"Squadron Captain, when will your plane be able to fly? I see the shelves are all set up." Zhou Zhikai was really surprised when he looked at the wooden plane in front of him.
During this time, he watched the plane transform from wood to what it is now. It was hard to imagine that the plane could fly from behind.
The wings and body of the aircraft are all fixed together with whole strips of camphor wood.
The tires are from scrapped aircraft. There are many of these parts at Hankou Airport, and they were left behind by Hawker II.
"It will take some time before it can fly, and the engine hasn't been installed yet." Li Hang came to the plane with a look of longing on his face.
"Where's the machine gun? Why don't you see the machine gun?" Liang Tiancheng also came to the plane and looked at it. It seemed that there was no machine gun.
"Don't worry, let the plane fly first. This is just a test plane. There is no need to add weapons for the time being." Li Hang explained.
In fact, he was also worried about whether this wooden aircraft, which followed the No. 6 structure, could meet the combat requirements.
Because of the aerodynamic structure, there are some disadvantages.
But these are not big problems. As long as you have a good engine, this is not a problem.
If that doesn't work, this aircraft can also be used as a trainer.
The reason why I want to build it is simply to prove my ability.
And if wooden airplanes can prove their unique advantages, at least China can make some progress in aircraft manufacturing at this time.
Forget about the engine.
It is impossible to build an industrial system without money, technology, workers, and supporting facilities. The best way is to buy it.
Now go to the Soviet Union to buy it, and later go to the United States to buy it.
As for the introduction of engine manufacturing technology, the Nationalist Government is probably not willing to do so.
But who made the National Government official at this time? Li Hang could only accept it.
"I thought it was impossible before, but now it seems that it will really become a reality. But when the aircraft is really completed, who will test it?" Liang Tiancheng asked a question.
"Of course it's me. I'm the most familiar with this aircraft, and it's best for me to fly it." Li Hang expressed his attitude without thinking.
"Squadron Captain, isn't this too dangerous? The person doing the test flight must be replaced by someone else. You test the flight yourself. If there is an accident, the loss will be huge." Liang Tiancheng immediately felt that something was wrong.
"Test pilots can only be the people with the best flying skills. Others are not familiar with the performance of this aircraft and do not have rich experience in handling emergencies. No one is better than me..."
Before the word 'appropriate' could be said, the airport's alarm suddenly sounded, and everyone's expressions suddenly changed.
"Hurry, the Japanese plane is coming."
Liang Tiancheng shouted and rushed out with a swish, followed by Zhou Zhikai and others, leaving only Li Hang, Chen Lu and others.
Li Hang also wanted to go, but as soon as he ran hard, a pain came from his thigh, and he had to stop.
Chen Lu was startled and quickly ran over to help Li Hang, "Li Hang, what are you doing? Your legs are not fully healed."
"I'm a pilot. And my team members are all preparing to fight, but here I am..." As he spoke, Li Hang clenched his fists tightly, but didn't know where to swing them. A feeling of powerlessness arose in his heart. .
Looking up at the busy airport, Li Hang remembered that on the New Year's Day air battle, Lu Jichun and others were unable to participate in the battle because they had no planes.
I understand that feeling now.
"You are not the only one in the Fourth Brigade. If you are injured, you should have a good rest. Can't they do the fighting?
Before you came back, they were still fighting against the little devils. "Chen Lu saw that her beloved was in a bad mood and quickly tried to persuade him.
Hearing this, Li Hang was stunned for a moment, and turned back to look at Chen Lu. The latter nodded seriously, and he put down his worries.
Although it was a pity that he could not go to the battlefield in person, he did not forget about business.
Immediately he took Chen Lu and a group of carpenters to a hidden place to hide.
Their workshop was close to the airport, and in the event of a Japanese air raid, it was no different than sitting on a powder keg.
After hiding, Li Hang paid attention to the air battle in the sky. Unfortunately, this air battle did not start over the city of Wuhan, but to the east, so he couldn't see anything at all.
In Li Hang's current situation, it was impossible for him to go to the eastern suburbs to watch on the spot. After thinking about it, he took Chen Lu to the airport. But he didn't let Chen Lu in, and instead limped toward the airport.
Seeing Li Hang, everyone passing by saluted. A captain was already considered a senior officer at this airport.
After all, Li Guidan, who has the highest position, is only a lieutenant colonel now, and the airport's garrison level is not high.
"Captain Li, why are you here?" A captain and company commander saw Li Hang and quickly stepped forward to ask, "Is your leg still healed?"
"It's okay. I'll wait for my teammates to return." Li Hang stood not far from the runway, staring at the runway.
He also saw his landline phone with '2305' printed on it, which had 24 Japanese rising sun flags printed on it.
This is the most dazzling presence at Hankou Airport. The real meritorious aircraft is that this I-16 fighter alone contributed 10.5 shots down.
The captain and company commander heard that he was a little anxious and said, "Captain Li, the Japs may come to attack the airport at any time. It would be better for you to find a safe place to stay."
"It doesn't matter, Captain Li is busy with his own business, I won't affect you." Li Hang shook his head and refused.
Seeing this, Captain Li had no choice but to give up and let the two people stay with Li Hang while he went about his own business.
Air combat generally does not last too long because it consumes too much time in the air.
In particular, the Japanese Type 96 carrier-based fighter has a range of 1,200 kilometers. Whether it takes off from Nanjing or Hangzhou, the distance is quite far. It is destined to only stay in the air for thirty or forty minutes in Wuhan. No matter how long it takes, you have to worry about whether it will be able to fly. Returned successfully.
Li Hang waited there anxiously. The siren sounded at 10:23, and it was now 10:47, which meant that the air battle had been almost twenty minutes.
While he was waiting, he suddenly heard the sound of a plane flying by. He quickly looked and saw that it was an I-15 fighter jet.
There is something wrong with the flight attitude of the aircraft. It may be from the 22nd Squadron or the China Air Force, but the latter is more likely.
Because the 22nd Squadron is stationed in Xiaogan, not Hankou.
The 21st Squadron and the 23rd Squadron are stationed in Hankou.
After the first plane landed, a few more planes returned one after another in the next few minutes. They all had problems with their flying attitude. They must have been injured during the battle and had to end the battle and return home.
At 10:55, the large-scale return flight began.
Not only the I-15 fighter jets, but also the I-16 fighter jets, and Li Hang is eyeing the I-16, especially those with numbers 21 and 23.
