Return to 2000: Captain of the Great Powers

"Xu Cang, there is a problem. It shouldn't be so fast, it shouldn't be so fast." Richard roared, his perception is so sharp, even if there is a slight abnormality, he can detect it immediately come out.

As Xu Cang said before, as the altitude decreases, the air content in the center of the cyclone will gradually increase.In a near-vacuum environment, there is no obstruction during the falling process of the plane, but as the air content increases, the huge fuselage of the passenger plane will produce greater and greater resistance, and the falling speed of the plane will still increase, but the increase The speed should slow down.

However, when it was noticed that the airspeed indicator and altimeter of the aircraft began to recover, this undoubtedly indicated that the aircraft had left the vacuum area.

Only high-speed friction with the air can generate enough heat to melt the ice on the probe and return the airspeed and altimeter to normal.

However, the falling speed of the plane did not slow down in this case, which undoubtedly exceeded their expectations.

"Damn it, how did this happen?" Xu Cang's heart tightened. The current situation is indeed not in his plan. According to the falling speed, the final speed of the plane may exceed 450 knots.

"Richard, prepare for the second ignition." Almost at the moment when Xu Cang lost his mind, the altitude of the plane dropped by more than 2000 feet. It seemed that the plane was in a vacuum environment, ignoring the air resistance at all.

Xu Cang has his own plan for when to slow down and when to restart the engine. Even if it is not particularly precise, he still has a general picture.But under the current situation, all Xu Cang's plans in advance have not come in handy, which requires him to adapt to the situation.

Richard looked down almost straightly. If it was someone else, his mentality would explode.But Richard showed a very strong psychological quality at this time. Even though he realized that the current situation was very critical, he was still trying his best to stabilize his mentality, so as not to let himself make any low-quality mistakes.

They only have one chance to restart, and if they miss it, they die.

Wiping his face quickly and vigorously, Richard realized that his face was covered in cold sweat.However, Richard still forcibly suppressed the panic in his heart, and replayed the engine re-ignition procedure in his mind at an incredible speed.

"Listen to your password." Richard's breathing was trembling: "Now?"

"Wait, wait!" Xu Cang's eyes are filled with blood at this moment, the rapid descent rate has caused a large amount of blood in his body to accumulate in his skull, and the huge blood pressure has made Xu Cang's eyes red, showing some signs of blood vision up.

The speed of the aircraft is too fast, and it continues to increase, showing no signs of slowing down.

Richard watched the altimeter value pointer plummet and couldn't stop at all. He could only estimate the aircraft's current descent rate from the rate of change of the altimeter value.

"Xu Cang, the drop rate is close to [-]. It's too fast, too fast, and I can't wait until it restarts." Richard shouted loudly.

This is not disturbing Xu Cang, but a real threat.

The descent rate of [-] is almost approaching the display limit of the aircraft's escalator.For ordinary large airliners, the numerical display of the lift rate has a range, most of which are about [-] for the lift rate and about [-] for the drop rate.

Although the [-] feet from the beginning of the fall is very high, but subtracting the average altitude of the Alps, it is actually only [-] feet, and with a few thousand feet of height margin, they can actually consume only [-] feet. The look of a thousand feet.

For the current rate of decline, it only takes more than two minutes.Moreover, now that they have actually consumed more than 4000 feet of altitude, they have less than 2 minutes left.

2 minutes to complete a complete start cycle is even a bit stretched.Therefore, what Richard said was not groundless, but a real threat, and it was quite urgent.

"The speed of the plane is too fast. I need to control the rate of descent first." Xu Cang roared wildly. It could be heard that Xu Cang was also extremely anxious. Now a slight mistake in decision-making could be the difference between life and death.

But Richard shouted: "The speed is just right, just right for the engine to start."

There are many ways to start the engine. For air starting, there are two kinds of wind start and cross-bleed start. Among them, wind start is most suitable for high-speed conditions, so Richard said that the faster the speed, the better.

"No, the speed is too fast, it exceeds the envelope of the windmill, the air will be squeezed in the air inlet, and the plane will surge." Xu Cang has already put one hand on the speedbrake from the thrust handle: " I'm going to pull the speed brake, you should concentrate on listening to my ignition command."

"Speedbrake?" Richard was shocked when he heard this, "The speed is too high, and the speedbrake will be damaged."

"Never mind!" Xu Cang shouted, and pulled up the speed brake handle.

However, what followed was violent shaking of the plane.

Originally after speeding, the plane was still in a normal state at first.However, as more and more speeds were exceeded, the ultra-high-speed environment put a great burden on the aircraft fuselage structure. Therefore, the aircraft began to tremble slightly before the speedbrake was pulled up.

However, as Richard said, the speed of the plane has already exceeded [-] knots, which is beyond the use range of the speedbrake.Forcibly pulling up the speedbrake will cause huge damage to the structure of the speedbrake, and the speedbrake is linked to the wing. When the speedbrake is overwhelmed, the wing and the fuselage are also screaming in pain, as if at any time It's like they're going to disintegrate.

At this moment, there is only the constant speeding warning in the cockpit, and the rest is only the sound of breathing that seems to smell fear and suffocation.

No, in this environment, it seems that even breathing is not important.

Although ignoring the scope of application of the speedbrake and raising the speedbrake, the fuselage began to vibrate more and more terrifyingly, but the effect was extremely obvious. The speed of the aircraft did not increase any more. To be precise, it was a smaller rate is increasing.

When Xu Cang aimed at the airspeed indicator, the speed of the plane had just passed 420 seven knots.

However, this is not enough!

"Xu Cang, it's too bad, the speed can't be reduced!" Richard was sweating profusely all over his body, and the effect of the speedbrake can only restrain the increase of the speed of the plane, and it can't reduce the speed at all.

Richard certainly knew the envelope of the CS300 aerial re-ignition.

Altitude should be under 130 feet and speed between 350 and [-] knots.

Therefore, it is true that Xu Cang mentioned earlier that the starting envelope was exceeded, at least in terms of speed.

It is true that high speed is required to start the wind, but if the airflow speed is too fast, the engine cannot digest so much airflow when starting, and part of the airflow will be congested in the intake passage, thereby blocking the airflow coming from behind, and the blocking situation will become worse. It became more and more serious, and finally failed to start.

Even if the lucky start is successful in the end, as long as the engine starts to run, it will directly enter the surge state, which is not much different from a failed start.

They have only one chance to start, and it is reasonable for Xu Cang to choose to wait when the situation is beyond the envelope.It was because of this consideration that when Xu Cang prevented Richard from lighting the fire again, even though Richard thought Xu Cang was too hesitant, he still followed Xu Cang's instructions.

But now it's different, the speedbrake's effect is not as good as expected.Now if you wait for a minute, the remaining height will be reduced by one point, and even if the speed is rising extremely slowly, it is still rising, and the situation is still getting worse, why not fight now?
At least Richard is not the kind of person waiting to die watching his own life die!
However, in Xu Cang's heart, it was another scene.

"Why didn't the speed slow down!"

Xu Cang moved slightly with his right hand holding the speed brake, and it was this small movement that made Richard almost suffocate.His left hand grabbed Xu Cang's right wrist violently: "I can't pull anymore, the plane is about to disintegrate."

There are actually two gear positions of the speedbrake, namely the flight stop position and the lift position.

The expansion range of the rising position is larger than that of the flying stop, and the deceleration effect is actually stronger.

However, the reason why the flight slot is called the flight slot is because this gear is suitable for the maximum gear during the flight phase.The raised position can only be used in the ground phase.

It is clearly stated in the manual that it is not allowed to move the speedbrake handle beyond the flight stop in the air.Once the flight card position is exceeded, it will cause buffeting of the aircraft and have a negative impact on the fuselage structure.

Now the plane is already overwhelmed by excessive speeding. If the speed brake exceeds the limit, the plane may disintegrate on the spot.

Richard first noticed the movement of Xu Cang's right hand, for fear that Xu Cang's brain would get hot and he would pull the speed brake to the raised position.

However, Xu Cang has not reached that point yet, even though he is terrified by the current situation, reason still prevails.

It is critical now, but there is still a chance to turn around.

"I want to let go" Xu Cang just opened his mouth, and suddenly felt that the sidestick he was holding started to shake wildly, and the movement was so loud that it almost suppressed the sound of overspeed warning and body shaking.

"That's...stick shaker?" Richard looked down at his sidestick, which was also vibrating at a small high frequency unstoppably, which was exactly the same as the feedback mechanism produced by stall shaker.

Richard only felt that his mind was empty: "A stick shaker with more than 400 knots?"

In many people's minds, a stall, as its name suggests, is a loss of speed, that is, a stall usually only occurs at low speeds.

Of course, this is a relatively one-sided and narrow understanding.Real professional pilots generally know that stall is not directly related to speed, and stall may also occur at high speed.

However, the occurrence of stick shaking in the state of more than 400 knots also really refreshed Richard's cognition.

However, at the next moment, another huge doubt enveloped Richard's mind. He suddenly noticed that there was no stall pitch limit indicator on the attitude indicator.

In CS300's stall warning logic, the stall pitch limit indicator should appear on the attitude indicator before the stall, so that the pilot can correct the attitude of the aircraft.

But the strange thing is that when the stick shake warnings all appeared, the pitch limit indicator did not even appear.

"Jump?" At this time, Richard only felt that his head was as big as a bucket, and his speed could not be reduced. He encountered a stall, but the most common countermeasure for a stall was to push the rod to reduce the angle of attack.

But Xu Cang just pushed the rod a little in the early stage, so that the plane would not move too much in the horizontal dimension and leave the center of the cyclone.

However, if the input volume of the ejector rod is increased, the speed of the slow increase may become uncontrollable again.

So even with the standard procedure for dealing with a stall, Richard seemed a bit hesitant.

However, if the stall is not dealt with, the aircraft will gradually lose lift.At that time, without the restraint of the lift component, the speed of the aircraft's descent will still increase.

Suddenly, Xu Cang and the others were caught in a dilemma.

Xu Cang frowned, because there was no pitch limit indicator, and there was no warning zone and red zone on the airspeed indicator, that is, there was no indication at all.

This is so weird, it doesn't make sense at all.

Crazy loss of altitude, uncontrollable speed, stall warning from nowhere, and the engine that never started.

All kinds of problems are intertwined, layer upon layer, and there seems to be no suitable entry point.

These problems are not unique but interrelated in nature, or to be precise contradictory.

The complexity here made the experienced Richard feel stuck in his thinking, he couldn't help roaring: "Xu Cang, tell me, what should I do!?"

"Damn it!" Even Xu Cang felt that it was extremely difficult at this moment, he raised his right index finger, showing a trace of hesitation.

Just now he didn't want to move the speedbrake, but wanted to move the flaps, and now this idea began to appear in his mind again.

No manual can tell them what to do now, and perhaps even Bombardier, an aircraft manufacturer, can hardly imagine such a complicated situation.

"Let's go out!" Xu Cang said suddenly.

"What?" Richard was startled: "What did you say?"

"Leave the central area." Xu Cang gritted his teeth: "I will release the stall first, and then start to take the stick."

"But if we had a pole, we wouldn't be able to go down."

In fact, as long as Xu Cang gave up diving, he could reduce the speed by operating with a stick.However, this also means that the plane cannot maintain the dive state, and the plane will enter a frenzied cyclone, and it also means that the landing is very likely to fail.

"The current state is unsolvable!" Xu Cang looked gloomy, without asking Richard's consent at all, he stabilized the trembling sidestick, and pushed forward a little.

Just like that, the speed of the plane, which had stabilized slightly, immediately soared, exceeding 430 knots in an instant.

"FUCK!" In this situation, Richard cursed angrily.With Xu Cang's move, not only the speed of the plane soared, but also the rate of descent would further increase, leaving them much less altitude.

The probability of success has infinitely approached zero.

However, Xu Cang's face changed suddenly after the push. He was stunned for a moment, and suddenly turned his head to look at Richard.

Richard was taken aback, and immediately realized: "Has the stick shaking not stopped?"

Xu Cang pushed the bar in this situation, and the speed of the plane soared to more than 430 knots. At this moment, the angle of attack of the plane should be very small. On the attitude indicator, the attitude indication of the plane and the FPV almost coincided. In this case, there should be no more stalls.

"What's going on, how can this happen!" Richard's face paled, and he began to realize that they were really in a big trouble, a stall that could not be recovered.

"The reason for the air content?" Xu Cang's heart couldn't stop beating wildly at this moment. He knew that he had reached the moment of life and death. Looking at the cliff-like cyclone wall on the side, a crazy idea came to his mind.

However, the moment Xu Cangsheng thought of it, the stick shaking warning that came from nowhere suddenly disappeared.

Yes, it just disappeared without warning.

During this period, Xu Cang did not do anything.

Now, Xu Cang and Richard couldn't help being stunned for a moment.This stick shaking warning came without a trace of reason, and it seemed to disappear without a trace of reason.

However, at this moment Xu Cang couldn't figure out why the stick shake warning disappeared again, he had to do something.

The moment the stick shaking warning disappeared, Xu Cang immediately reduced the input of the ejector stick, and then his right hand, which had been hesitant before, did not hesitate any more, grabbed the flap handle, and released all the flaps.

"Xu Cang, you." Richard didn't expect Xu Cang to release the flaps at this time. The current speed even exceeds the limit of the speed brake, and it is even faster than the speed of the flap sign. up.

"You want to use the flaps as speedbrakes!?" Richard immediately understood what Xu Cang did, but it didn't mean he agreed with it: "The flap structure will break."

Flaps also generate drag while generating lift, and numerically speaking, drag is greater than lift.Therefore, there is theoretical support for Xu Cang to use the flaps as speed brakes.

Since the gear position of the speedbrake can no longer be increased, the flap structure can only be sacrificed.

"We don't need flaps." Xu Cang just said indifferently.

"You really are a lunatic!"

With the release of the flaps, the speed of the aircraft finally began to decrease under the double action of Xu Cang reducing the amount of ejector.However, even so, the trend of speed reduction was not fast enough, and it was only reduced to 410 knots in a dozen seconds.

At this moment, Xu Cang glanced at the altimeter, it was [-] feet!
Xu Cang's eyelids twitched wildly, and at the same instant, Richard could no longer control himself: "Xu Cang, it's too late!"

Xu Cang's teeth were almost bleeding from his teeth, and he roared suddenly: "Light it up!"

Richard, who has been waiting for a long time, after confirming that the two main engine switches are closed and the engine thrust handle is idle, puts all the engine mode selection switches to the ignition position, at the same time turns on the cross-bleed air, and turns off the wing anti-icing switches for verification. , and finally the main engine switch opens.

The whole movement was done in one go, as if it had been rehearsed countless times, and it didn't even take two seconds.

After the main engine switch is in the open position, the start failure/engine stall alarm suddenly appears during the start consultation.Richard's face changed suddenly, he was really worried about something, even though he was trying his best to control the speed of the plane, the speed was still too fast for the engine to re-ignite.

"No matter!" Xu Cang shouted coldly, for fear that Richard would turn the main engine switch to the off position.

Richard is aware that in some cases, such as when the N2 and EGT indices are normal, the activation consultation warning can be ignored.However, the problem now is that the index of the engine is not normal.

"Xu Cang, the N2 index can't go up." Richard roared, he could even vaguely see the rolling hills below: "It's too fast, the speed of the plane is too fast, the plane will fail to start!"

Starting the engine is actually a matter of one breath. If this breath continues, then there will be a smooth road ahead.But if this tone is not followed, it means that the start failed.

Obviously, the excessive speed made the engine unable to catch the breath.

But the problem is that now the plane cannot accept the failure of the engine to start.

It was during this short period of time that the plane descended nearly 1 feet.According to estimates, they should have leveled off at [-] to [-] feet.

However, with just over 2000 feet left, the engine didn't even start.

Suddenly, the plane trembled violently, and without warning, the plane suddenly rolled to the left.Xu Cang, who was already under great pressure, was caught off guard and caused the plane to have a full [-]-degree slope.

"Not good! The right flap is broken!" Richard's breath was stagnant, and then he looked down at the airspeed indicator. The speed that had been reduced to 410 knots increased again, and it reached 420 knots in an instant.

This is the consequence of the reduced drag after the flaps break!

Originally, at 410 knots, the plane could not complete the start, but now the speed is even higher, isn't it already a death sentence?

At this time, under such unsolvable circumstances, the weather radars that were originally on on both sides were suddenly covered by the terrain display, and then at such a critical moment, a desperate warning sounded.

"WHOO! PULL UP!"

"Terrain! Terrain! PULL UP!"

Perhaps it was the majestic airflow carried by the plane's dive, which washed away the clouds and mists below, revealing the peaks of the Alps. The mountains that were close at hand, as if they were within reach, gave Xu Cang and Richard endless joy. fear.

But at this moment, things still haven't stopped!

With an extremely crisp cracking sound, most of the left slope originally formed by the breaking of the right flap suddenly disappeared.

Richard only felt that his brain had lost the ability to think. This was because the left flap was also broken.

The speed has exceeded too much, and the flap structure cannot support it at all, and fracture is inevitable.It's just that Richard didn't expect the flaps to break so quickly.

He doesn't really care about flaps, he cares about speed.

As the flaps on both sides were all broken, the additional resistance exerted disappeared instantly, and the plane was like a wild horse running free, no longer restrained.Just now it just recovered to the speed of 420 knots and has been soaring, directly rushing to more than 440 knots.

Richard felt that time had stopped at this moment, and he could only rely on instinct to spit out two words softly: "It's over!"

Thousands of miles away, on the balcony of the conference room of the AVIC Headquarters Building, Lin Ming, who had just talked to Xu Cang, supported the edge of the balcony, squinted his eyes and looked at the sky, not knowing what he was thinking.

Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps behind him, and Chen Jinwu stepped into the balcony and stood behind Lin Ming.

"I heard that you had a phone call with Xu Cang just now." Chen Jinwu spoke first.

Lin Ming withdrew his gaze, turned his face sideways, and just hummed.

"I also heard that you promised Xu Cang that the strength of the CS300's fuselage can withstand a speed of 450 knots?" Chen Jinwu's voice gradually turned gloomy, as if it was a volcano about to erupt.

At this time, Lin Ming turned around slowly, without much expression on his face: "You came here to confirm this matter?"

Usually, Lin Ming respects Chen Jinwu even though he is the boss.But at this moment, Lin Ming's attitude seemed extremely indifferent.

"I'm here to confirm another matter." Chen Jinwu didn't care about Lin Ming's attitude, but asked: "The fuselage of the CS300 can withstand a speed of 450 knots. Where did you get the data?"

Lin Ming just replied indifferently: "Flight testing."

"Flight test!?" Chen Jinwu burst into a rage and shouted angrily: "Neither we nor Bombardier have ever conducted such a high-speed flight test. Not only us, no aircraft-related organization will test at a speed of 450 knots airliner!"

A large airliner is a commodity through and through, and its performance is up to par with appropriate safety margins.And the speed of 450 knots has obviously exceeded the standard performance too much, and in terms of business laws, this is abnormal in itself.

Chen Jinwu has a lot of experience in AVIC, and he knows a lot of things, much more than his level should know.

At least he can be completely sure that AVIC has not tested the strength of the CS300 aircraft fuselage in an ultra-high-speed environment, let alone in actual flight, and has not even verified it in theory, because it is not necessary at all.

And Bombardier is even more impossible. It is a commercial company through and through. How could it be possible to take the risk of doing flight tests that do not conform to commercial laws?

Lin Ming looked at Chen Jinwu calmly, and after a long time, he said something like this: "That's right, you're right!"

Chen Jinwu could hardly believe his ears: "Then you...you are lying! Are you lying to Xu Cang?"

Lin Ming's expression didn't change at all, like ice that would never melt for thousands of years: "Cheat him? Maybe! But, does the number 450 knots remind you of anything?"

"You..." Chen Jinwu was startled, and a certain memory in his mind seemed to clear up: "You mean?"

"Yes, I believe Xu Cang knows that I'm lying to him." Lin Ming looked at Chen Jinwu: "His thoughts, his wishes, and his awareness are far beyond yours and mine. Mr. Chen, changing history will always require great perseverance and perseverance. Courage will do."

Chen Jinwu only felt the unstoppable pain in his chest: "Why him?"

Lin Ming lowered his head: "This is his own choice."

"But he is only in his 20s, this is not his responsibility!"

At this time, Lin Ming suddenly smiled: "Because we can't shoulder that kind of responsibility. He is very young, but he stands taller than us, and he consciously shoulders the responsibility that he shouldn't have to bear."

"Bombardier is very difficult now, but why not for us? Bombardier needs this opportunity, why don't we need it?"

Chen Jinwu gritted his teeth: "Then this opportunity requires Xu Cang to sacrifice his life? For a non-existent lie?"

"Old Chen." Lin Ming said calmly, "I don't know if you knew about the CS300 flight test accident two years ago."

Chen Jinwu grimaced: "I've only heard some rumors."

"No, that's not a rumor, but a fact." Lin Ming said calmly: "Two years ago, before delivering Bombardier's first CS300 airframe, we conducted the last test. During that test, due to some circumstances The plane entered a spiral. For us, the altitude of the aircraft was not high when the spiral occurred, so that the black box was finally preserved. The data shows that the aircraft disintegrated in space when the spiral accelerated to 450 six knots."

Chen Jinwu was stunned, he didn't expect this data to be obtained in this way.

"What about the test pilot?" Chen Jinwu asked.

Lin Ming glanced at Chen Jinwu, but did not speak.

Chen Jinwu pursed his lips, and didn't ask the test pilot any more: "However, this data is actually meaningless."

Depending on the shape of the aircraft and the environment, it does not mean that the fuselage of the CS300 can withstand the speed of 450 knots at one time, and it can withstand it every time afterward.

Moreover, the aircraft disintegrated at 450 six knots, with only six knots to spare.Or, to be precise, it's not a surplus at all.

"Yes, this is indeed of no practical reference." Lin Ming replied without concealment.

"However, how Xu Cang knew, even I don't know."

Lin Ming frowned: "I don't know why Xu Cang knew. However, for the CS300 aircraft, the speed of 450 knots is of special significance. It must not be a coincidence that Xu Cang brought it up precisely."

"Then he should understand that this number can't protect him." Chen Jinwu said coldly.

"I know!" Lin Ming pondered for a moment, then let out a dejected and sad wry smile: "But he still made that choice."

In that cockpit, the fear of death almost enveloped Xu Cang and Richard, making them unable to breathe at all.

"Bring the pole, bring the pole, Xu Cang!" Richard suddenly yelled violently, like a dying beast screaming instinctively: "Trust it, just like we believe in you!"

At this point, taking the rod slowly won't solve the problem.

In conventional maneuvers, the recovery operation in the face of a dive should be done slowly and gently. If the stick is pulled roughly, it will impose an instantaneous super load on the fuselage, which may cause the fuselage to break.Especially now that the speed of the plane is too high, and the limit speed is too much, which itself causes a great burden on the airframe. If the operation is rough and violent, it will be tantamount to worsening the situation.

Of course Xu Cang understood what Richard asked him to do, but his next operation was to bet his life on the strength of the CS300's fuselage.

At this moment, with the increasingly rapid terrain warning in his ears and the N2 reading that never rose in his eyes, Xu Cang knew that it was time to make his own choice.

"Is it still going to come to this step in the end?"

He admitted that he had envisioned this scenario, but from the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling to make this choice.Xu Cang took a deep breath, and suddenly, his mood seemed to calm down.

But that was just a sudden, lasting moment of peace.

It's like when a cheetah is hunting, if it doesn't come out, it's gone, and when it strikes, it's like lightning, turbulent and invincible.

Suddenly, Xu Cang gritted his teeth, exerted force with his left hand, and slammed the sidestick back, at the same time, he uttered a cry from the depths of his soul: "May God bless China!"