"Brother Jin, what is it?"

Erza asked why Jin said there was a crucial difference between the two planes.

"It's the structure of the aircraft."

"Ah."

Rubina's < has a traditional truss structure, in which the outer panels are attached to the structural members, while Gough's < has a monocoque structure.

The advantage of a monocoque structure is that it is lightweight, but its disadvantage is that if a part of the integrated fuselage structure is damaged, the strength balance of the entire structure will be lost and the shape will be distorted.

This structure is not suitable for a large aircraft in the first place, but Gough had skillfully realized it, partly because it was a small aircraft.

However, this has now become a setback.

On the other hand, the truss structure is strong enough to withstand damage to the outer panels because they are made of structural members and then covered with outer panels to shape them.

"...... Monocoque is fine if you're using it within the expected range."

Jin saw that the entire <> fuselage was distorted.

"But there is one more factor, and I wonder how it works."

"What's that?"

"It's the wing loading."

Both planes are severely damaged, and their flight speeds have dropped to less than half, to about 200 kilometers per hour.

The distorted wings were causing airflow turbulence at high speeds, and there was a risk of loss of control of the aircraft's behavior.

This figure of 200 km/h is the lower limit of stable flight for Rubina's <, but Goh's < still had room to spare.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

>

An announcement was made, and the audience cheered.

The evening showers were easing off and the hail had already stopped.

The clouds in the sky were gradually decreasing, and the two planes were drawing large arcs in the waning sky.

The windshields were shattered and missing, which would have rendered them uncontrollable if they were human, but the pilot golems of both planes were able to control their planes without any problems.

However, the performance of the aircrafts has been severely degraded. The turning radius is large and the engine power does not seem to increase.

It seemed that there was probably some damage to the engine.

In this case, it was a battle of wills.

>

As the sun was setting and the temperature was dropping, the clouds were beginning to fade away without developing as they were no longer replenished with water vapor.

Rubina's heads toward the remnants of these evening clouds. The < is in pursuit.

The aircraft glints in the setting sun.

The sunset glints off the fuselage.

I have a question.

"What is it, Erza?"

Erza, who had been staring intently at the battle between the two planes, suddenly came to her senses and opened her mouth.

"Don't you have a choice not to go after them?"

"Yes. ......"

Certainly, it is not forbidden, and of course it is possible.

However, if you do that, the competition itself will not be possible.

"Umm...... perhaps you would be disqualified?"

"Oh, I see."

Jin thought, "In a boxing or judo match, if you run away from your opponent and don't approach him, it would be like <>. ......

"I don't know who makes those kinds of judgments, but usually there is a referee who makes the decision. I haven't seen such a scene in this competition yet."

"Hmm, okay."

As if to contradict Elsa's question, the <> continues to rise and the <> follows it.

"What is Rubina thinking?"

Jin has no idea at the moment.

But...

"Oh, I see!"

Jin sees heading toward the altocumulus cloud, and he knows what Rubina is up to.

"Brother Jin?"

"Look, look at this!"

The <> has just plunged into the altocumulus cloud.

The <> followed without hesitation.

A cumulus cloud is a cloud made of water particles. Their altitude is said to be between 2,000 and 7,000 meters. This cloud was at an altitude of about 3,000 meters.

Since they are not ice particles, they should not be damaged. .......

* * * *

Without a windshield, the ship plunged into the clouds <.

Rubina dared to do this because the golem, which has special vision, is piloting the ship.

Infrared light can provide some visibility in the clouds.

But Goh's was different.

Knowing that there were no icicles, Goh drove his <> into the clouds, but the result was a whiteout.

However, the pilot is a golem, and does not panic like a human.

From the size of the cloud, they knew that they could get out of it if they flew in a straight line for a few seconds.

And it was easy to imagine that would try something in those few seconds.

However, even if we could predict it, how would we deal with it?

In this case, it is Goh who gives instructions.

In the absence of any instructions, <> gives priority to safety and takes the most reasonable action ...... to go through the clouds in a straight line.

That time is about 3 seconds.

Three seconds was not enough time for even Goh to grasp the situation, consider how to deal with it, and give instructions.

What awaited , who had penetrated the clouds in a straight line, was a shot from diagonally behind and above.

!"

quickly rolled to avoid the shot, but the damaged aircraft's reaction was sluggish, and it was finally judged to have been .

! >>

The crowd cheered loudly.

>

The stadium was filled with applause and cheers.

"You were great, weren't you?

"Yes, it was. I wish I could have been there."

Bertsche and Reinhardt clap and talk to each other.

"Father, it was great, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Neige."

I'd like to fly in an airplane, too.

I think it's a little early for Rouge.

"Mmm."

<

Rouge seems to like the plane.

"Rubina's strategy won. ...... But it was a great final match."

I didn't know who was going to win until the very end.

I guess so. ...... I guess it's the difference in experience, isn't it?

Yes, maybe.

Jin and Erza were discussing their analysis of the battle.

Daikie and Cocona were discussing Gou with great enthusiasm.