The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 915 Test Flight
In the afternoon.

Three J-11B fighter jets appeared on the runway.

Guizhou Fei Group is wealthy and powerful, and it did not just build one J-11B fighter prototype, but built three J-11B fighters at once.

Prior to this, the three J-11B fighter prototypes had completed a series of tests before their first flight.

This afternoon, the first flight of the J-11B fighter jet was arranged.

As a two-seat aircraft, it is of great significance. Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation invited many guests and some leaders from the Air Force.

Ground crew are conducting inspections on the three J-11B fighter prototypes before their maiden flight.

After there are no problems, the handover will be carried out.

Six test pilots, divided into groups of two, each walked towards a J-6B fighter jet, then walked around the aircraft to check it, and after confirming no problems, they climbed the boarding stairs and entered the cockpit.

Even though it is a two-seater, the cockpit still looks very spacious and the vision is very good.

The test pilot carried out an inspection in the cockpit, started the engine, and the display screens lit up. After finding no problems, the test pilot gave a report.

The ground crew removed the boarding stairs and the first J-11B fighter jet began to drive out of the parking area and head towards the runway.

The test pilot reported and, after obtaining permission, began to increase power. The first J-11B fighter began to accelerate and soon reached take-off speed.

As the joystick was pulled, the front landing gear left the ground and then took off steadily. Soon the first J-11B fighter jet soared into the sky.

Liu Tao looked through the telescope and nodded slightly.

Soon, the second J-11B fighter jet and the second J-11B fighter jet also began to take off one after another, with an interval of only 10 minutes between them.

Three J-11B fighter jets were conducting their maiden flight tests at altitudes of 8000 meters, 10000 meters and 12000 meters respectively.

The advantage of having multiple prototypes is that it can speed up flight testing.

The three J-11B fighter jets were continuously conducting tests at high altitudes and were in constant contact and reporting with the command center.

In the command center, there are three red dots on the big screen, as well as a video of the J-11B fighter cockpit, so the test pilot's situation is clear at a glance.

At the same time, three J-3A fighter jets were flying alongside and taking photos continuously.

After flying for a full hour, the three J-11B fighter jets finally returned.

When going, the speed is constantly increasing, and when returning, it flies at a speed of 1.5 Mach, so it is even faster.

The first J-11B fighter jet was the first to return to the airport.

The J-11B landed steadily on the airport runway like a bird of prey, slid on the runway for more than 11 meters, nearly meters, and then finally stopped. The test pilot drove the J-B fighter jet at a very slow speed towards the parking area.

The other two J-11B fighter jets also landed at the airport 10 minutes apart.

When all three J-11B fighter jets landed successfully, it also meant that the first flight of the J-11B fighter jet was successful.

There was warm applause at the scene and in the command center.

Although the successful maiden flight is only the first time, it will take at least half a year to finalize and put into service under the current circumstances, but this is a good start.

Yang Wei personally stepped forward to shake hands with the six test pilots and communicated with them about the situation.

These six test pilots are all test pilots of the J-11A. They have flown the J-11A fighter countless times. They know the J-11 fighter very well and they even participated in the development of the J-11B fighter.

Now that they are personally flying the J-11B fighter jets into the sky, they must have first-hand information.

As fighter jets become more advanced, the requirements for pilots, especially test pilots, are also getting higher and higher.

For example, the test pilots of the current third-generation fighter jets are even members of the development team themselves and can provide valuable information for the development of the fighter jets.

The test pilots' feedback was very good, which reassured Yang Wei and others. Liu Tao did not attend the celebration banquet for the first flight of the J-11B fighter jet, as he did not want to take away the glory and honor of his apprentice.

Because the J-11B fighter is a two-seat model and not an aircraft built from scratch, the flight test work is very different from the original J-11 combat.

After about half a year of test flights, the aircraft can be finalized and put into service.

Yangcheng Shipyard.

The transformation of the merchant ship into an aircraft carrier has been completed. After several inspections and confirmation, it was officially delivered to the Flight Test Academy today.

The "Test" sounded its whistle and sailed away from the Yangcheng Shipyard.

The target of this trip is to reach a place 300 nautical miles south of Sansha Island.

The maximum speed reaches 30 knots, which can simulate all usage conditions of the Type 001 light aircraft carrier.

The airports previously built on the islands were more of a test of the marine environment.

But that is only equivalent to a stationary aircraft carrier. You must know that an aircraft carrier is not static at sea, but dynamic. It is impossible for it to be static like an island.

This makes it impossible for the Sea Hawk carrier-based aircraft to carry out all test items.

But with the "Test" aircraft carrier, it is different, as it can simulate the Type 001 light aircraft carrier almost %.

The 'Ray Sculptor' helicopter can be tested on frigates and destroyers, but the 'Sea Hawk' carrier-based aircraft cannot.

The aircraft carrier "Test" headed south to its destination.

Over the next year or so, the "Test" aircraft carrier will travel from the South China Sea all the way north to the North Sea, and then from the North Sea to the Arabian Sea to complete a series of tests.

A Type 052 destroyer, two Type 054 frigates and a reconnaissance ship will prepare for the test throughout the process.

A day later, a "Sea Hawk" carrier-based aircraft appeared and began to perform a vertical landing. At this time, the "Sea Hawk" carrier-based aircraft did not have any weapons hanging and did not have much refueling.

The 'Sea Hawk' carrier-based aircraft landed steadily at the designated location.

Afterwards, ground crew began to inspect the "Sea Hawk" carrier-based aircraft.

The pilots took a rest.

About an hour later, the pilot boarded the "Sea Hawk" carrier-based aircraft again and then conducted a vertical flight test.

The take-off and landing tests will be carried out at different speeds and in different sea areas.

At the same time, even in the same sea area and at different speeds, take-off and landing must be carried out under different load conditions.

In addition, takeoffs and landings must be carried out at night.

Aircraft carrier operations do not only take place during the day, but carrier-based aircraft may also need to be deployed at night.

Even in some windy and rainy weather, the ability to take off and land is required.

In order to complete a series of tests, the Flight Test Academy dispatched 5 "Sea Hawk" carrier-based aircraft.

虽然001型轻型航母的配置是15架‘海鹰’舰载机和9架‘雷雕’直升机，但是泰国自然不可能只订购15架‘海鹰’舰载机和9架‘雷雕’直升机。

In fact, the Thai military has added orders for a total of 30 "Sea Hawk" carrier-based aircraft and 40 "Ray Sculptor" helicopters, and purchased corresponding aircraft engines and weapons.

This is also a very special case in aircraft trade, which is the purchase of spare aircraft engines and more weapons.

After all, this requires taking into account unfavorable situations and avoiding situations where there are no aircraft engines or weapons available.

(End of this chapter)