Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"By the way, who will fly this landing?" Qin Yang continued to ask.

"Everyone is very enthusiastic. We decided by drawing lots, and Lei Zi will fly first."

It's Lei Zi again! Qin Yang felt complicated: "Then, can we drink alcohol when we have dinner later? I want to propose a toast to Lei Zi."

"Okay, I also want to have a drink with Lei Zi."

It was already evening, and everyone's stomachs were growling. If it weren't for wanting to see the arresting gear system, they would have gone to dinner long ago. Now, everyone's mood was a bit heavy.

The food was already prepared in the restaurant. After everyone was seated, the others in the base also arrived, including the test pilots.

Lei Zi walked in wearing casual clothes, with a smile on his face: "Old Liu, General Qin, you're both here?"

"Yes, I heard that the carrier-based aircraft landing test will be conducted tomorrow, Lei Zi, are you confident?" Old Liu asked.

"Of course, I'm confident. We have conducted dozens of simulated landings, and the landing trajectories are very precise. This thing, it's difficult for those who don't know how, and easy for those who do." Lei Zi said, "The formal test flight is just a formality. I am 100% confident. The key is that our aircraft has good performance."

To become a carrier-based aircraft, it must have good handling performance at low speeds. Previously, China's J-7 and J-8 pursued high altitude and high speed, and their low-speed performance was poor. The speed had to be higher than 300 kilometers per hour to ensure normal flight. Any lower and it might stall.

The Tomcat fighter, relying on its variable-sweep wing, has a surprisingly good landing speed, as low as 125 knots, which is 231.5 kilometers per hour. This is much better than its previous generation fighter, the F4 Phantom. The Phantom's landing speed cannot be lower than 314 kilometers per hour. Landing at this speed is very dangerous.

This speed is not only better than the previous jet aircraft, but also better than the later jet aircraft. The F-18's landing speed also needs to reach 243 kilometers per hour, and it was not until the later E/F models that it was reduced to 225 kilometers per hour. Looking at the old Maozi's aircraft, the Su-33's landing speed is 240 kilometers per hour, and the MiG-29K's landing speed is 250 kilometers per hour, all higher than it.

"That's right, our fighter relies on its variable-sweep wing for good low-speed performance, but the distance between the two engines of our fighter is too far, and the adjustment range is very large, so you must be careful."

The Tomcat fighter uses a twin-engine, twin-tail layout, which originated from the MiG-25. This can give the fighter high reliability. However, most twin-engine fighters have their two engines close together, while the Tomcat fighter's twin engines are more than one meter apart. This is to ensure that if one engine suddenly fails, such as catching fire, it will not damage the other engine. At the same time, it also leads to the special handling of this aircraft.

Either it doesn't move, or when it moves, it swings greatly.

"Yes, the adjustment range is very large every time, but we have already mastered it." Lei Zi said, "Please rest assured, leaders, I am confident in tomorrow's test flight."

Lei Zi was very proud: "From the day I became a test pilot, I had already disregarded life and death. We who are engaged in test flights cannot be afraid of danger, even if we shed our blood in the sky..."

"呸 呸 呸, don't say unlucky things. Come, let's raise our glasses and wish tomorrow's test flight a complete success."

"Yes, we do need an advanced trainer aircraft. Now, the domestic trainer aircraft are too old." Lei Zi said.

"What we are doing now can only be called an intermediate trainer aircraft. In the future, we will also develop an advanced trainer aircraft, specially prepared for training third-generation aircraft pilots." Qin Yang said.

Although Dongfang has just acquired the J-11, which can be regarded as entering the threshold of the third-generation aircraft, many countries in the world already have a large number of third-generation aircraft. However, their training system has not kept up, and they are still using ordinary trainer aircraft, and then entering the two-seater version of the fighter for training, which consumes a lot of time and money.

Therefore, there is a demand for advanced jet trainers. This type of aircraft needs to have advanced high angle-of-attack performance, as well as fly-by-wire operation, which can simulate many flight characteristics. By inputting different control laws, it can show the operating methods of different aircraft. One type of aircraft can complete the training of multiple aircraft, and the corresponding two-seater version can be saved.

"Advanced jet trainer?"

"Yes, fly-by-wire flight control, high angle of attack, high maneuverability."

Lei Zi widened his eyes. This is exactly what is needed to train third-generation aircraft pilots!

Other fighters can be trained on the corresponding two-seater aircraft, but the J-11 cannot. This aircraft was originally a two-seater, and the rear cockpit is for the radar operator. How can this aircraft train pilots?

The American way is to teach verbally. The student flies in the front, and the instructor sits in the radar operator's position in the back. The instructor guides the student's operation by speaking. Since there is no aircraft control stick in the back seat, the instructor cannot take over the operation of the aircraft at all. The whole process needs to rely on the student. If the student makes a mistake, both of them may be gone.

Now the pilots flying are all elites. If more pilots come to fly in the future, how should they be trained?

It would be much better to have an advanced jet trainer.

However, this type of aircraft is even more distant. Now we can only imagine it. Qin Yang's saliva splashed, and he even talked about the future. When electronic technology continues to develop, trainer aircraft can be eliminated and directly replaced by flight simulators.

As he spoke, the dishes became cold. Unconsciously, it was already late at night. Old Liu gave an order, and everyone dispersed.

Arriving at the dormitory, Qin Yang tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Having nothing to do, he walked to the airport again. When he arrived at the apron, he realized that he was not the only one who couldn't sleep and came out for a walk.

"Old Liu, can't you sleep either?"

"Yes, General Qin, for our navy, tomorrow's test flight is of great significance." Old Liu said, "Although we don't have an aircraft carrier yet, we will have one in the future. And now, we have completed all the preparations. As long as the country's economy can support it in the future, our navy can build aircraft carriers at any time."

"Actually, the key to the navy building aircraft carriers is still the attitude of the higher authorities." Qin Yang said, "Some people think that we are a near-sea defense navy and do not need aircraft carriers."

Old Liu sighed. Yes, this is the most critical thing!

"Then what should we do?"

"In the future, we will have the opportunity to prove to the higher leaders that without aircraft carriers, there will be no strong national defense."