.
Compared to the military helicopters they were familiar with, the Mi-26 was simply mesmerizing. It also gave them a deeper appreciation of Russia's formidable air force capabilities.
"Mr. Mavi, your country's Mi-26 helicopter is truly magnificent! If conditions allowed, I would love to introduce it into our air force," Shen Hongshen praised, clearly impressed.
After all, operating this giant for just two hours could cost as much as a luxury car!
"It's no problem, Mr. Shen Hongshen. If your air force is interested, I can give you two of these helicopters as a gift," Mavi responded nonchalantly.
The Mi-26 has an export price of $9.2 million per unit, but its production cost is only $950,000. For Mavi, this was a trivial matter. Thanks to his connections, he could acquire these helicopters at a much lower price. However, while he could give them away as gifts, he wasn't allowed to resell them for profit.
Hearing Mavi's generous offer, the Chinese air force officers standing nearby immediately turned to look at him, their expressions filled with admiration. They found this young Russian to be incredibly generous and friendly.
Unfortunately, after careful consideration, senior officer Shen Hongshen politely declined the gift.
There's an old Chinese saying: "One should not accept rewards without merit." For the sake of the air force's image and basic etiquette, he couldn't just accept such an extravagant gift for free.
"Mr. Mavi, I sincerely appreciate your generosity, and on behalf of our air force, I thank you! However, we've only just met, and accepting such a valuable gift right away would be inappropriate," Shen Hongshen said sincerely. He was a straightforward man, never one for unnecessary formalities.
When the officers behind him heard their leader decline the offer, they exchanged glances, their expressions dimming slightly.
Their eyes seemed to say: "Two Mi-26 helicopters, boss! That's over 18 million dollars! You're just turning it down like that…? You may not care, but we do!"
Mavi nodded understandingly at Shen Hongshen's refusal. But regardless of whether they accepted it or not, he had already made up his mind—he would still send the two Mi-26 helicopters as a show of support for their country.
"Mr. Shen Hongshen, I understand. Well then, let's board the helicopter," Mavi said to the Chinese officers.
It was his first time flying in a Mi-26 as well, and he was curious about the experience.
"Alright, Mr. Mavi," Shen Hongshen nodded. He and Mavi sat in the cockpit—the first-class seats of the Mi-26. Unlike most helicopters, which typically only accommodate the pilot and co-pilot, the Mi-26 offered a more spacious setup.
As they entered the cockpit, they were greeted by an extensive array of instruments and buttons on the control panel. The helicopter's steering wheel was slightly smaller than a car's, and numerous unfamiliar metal levers and buttons made Mavi a bit dizzy just looking at them.
"Mr. Mavi, please fasten your seatbelt. We're about to take off," the pilot instructed as he signaled for Mavi and Shen Hongshen to secure their seatbelts and put on their headsets.
Unlike private jets, helicopters are much more agile in their movements. Passengers often experience sudden shifts in gravity, similar to the feeling of riding a spinning roller coaster at an amusement park. Those with weak stomachs would not enjoy the ride.
Once everyone was strapped in, the Mi-26's massive 32-meter rotors began to spin, whipping up strong gusts of wind that roared through the surroundings.
From the cockpit, Mavi could see the ground beneath them as dust and debris were swept away by the powerful rotor wash. Within moments, the helicopter wobbled slightly as it lifted off and gained altitude, departing from the airport.
An hour later, feeling as if he had just returned from a battlefield, Mavi safely landed at the Sukhoi Design Bureau's helipad.
(End of Chapter)