Chapter 347 347 Construction Crew



When Wolfe and the Witches got to the back lawn where they were planning to use the running course as the runway for their plane, all of the seniors who had practical magic this morning were already assembled and waiting for them to get started.

"Good morning, everyone. I guess we will be going through this step by step to show you all how the airplane is designed. I don't really expect most of you to learn how to create a multi-layered Array today, and some of the ones I will be using simply aren't possible for a Witch to create, so don't feel too bad if you can't duplicate it directly.

What part should we start with? Normally I would have them start with the frame, and then we would work from there. Is that alright, Professor?" Wolfe asked once they were ready to start.

"That would be fine. What do you make it with?" The sharp-faced older Witch asked.

Cassie smiled at the crowd. "It's pure Witch Magic. The extension of a [Vines] spell intertwined and then converted to a strengthened form of Bamboo. It makes a one-piece airframe that is stronger than steel when made by a Witch of my power and much lighter than aluminum or steel would be.

Ella began to create the vines, starting with the pontoons and then extending the structure upward. That way, the whole plane could be built in one piece, and then they would add the control rods and other movable parts afterward.

"Keep in mind that she has the blueprints in front of her, and she has done this before. It's not as easy as it looks to create a whole frame like this at once." Cassie explained as Ella worked.

"And then you can see how she converts the vines to Bamboo once they're in place and set. If you try to create it as bamboo sticks, you will have to bind them together as you go, and it will be much more difficult, but the vines can be shaped as you want them, and then the process of changing them is an easy one.

Wolfe, can you give them a demonstration of how light this whole assembly is without any covering or power system?" Cassie continued.

"No problem."

Wolfe moved over to where Ella had just finished putting the finishing touches on the hardening effect that would make the wooden frame strong enough for flight and picked the plane up with two hands under the belly.

Most people wouldn't be able to do that, as even with the lightened materials, the airframe for a plane this size weighed nearly three hundred kilos, but with the strengthening magic he had used on himself, and the latent effects from the development of the Mana Focuses, he was much stronger than usual.

"As you see, it's quite light. Now, we will start with the major components. Perhaps everyone could gather around, or it will be hard to see the details of what Wolfe is doing as he enchants the motors that I am about to make." Ella informed the crowd.

She created a sheet of plywood to work on and then began creating the two motors for the project. Most of the students weren't even familiar with how an electric motor's internals worked, so they were entranced by the process, watching every coil of wire form and every bit of the motor take shape.

"These are the basic motors, much like the ones that are used in many industrial settings or in magic-powered electric taxis and trucks. I made them with lighter-weight materials, but the important part is what comes next. Wolfe, if you could work your magic on them." Ella explained.

Wolfe began to build the Electromagnetism spell on both motors at once, and the whole area fell silent as if they were afraid even to breathe in case it made them miss something.

"That is the Electromagnetism Array, tailored to these motors. It is much more mana efficient than a standard electricity spell and a mundane motor, which is the key to allowing the plane to fly for prolonged periods without significant input from the Pilot.

Next, the Witches will make the Propellors, and we will get these parts mounted and ready to be linked to the power supply."

Wolfe moved the motors into place, and Ella attached them with Witch Magic. She just created an entire mount for them, passing through the bolt holes that were on the motor's shell.

It would make it impossible to take apart without an axe, but that wasn't really a concern for them. The plane should last as long as they needed it to.I think you should take a look at

"Now that the motors are in place, we will create the cockpit, a basic structure that is mostly for the pilots to sit securely, and the four essential control systems, linked to a pair of pedals and a control stick.

The controls are simple. A rudder, elevator and ailerons are all that the previous version had. On this version, we went a bit more elaborate and added flaps under the wing, which will give more lift at takeoff.

The flaps are operated by this lever on the roof, while the ailerons and elevator are controlled by the stick, and the pedals work the rudder. Normally, there is a wheel attached to the rudder, but this time we have pontoons, so that isn't an option."

Ella went over everything as she created the rods to connect them and then climbed into the Pilot's seat to show everyone that they were working and hooked up.

"Next, we will create the rows of seats in the back. These will be quickly removable so that the plane can be used for entirely cargo purposes as well as passengers. It will be a bit crowded, but we can get nine people in the back of this model, as well as a small amount of personal belongings tucked below their seats.

If it were a military mission or a vacation, we would go with just two rows of three seats, as I am doing now. That leaves enough room for gear and luggage at the back while the passengers sit in front.

Now, that doesn't require any real work, so I will have Cassie put the covering on the plane. As you can see, it's all one leaf, grown to cover the entire hull. That makes it much easier to apply the defensive spells." Ella explained.

This was the part that was going to really blow everyone's minds, the layered defensive Array over the whole plane and the Air Magic under the pontoons. Wolfe just regretted that he had to focus on his work and couldn't see the reactions of the students in real-time.

He could hear them gasping and gossiping as he worked, showing them the Array before he placed it on the plane, but his focus was away from them.

"With that done, the last thing is to grow the Mana Crystals in the base of the wings and put on the power distribution Arrays," Cassie told the group once they had a bit of time to recover.

That was work for the two witches, so Wolfe stepped back and let them grow the crystals while he stealthily prepared the Mana Gathering Array and the rest of the layered Arrays that would make up the power distribution Array.

"This part is a bit more complicated, and it needs to be done in one shot to make the layers of the Array work together properly, like creating a multi-layer amulet," Wolfe explained, then activated the spells one after another and set the layers of the Array down all at once.

The Mana Crystals started to charge immediately, letting Wolfe know that at least one part of the spell had worked, but he went through the power transfers carefully, one at a time to make sure that it was making its way to the motors properly, and in line with the intended flow rate.

Then he repeated the process for the other wing and tied them together with an inscription on the dash panel that would power everything up when you applied a bit of mana to it.

"Now, we add mana and activate everything, and it should be a functional airplane," Wolfe explained as he did what he said.

The spells flared to life, and the sense of power coming off the plane startled the students with its intensity.

"Are you expecting to come across anti-aircraft guns?" The Professor asked.

"Hopefully not. But coming across a flying monster is a possibility, and it wouldn't do for them to damage the plane when we've got people on board."