At the test flight site in the early morning, the air was still filled with fog from last night.
The ground staff responsible for all preparations before the flight are busy doing various tasks.
The J-10 fighter equipped with the latest improved WS-10 engine is quietly waiting in the hangar, surrounded by Chengdu Aircraft engineers.
This fighter jet, which carries the expectations of millions of people, is undergoing the last inspection before its first flight.
Strive to fly the J-10 into the blue sky for the first time and achieve the most perfect state.
Engineers from Shengjing Engine Design Institute are also meticulously checking the engine status.
The condition of the engine is directly related to the safety of fighter jets and test pilots.
If the engine suddenly stops mid-air, the consequences are unimaginable!
In addition, the J-10 fighter adopts a canard layout design, which is a statically unstable aircraft.
If the aircraft's fly-by-wire operating system fails, there is no way to fly via the mechanical backup system.
Therefore, in order to reduce the risk during test flights, when other countries are developing aircraft, they will first trim the aircraft to a net stable state before making the first flight.
But if this happens, the test flight cycle of the J-10 fighter jet will be greatly increased.
Before conducting this test flight, project leader Song Tianxing decided to respect the test pilot's opinion. He asked Lei Gang:
"What do you think? Can you fly or not?"
"fly!"
"I will fly the J-10 in whatever condition it is delivered to the troops!"
Lei Gang did not hesitate at all, and did not consider the danger to himself of flying like this.
"If we want to make the J-10 into a statically stable state, we will need at least one more year of experiments."
"And even if I fly it in a net stable state, the subsequent aircraft delivered to the troops will still have to operate in a statically unstable state."
"After all, this is a special design to improve the maneuverability of the J-10 fighter jet."
"Whether it is for the first flight to be successful as soon as possible, or for the subsequent delivery of troops to form combat effectiveness as soon as possible, I am willing to take this risk!"
——
As the sun gradually rose, the mist over the test field slowly dissipated.
The weather on this day was indeed suitable for fighter plane test flights. The sky was clear and cloudless.
As a test pilot, Lei Gang was making final preparations at the test flight site.
Just as he was about to get on the runway, the aviation doctor responsible for monitoring the pilot's health stopped him:
"No, I have to take your blood pressure. You are red from your face to your neck!"
"Red!"
Lei Gang didn't care much and waved his hand: "Don't measure me. I can break the blood pressure monitor!"
The flight doctor couldn't hold him back, so he was able to check his pulse briefly.
More than 150 beats per minute!
On the runway, all the leaders, leaders, and representatives of the R&D team came to see the J-10's first flight.
Everyone gathered around Lei Gang and watched him standing in front of the J-10 fighter jet.
"Xiao Lei, are you really not nervous?"
The leader in the crowd asked worriedly, after all, his pulse was too high before!
"not nervous."
At this time, Lei Gang calmed down his excitement a little.
Many people in the crowd couldn't help wiping away tears as they looked at Lei Gang standing in front of the J-10 fighter jet.
"That's not it." Lei Gang thought in his heart.
"Mr. Song, don't worry, as long as the engine is still running and it doesn't explode in the air."
"I will also throw you on the track, let us know where we have gone wrong in the past ten years!"
Unexpectedly, as soon as he said these words, more people were crying around him.
Even Zhang Xingyang, who has always been weak in empathy, had red eyes.
Yes, we have gone through so many hardships and bitter waters along the way, and finally the hard-won flower of the J-10 has grown.
Zhang Zhengjiang, who was in charge of the engine, also reassured Lei Gang at this time that there would definitely be no problems with this WS-10 and he would not fall down.
After Lei Gang saluted everyone, he resolutely entered the cockpit of the J-10.
"drive!"
As the test flight commander issued instructions, Lei Gang forgot everything, and only the various operations of the J-10 were in his mind.
Yang Ming was doing the final flight control test for the J-10 on the ground.
After the first test, he gave a thumbs up to Lei Gang, who was sitting in the cockpit of the aircraft.
Then he lowered his head again and did a second flight control test. After confirming that it was correct, he gave Leigang two thumbs up.
The J-10 painted in earthy yellow slowly entered the runway.
The WS-10 engine at the tail gradually increases thrust, pushing the J-10 fighter to speed up and glide on the runway.
The thrust of the engine was very strong, and the J-10 fighter glided on the runway for a distance of less than 300 meters, just like "pulling onions on dry land".
Lei Gang pulled up the nose of the plane and soared into the blue sky.
The earth-yellow plane, like a yellow dragon, rushed out of the abyss that had been covering its body.
Raptors, out of the abyss!
"Lao Zhang, your engine is pretty good!"
"We previously estimated that using Maozi's AL-31F engine would require at least 300 meters to take off."
Standing on the airport runway, Song Tianxing couldn't help but praise the WS-10 engine.
Zhang Zhengjiang smiled and said nothing, still looking at the little yellow dot in the sky.
Along with the control center of the test flight ground, a series of instructions for test flight subjects were continuously issued.
The J-10 fighter jet performed various maneuvers in the blue sky.
Behind the J-10 fighter, there was also an accompanying J-5 fighter.
The J-5 fighter jet is like a toddler in front of the J-10.
It was difficult to follow the J-10 fighter jets that kept doing various maneuvers.
After discovering that the J-5 could not keep up with the maneuvers of the J-10 fighter, Lei Gang deliberately controlled the flight speed of the J-10 fighter and tried not to stray too far away from the J-5.
After flying three times in the sky, the tower command center sent a return command.
"Raptor 01, all test subjects completed, allowed to return!"
"Received, the plane has much more fuel than expected, please apply for another flight!"
"Raptor 01, allowed to fly one more lap."
Lei Gang piloted the J-10 fighter jet and continued to circle over the test field.
Looking at the J-10 fighter jets that seemed to be hovering in front of them, everyone on the runway seemed to see a Raptor of our own, circling above their heads.
After flying one more lap, Lei Gang sent a landing request to the command center.
He steered the fighter jet, pointed its nose at the runway, and landed steadily.
As the red parachute at the tail of the aircraft opened, the J-10 fighter slowly stopped on the runway.
At this time, everyone ran towards the cockpit of the J-10 fighter jet.
Want a hug, our test pilot hero!
As soon as Lei stepped out of the cabin, everyone came up to congratulate him.
Song Tianxing held a bouquet of flowers and handed it to Lei Gang, who had returned from the test flight safely.
Song Tianxing couldn't stop crying in his eyes. After handing the flowers to Lei Gang, he hugged him tightly and said:
"Xiao Lei, thank you!"
At this time, Lei Gang couldn't help it anymore, tears welled up in his eyes uncontrollably.
Many people present couldn't help but wiped away tears with joy when they saw this scene!
Everyone has been waiting for this day for too long, more than ten years since the 1980s!
In these years, because I didn’t have a third-generation phone of my own, I had to endure blackmail from others!
On this day, it is officially announced that it no longer exists!
From now on, the sky of the motherland will be guarded by the J-10!
(End of chapter)
