Chapter 403 J-10, take off! (Please ask for a monthly ticket~)
Two days later, it was early morning on the day of the first flight.
The stands set up next to the runway of the test flight station were crowded with people. From the top leaders to the technical representatives sent by the Air Force, everyone was eagerly looking forward to the first flight of China's first independently designed and manufactured third-generation aircraft.
About an hour ago, when it was just dawn, a thin morning fog appeared over the airport, which made everyone worried about whether the first flight could proceed smoothly. However, as the sun rose, the fog was quickly dispersed. The weather finally returned to the fine state mentioned in the forecast.
In the final assembly workshop, due to the experience of previous ground tests, the cooperation between the staff of Factory 132 and the flight test station was already familiar, and the front wheel of the aircraft was quickly fixed on the clamp of the special tractor.
Song Wenchong and Xue Chishou both wore suits for the first time.
The two of them, who were usually unprepossessing and unkempt due to frequent visits to the factory, really looked somewhat dignified once they dressed up.
An engineer trotted over from not far away:
“Report, the inspection work before the first flight of the No. 10 Project 1001 prototype has been completed!”
After speaking, he handed over a document he was holding.
Chief flight test engineer Xin Xiaowen, chief designer Song Wencong, chief engineer Xue Chishou and aircraft assembly chief Xu De signed their names in turn.
Looking at the plane that was ready in front of him, Xue Chishou only said two words with mixed emotions:
"Set off!"
With his order, the aircraft tractor made a low roar, and then towed the 11-ton aircraft and started lightly -
Since the flight was not expected to last too long, in order to reduce the take-off weight, only a relatively small amount of fuel was added.
Even after the pilot sits on it, the actual thrust-to-weight ratio of this aircraft will exceed 1.1.
Song Wencong stared at this fighter plane that he had put all his efforts into for the past fifteen years, and the corners of his eyes turned slightly red.
In fact, since he became the chief designer of Project 10, he has spent much more time with this aircraft than with his family.
Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that the J-10 is like a biological child to him.
The same goes for everyone involved in design and manufacturing.
Too many people have left all their youth, blood and even lives to Project No. 10.
“Let's go, let's go there too, don't keep the people at the scene waiting too long.”
Similar to the first time prototype No. 1001 left the assembly shop for the engine start test, no one got on the bus that had been prepared next to it, but divided into two groups and followed them along the taxiway.
Xue Chishou's 28-inch tire was punctured, so he couldn't ride at the front like last time. He had to stand on the pedal next to the front of the aircraft tractor to clear the way for the aircraft.
However, these regrets were quickly dispelled after arriving at the test flight site—
Nearly everyone on the viewing platform stood up in unison the moment they saw the plane appear at the end of the runway.
This is their recognition and respect for this aircraft and the developers of Project 10.
Chief test pilot Lei Qiang has already been waiting here.
The night before, he, who had always been in good mental condition, suffered from insomnia for the first time.
For the test flight mission of Project 10, it would be absolutely false to say that I am not nervous at all.
In a routine physical examination before the flight just now, his heartbeat, which is usually in his early 60s, directly measured the highest number of 125.
However, this nervousness is not due to concerns about his own safety, but about the aircraft.
As a member of the flight test team who has been involved in the aircraft design, development and manufacturing process since 1993, Lei Qiang's feelings for the J-10 are no less than those of Song Wenchong and others.
Without saying a word, he gave a long military salute to Song Wenchong, Chang Haonan and other people following the J-10, and then turned around to board the plane.
Chang Haonan listened to Lei Qiang's briefing before his rebirth, so he remembered very clearly that in the original timeline, Lei Qiang had made a somewhat undisciplined statement before the first flight—
“As long as the plane doesn't break up in the air, even if it crashes, I guarantee it will crash on the runway!”
But this time, Chang Haonan, who was fully involved in the preparations for the test flight, had never heard of it.
This somewhat made him feel a little relieved—
Prototype No. 1001 in the previous life did have a lot of ups and downs before its first flight. Not only was it seriously injured twice by engine accidents, it also had many minor problems during the taxiing test, which delayed the test flight date for almost half a year.
Now, his research results have helped the aircraft smoothly reach its first flight.
The confidence of the test flight team has obviously been greatly enhanced by this.
On the other side, Lei Qiang, who sat in the cockpit of the aircraft, took two deep breaths and began to check the aircraft's movements and switches one by one according to the process.
After focusing on flying, his heart gradually relaxed along with the movements of his hands.
This is the quality of a top test pilot. It's not that they won't be nervous.
But they can overcome the tension.
“The ground inspection process is completed and the engine is ready to be started.”
Lei Qiang's completely calm voice came over the radio.
“Received, ready to start the engine.”
Xin Xiaowen replied.
With a short and slight vibration, the characteristic roar of a jet engine sounded.
This noise that usually sounds high-pitched sounds like celestial music to the ears of everyone present.
The engine started successfully.
Soon, the auxiliary vehicles around the aircraft were gradually removed, and the first flight officially began.
In the cockpit, Lei Qiang pushed the throttle with his left hand while keeping his eyes fixed on the tachometer.
He pushed harder and harder than usual, like a rookie sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet for the first time.
In the past, old aircraft, including some early third-generation aircraft, the engine speed changes completely followed the action of the throttle valve.
If it's on a car, this might be called “driving fun”, but it's definitely not for an airplane.
Flying an airplane only requires safety, not fun.
Changing the throttle position too aggressively or frequently may cause engine failure, so this requires the pilot to pay attention to the working condition of the engine at all times even in the most intense air battles, which is obviously a huge additional burden.
But on this aircraft, the rotation speed of the tachometer pointer only became a lot faster, but it did not appear unstable at all due to the jerky movement.
Obviously, the engine stability control system in the flight control program is working.
“It's so perfect…”
Lei Qiang thought in his heart.
The rotation speed increases faster, which faithfully reflects the pilot's sudden push of the stick, that is, the operation intention of violent acceleration.
The uniform acceleration is to help the pilot ensure the stable working condition of the aircraft.
For a veteran test pilot like him who has flown tens of thousands of hours and more than 20 models of aircraft, this function may not be too important.
But for the majority of ordinary pilots, it is simply a leap from manual transmission to automatic transmission.
And this automatic transmission is also an AT transmission with smooth shifting logic and extremely perfect adjustment.
When the engine speed increased to 30%, he released the brake handle.
The plane began to accelerate lightly on the taxiway and soon reached the scheduled take-off position.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lei Qiang noticed through the rearview mirror in the cockpit that there were many people wiping tears at the end of the runway and on the management platform.
On another runway not far away, a Trainer 8 seconded from a brother unit was also accelerating.
Sitting there were the chief flight companion test pilot Li Yong and a photographer.
Rongfei Flight Test Station originally only arranged for a JJ-5 to fly as a companion, but at Chang Haonan's insistence, it was changed to a model with better cockpit conditions and visual field conditions.
Chang Haonan, who has flown as a companion before, knows that with the cockpit view of the J-5 being worse than that of the J-7, it is almost impossible to take any good photos.
On the one hand, after the first flight, these photos are still needed to confirm some situations.
On the other hand, there is Chang Haonan's selfishness——
The business of military propaganda must be grasped in advance...
Lei Qiang pushed the throttle valve again, gradually increasing the engine speed to the maximum.
Prototype No. 1001 only used about 300 meters of the runway to reach ground speed, even faster than the trainer aircraft following it.
Lei Qiang gently brought the lever backward with his right hand, and the canards immediately rotated lightly, faithfully feeding back the head-up torque to the aircraft.
Just this one action fully demonstrated the agility of the aerodynamic design of the J-10.
Because almost at the same time he pulled the lever, there was a feeling of overweight, and prototype No. 1001 officially made its first flight!
There's still more in the afternoon, so I'll beg for a monthly pass~
(End of this chapter)
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