The Type 36 fighter now occupies half of the Ming Dynasty Air Force's fighter units. It is a medium-sized fighter with a low single wing and an all-metal fuselage produced by Changyang Aircraft Company.
The theory of air combat in this era is still being explored, and the Ming army is no exception.
Traditional tactics of "close combat" or "dive-and-pull" energy tactics? The two factions in the Air Force each have their own opinions, and no one can convince the other.
Tactics determine weapons, and the quality of the latter actually mainly depends on whether it matches the former.
When the bidding documents were released in the 34th year of Chang's reign, even though the two factions were at loggerheads, there were people among the conservatives in high positions. Therefore, the technical indicators finally released by the Air Force to major official and private aircraft companies still focused on traditional dogfighting tactics. .
At that time, the Air Force required it to achieve the performance of "climbing to an altitude of 3000m within 4 minutes, and at the same time the level flight speed at this altitude is not less than 450km/h", and at the same time "be as easy to maintain as possible."
In order to achieve such technical indicators, the prototype of the Type 36 fighter jet gave up certain protective capabilities. There was only a 4mm surface-hardened armor steel plate behind the pilot's seat as protection, and there was no self-sealing fuel tank.
The mass-produced Type A is basically the same as the prototype. Pilots are full of praise for its flexible control performance and comment that it is a wonderful enjoyment to fly it. It is extremely smart and can do whatever you want.
But correspondingly, many "cowardly" pilots have expressed concerns, believing that its protective capabilities are too weak, and are not even as good as old-fashioned biplanes - there are 4mm steel plates behind and on both sides of the seat.
"Fortunately", the report summarized by the military expedition sent to Spain later became a powerful argument for the reformists in the Air Force.
After winning a game and argument, a series of adjustments including formation tactics were carried out - the original three-plane formation was reduced to a more flexible two-plane formation, training on energy tactics was strengthened, etc.
When the guiding ideology is reformed, the weapons and equipment will naturally change accordingly.
Therefore, it seems that the Type 36 fighter jet, whose initial design focused on dogfighting performance, will be eliminated soon after its birth?
Changyang Aircraft Company is naturally not happy - they are preparing for the Air Force to continue placing orders with them, so they have restructured their production lines early to expand production capacity. If it is abandoned like this, wouldn't it be a big loss?
Therefore, Changyang Company is reasonable, trustworthy and guaranteed, claiming that improvements on the basis of the Type 36 fighter jet can also meet the new technical indicators.
After trying every possible means, they finally managed to get the Ming Air Force to change its mind.
Type 36 Fighter B made its debut at the beginning of this year. The design team made considerable improvements both internally and externally, significantly increasing the structural strength of the entire aircraft and applying more new technologies - switching to a three-bladed metal variable-pitch propeller. , retractable landing gear, reflex sight, first-stage and two-speed supercharger.
At the same time, a 6mm surface-hardened armor steel plate was used behind the pilot's seat, and 4mm steel plates were installed on both sides.
The engine is switched to a Diaosi-type 950-horsepower nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine. Therefore, even if the weight increases a lot, the maximum level flight speed at an altitude of 4000m can still reach 480km/h.
In terms of overall performance, the Type 36 Fighter B, which was overhauled midway, cannot be better than a redesigned fighter jet from scratch.
However, considering the output and cost, the Air Force finally accepted it happily.
Otherwise, the new aircraft may have to wait until the year after next from its first flight to finalization and mass production. However, time waits for no one.
Thanks to this, in just half a year, the Type 36B delivered by Changyang Aircraft Company has allowed several detachments to complete partial replacement.
The 11th Pursuit Aircraft Detachment, which is stationed in Fuyuan Prefecture and protects the airspace in northern Xinjiang, is one of them.
"One more reminder, don't lose your composure! Keep the formation, turn around, and you, close the distance!" the major who led the team said loudly.
The fighter jet numbered 1147 hurriedly moved its tail slightly and yawed slightly to stay close to the formation.
And the person driving it was none other than Zhao Xuwu, who had recently returned to the team.
After miraculously returning, he was treated like a hero in the first two days. He was highly anticipated. Even the Cultural and Entertainment Department (Officers and Soldiers Club) gave him free food and wine.
But now that he is out in battle again, some teasing words from his comrades are inevitable.
So Zhao Xuwu thought that he must show off his skills this time to prove that it was just bad luck that he was injured last time and had to parachute.
In order to achieve the tactical goal, the staff of the Air Force's frontline command planned a careful operation with the intention of giving the Russian Air Force another severe blow.
But...how to prevent the enemy from avoiding fighting?
The 7th Bomber Detachment was composed of one team as the main force, carrying only half of the bombs, and was responsible for luring the enemy; a detachment of the 11th Pursuit Aircraft Detachment escorted them.
Since one bomber was unable to take off due to mechanical failure, the formation actually consisted of 15 bombers and 4 fighters.
They pretended to be presentable and headed out to bomb one of the Tsarist Russian Air Force airports.
At the same time, 16 fighter jets from the fourth team of the 11th Destroyer Detachment followed them in the sky behind them, using the clouds to hide themselves.
In this way, the Russians are likely to organize fighter jets to take off to intercept because they cannot stand the "contempt".
If you choose to be a Ninja Turtle, the airport will be bombed again.
The rising sun is rising in the east, and the warm late autumn sunshine is particularly warm and pleasant on people.
But the pilots sitting in the cockpit didn't care, because the heat from the engine was enough to keep the cockpit warm.
The two formations, one behind and one above, turned to fly due north, and then turned due west.
In this way, the rising sun will be behind the Ming army's ambush fighter formation, and the rays of light and clouds will provide them with excellent cover.
7:49 am, 92km east of Irkutsk, altitude 4000m.
Looking out from the cockpit, in the distance on the left is the dark blue "sea" - it is actually Beihai Lake, with white clouds and blue sky connecting to the water, and it is vast and boundless.
It is no exaggeration to say that the beautiful scenery here is one of the best anywhere in the country. Even though the pilots of the 11th Fighter Detachment have often seen it during training in the past, they never get tired of it.
How can such a peaceful and beautiful scenery be allowed to be defiled by enemies?
It is human instinct to protect beautiful things, and it is our bounden duty to defend the sky of our motherland.
At this time, the Ming army aircraft group crossed the center line of Beihai Lake and officially flew through the airspace.
The formation leader's aircraft sent a telegram back to the frontline headquarters: "At 7:51 a.m., the staff units crossed the line one after another and went deep into the enemy's airspace. The clouds were thick and the conditions were good."
The bomber formation used as bait in front was at an altitude of three thousand meters, about a few hundred meters below the clouds.
Just a few dozen seconds later, the Russian patrols and air defense observation posts deployed on the border discovered these menacing Ming army bombers.
"Buzz buzz-"
At Irkutsk No. 1 Airport, a piercing air defense siren suddenly sounded, and the officers who received the early warning report hurried to the headquarters.
Although it was already three o'clock in the morning, some of the Russian pilots were still sleeping soundly in their rooms, some were participating in briefings in the conference room, and some were having breakfast in the restaurant, talking and laughing.
After hearing the air raid siren, they reacted immediately after a brief moment of surprise, running towards the runway one after another.
"The observation post reported that they had about fourteen to eighteen twin-engine bombers and four fighters."
"Only four fighter escorts? Why are they so bold?!"
"Lieutenant Colonel, maybe our passive response these days has made them relax their vigilance..."
"They are just accumulating strength, but they think they have completely defeated us? These Khitans must be taught a lesson!"
The officers in the war situation conference room were all excited without exception - they had been suppressed and beaten for several days, and they must use their fists and kicks well this time!
"Yes, Commander!" they shouted in unison, then turned around impatiently and ran towards the pilots who were gathering on the runway.
Because it was an emergency takeoff operation, many of the Russian pilots were disheveled.
Naturally, the treatment of the "Sky Knights" was extraordinary. Many of them even wore scarves because they had been leisurely eating Russian bulgur pancakes.
In contrast, some were even wearing pajamas. Lieutenant Mikhail was even more unique because he was used to taking a shower in the morning, so he had just rushed out of the bathroom, wearing only underpants on his lower body and a bath towel on his upper body.
As he climbed into the cockpit, he muttered: "Why haven't (Ming fighter jets) been active nearby to suppress us in the past two days?"
The ground crew had already warmed up the fighter jet. They put their hands on the propeller, pulled it down suddenly, and then quickly stepped back a few steps, and the propeller spun rapidly.
Later, a group of I-16 fighter jets took off quickly, hovering in the sky waiting for the formation...
Since there was not much warning time, when the Russian fighter formation heading to intercept climbed to an altitude of three thousand meters, the Ming army's fleet had already flown close enough to be able to visually see the distant airport runway.
Fighters usually attack bombers from behind, either by diving from top to bottom to attack the wing engines, or from bottom to top to kill the tail self-defense turret first.
However, because they were too hasty, the Russian pilots had no choice but to choose to attack head on.
This makes their attack window very short - the two sides fly face to face, and the range of several hundred meters passes in a flash.
"Miso miso miso——"
The new ShKAS 7.62mm aviation machine gun has a theoretical rate of fire of up to 1,800 rounds per minute. The gunshots no longer have clear intervals, but become strange sounds mixed together.
As the lead aircraft opened fire, the two wingmen on the left and right also opened fire, and the hot bullets mixed with tracer bullets were drawn towards the Ming bombers flying steadily towards them like fire whips.
The latter maintained maximum calmness, which is also an essential quality for a bomber pilot - he must not panic no matter what, and must unite to resist the fighter jets. A bomber fighting alone is meat on the chopping board!
More than twenty Russian fighter jets were roughly divided into eight traditional three-plane formations. After firing one after another, they quickly pulled up and passed over the oncoming Ming army aircraft group.
Immediately afterwards, they began to turn around, intending to continue to follow and attack, and the planes drew beautiful arcs in the sky.
These Yi-16s belonging to the 107th Fighter Regiment use a paint commonly used by air force units in the Far East - dark green above and blue gray below.
In this way, it is easy to confuse them with the ground when looking down from the sky, and vice versa.
"Da da da - da da -"
The bomber gunners also controlled the Type 32 12.8mm aviation machine guns and fired violently at the incoming Russian fighter jets!
Historically, the death rate of gunners in the tail turret has been extremely high, because fighter jets usually prefer to kill them first so that they can attack the engines with peace of mind.
"Bah!"
The crackling sounds and ear-piercing shattering sounds were frightening. The tail gunner of the bomber numbered 711 looked at the scarred and white-cracked bulletproof glass in front of him in horror - it had blocked at least ten bullets.
However, just as he regained consciousness, an I-16 that followed him also approached and fired. Hundreds of 7.62×54mm machine gun bullets were poured out in just a few seconds!
Seven or eight of the bullets finally became the straw that broke the camel's back. The machine gunner pulled the trigger and fired, but was immediately knocked down by bullets that shattered the bulletproof glass.
At this time, from the perspective of the fighter formation in the sky above, more than ten bombers were in a very tight formation, and their self-defense machine guns fired fiercely, intertwining to form a fire net.
"Lead the team, lead the team! The left side of Yaoliu is on fire! The left side is on fire!"
"Turn off the oil valve! Turn off the oil valve...Turn hole two, turn hole two, slow down, you are almost out of formation!"
"Mom! Where are those bastards from the Destroyer?!"
"The idiots are still watching the show, wait until I get back and skin them!"
It's okay to act as bait, but what about the trust between colleagues? !
At this moment, the commander of the fighter formation finally gave the order calmly.
"Yoyao Dong 3 and Dong 4, you two take the lead. After fifteen seconds, yaw 30 degrees to the left and prepare to attack. Each aircraft is ready."
"Yaoyaodong has three orders!"
The long-awaited fighter jets came out. After watching from the wall for so long, the fighter formation was finally about to attack.
This is also called "the mantis stalks the cicada, while the oriole stalks behind".
No. 1103, located at the front left of the formation, turned sideways and launched a dive attack on time. Its wingman No. 1104 also performed the same operation in a tacit understanding, almost exactly the same.
Then came other fighter jets, two after two...
Although there is no saying in Tsarist Russia that "the left eye jumps for wealth and the right eye jumps for disaster", Lieutenant Mikhail's right eyelid twitched several times since he took off.
At this moment, he rubbed his eyes, raised his head and shook his head, and happened to see something strange from above and behind him.
He was so frightened that he felt like his soul was flying away - God, I finally know why I am so restless today!
Since there was no onboard radio, in desperation, he could only fire forward without hesitation, hoping to attract the attention of others.
The pilots were a little confused and subconsciously looked back, thinking that some overly nervous fool accidentally pressed the shooting button.
But then they...
【It was that moment that he knew, he fucked up.】
But they discovered it too late, and by now, everything was doomed.
Several dazzling fire whips descended from above, like lightning striking an airplane.
The 12.8mm large-caliber machine gun bullet fired by the Type 32 aviation machine gun was much more powerful than the 7.62mm bullet. Lieutenant Mikhail watched helplessly as an I-16 on the left front almost disintegrated in the air, with fragments flying everywhere!
(End of chapter)
