In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 372 It's Taken Off! China's Own Third-Generation Fighter Jet Smoothly Leaps into the Blue Sky.
"What's wrong with you, kid? You're not even greeting your old boss?"

After learning about the prototype of Project No. 10, Li Rui, who came with Long Yaohua, kept winking at Xie Wei, signaling him to come out with him, saying that he had something to say.

However, Xie Wei acted as if he didn't see it and completely ignored it.

A few years ago, Xie Wei attacked Li Rui at the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry, punching him. The two haven't seen each other since.

Xie Wei ignored him, so Li Rui approached Xie Wei himself, looking displeased.

"Boss, you're wronging me..."

Xie Wei was about to come up with a fabricated excuse to fob off Li Rui when Deputy Director Li, who knew him well, cut him off before he could finish speaking, saying, "Forget about those fabricated excuses, let's go out for a smoke..."

"Stop doing."

"Then give me back my lighter."

Long Yaohua, who was standing to the side, spoke up.

Xie Wei was stunned: How could such a high-ranking leader still hold a grudge against him for "taking" his Zippo lighter all these years?

What about the leader's vision?
"Let's go. I brought you a few specially supplied red pandas this time, and I also brought you the tea that Leader Long received this year..."

That old man is going to screw himself over again!

Xie Wei immediately became alert.

Haven't seen each other for years? Has the old guy changed his tricks for swindling people?
What's good tea and what's bad tea? What's specially supplied and what's not?
Xie Wei wanted to see what tricks the old man had come up with this time, and how he was going to trick him.

After they went outside, Li Rui took out a cigarette, tossed one to Xie Wei, and took one for himself. Xie Wei lit one for him with a Zippo lighter, then lit one for himself without saying a word.

"The U.S. Thunderbirds squadron is preparing to visit and perform a flight demonstration..."

Seeing that Xie Wei was wary and far more mature than Li Rui had been when he heard the report, with the air of a superior, Li Rui didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.

"Is this to promote the F-16/79?"

Xie Wei was not surprised.

What's meant to come will inevitably come.

Thanks to Xie Wei's efforts, the Peace Paradigm officially commenced in 82. Perhaps because the timeline was brought forward by several years, the total contract amount was no longer the historical $5.5 million, but $4.675 million.

The price of each pulse-Doppler radar system plus avionics system is 850 million.

The other contract terms were no different from those of historical peace models, with a large number of aerospace engineers being sent to the United States to learn about American management methods and standardization for complex systems engineering.

The progress of the Peace Paradigm is quite touching—to this day, even the modification plan has not been finalized, and Grumman is directly delaying the progress by citing the incompatibility of J-8II parts and too many defects.

"Do you have any idea?"

李瑞并不意外谢威能推断出美国人想要向中方推销F-16/79战机的动机，在80年中方主动提出寻求战机引进的时候，通用动力跟洛克希德方面就在谋求推销装着J79涡喷发动机的F-16。

Their reasoning was that the J-8II's performance improvement was too poor. Even with the use of Westinghouse's AN/APG-66 fire control radar and its supporting avionics system, the J-8II's aerodynamic layout and various power systems prevented it from achieving its full potential.

The best solution is to purchase their fighter jets.

At the time, Grumman lost most of its orders to McDonnell Douglas's F/A-18 fighter jet due to "problems" such as the high cost and difficulty in maintenance of the F-14 fighter jet, which forced Grumman to seek other orders.

The F-14s that were originally sold to Persia have put Grumman's fighter jets in an awkward position due to Holmes's rise to power.

Grumman wants to sell.

The Chinese Air Force and Navy also want to buy it.

The problem is that the United States is simply unwilling to provide advanced fighter jets.

"It's not that I have any ideas, but rather that the military has any ideas, especially the Air Force."

Xie Wei exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked towards the horizon.

The sun has been shining brightly in Chengdu these past few days.

"Many people support the introduction of the F-16/79. Although the engine has been changed from the original F-100 turbofan to the J79 turbojet engine, the fire control radar retains basic detection/search functions, with a detection range of 90 kilometers and a lock-on range of only 48 kilometers. These are all theoretical figures..."

Li Rui told Xie Wei in detail what he knew.

These messages are all top secret and naturally cannot be passed on through written materials.

Only in this way can we avoid leaks or leaving hidden dangers.

"Has the military technology transfer ban passed by the US Congress in 84 become invalid?"

Xie Wei gave a cold laugh.

A bitter expression appeared on Li Rui's face. "How could that be! The other side of the Peace Paradigm has overturned all the agreed-upon technology transfers and proposed a technology restriction principle..."

The problems that are bound to arise are unavoidable, no matter how history changes.

"So, don't even mention increasing investment. The Air Force has money to import technology, but not to invest in our own projects? This year, the Air Force and the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense owe 72 million yuan for the Y-9 and Project 10... If the projects don't have that money in the second half of the year, they'll be shut down!"

After Xie Wei finished speaking, he threw the already extinguished cigarette butt on the ground, turned around and left.

"Damn it, he's getting smarter and smarter. I haven't even said anything yet..."

Watching Xie Wei's departing figure, Li Rui was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses.

"How about it?"

Upon seeing Xie Wei return, Long Yaohua hurriedly came out to inquire about Li Rui's condition.

"He shut me down before I could even open my mouth, so it's hopeless."

Li Rui shook his head and briefly explained the situation, "Whoever wants to ask him to increase investment in Project 10 and Y-9, go to him. I'm not going to be the bad guy."

"..."

Seeing Li Rui's shameless expression, Long Yaohua sighed silently.

"Although the Harbin Institute of Technology's industry-university cooperation program is doing well, with annual gross profits exceeding one billion yuan, their expenses are also high... Even with increased investment, the prototype of Project 10 is unlikely to reach the finalization stage before September next year... The rapid progress of the prototype development is due to the achievements of the J-9 fighter jet and the rapid development of electronic technology at universities such as Harbin Institute of Technology and Northwestern Polytechnical University. In addition, Project 10 is already highly classified and is not suitable to be shown to the Americans, otherwise it would have a greater impact on the current cooperation."

Project No. 10 has always been kept top secret.

It was certainly impossible for the J-10, which was still in the test flight stage, to appear in the eyes of the Americans when the Thunderbirds flight demonstration squadron was performing in H country.

"Don't you ever think about why Thunderbirds are here at this time?"

Long Yaohua remained silent for a long time before asking Li Rui.

"what?"

Li Rui was stunned, then anger flashed across his face. "These bastards! They really dare to do this! This must be thoroughly investigated!"

Such a highly confidential project has likely been leaked.

How can Lung Yiu Wah accept this?
"They're already investigating. Xie Wei is really shrewd; he warned us beforehand... about the Y-10..."

"That bastard should be shot!"

Shen Tu's affair has been exposed.

But it's too late to say anything now. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has already signed a contract with McDonnell Douglas, and if the contract is terminated, it will face huge compensation.

"Fortunately, Xie Wei transferred the core members of the design and production teams to Factory 172."

Speaking of this, Li Rui couldn't help but admire Xie Wei's foresight. Although Xie Wei resisted the school taking over the Y-10 project, he managed to preserve the domestic large aircraft design team.

At Factory 172, static testing of the first Y-9 prototype has begun, and production of the second prototype has started.

"The funds needed to speed up the testing of Project No. 10 should be found by the military."

Long Yaohua suddenly changed the subject.

Li Rui was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Another sleepless night.

1986 7 Month 1 Day.

Rongcheng.

sunny.

For other organizations, today is just another day for holding a commendation meeting for outstanding Party members.

Huangtianba was gripped by a tense atmosphere from early morning.

Even in the surrounding area, many plainclothes officers appeared.

Nine o'clock.

A viewing platform had been set up on one side of the airport runway. Prior to this, the factory's security department had already been fully in place and cleared out all irrelevant personnel.

Long Yaohua, Li Rui, Air Force Commander Wang, and a large group of cadres arrived at the scene at 9:30. No one spoke.

Everyone stared at the wide-open door of the workshop at the edge of the runway.

In the workshop.

The work ladders around the yellow canard prototype have all been removed, leaving only the pilot's boarding ladder.

Lei Qiang is conducting a final check on various systems and instruments in the cockpit.

President Song and the others were all standing nearby, occasionally raising their wrists to check the time.

9: 33.

Lei Qiang stepped off the boarding stairs and saluted President Song: "All systems are functioning normally!"

"Push them out!"

With bloodshot eyes and an oily face, President Song's voice trembled slightly.

At this moment, everyone around him felt the same way: excited, nervous, expectant, thrilled, and afraid...

Xie Wei, standing to the side, did the same.

Canard wings!

The beginning of the PLA Air Force's legendary rise to prominence.

Although its performance was much worse than he had expected, it was definitely at the mid-level of international third-generation fighter jets in this era.

The specially prepared tractor carefully lifted the front landing gear of the yellow prototype and carefully dragged the yellow prototype No. 10 out of the workshop—this was not the first time, but the tractor driver's forehead was covered with beads of sweat.

This time, it's different from before.

The previous prototype was just on the runway. Even though the nose of the aircraft lifted up and the front landing gear lifted off the ground many times, it was eventually pushed back down.

Nowadays.

Yellow skin is about to take flight!

"coming!"

Among the many leaders who had been waiting expectantly on the reviewing stand, someone whispered something.

The tractor slowly towed the yellow-painted prototype, gradually revealing it to the crowd.

With the tractor in front and the prototype in the middle, General Manager Song and Xie Wei followed slowly behind, walking step by step toward the takeoff line.

The entire scene was completely silent, except for the slight rumble of the tractor engine.

"hurry up!"

A sudden sound broke the silence.

Several burly men carried a stretcher, on which sat an old man who was as thin as a rake.

"That is?"

Xie Wei frowned.

To ensure a smooth maiden flight, no vehicles or unrelated personnel have been allowed to enter the entire Factory 132 since last night.

"Yang Baoshu, the on-site commander, collapsed in the workshop five days ago..."

Looking at the man, President Song said softly, "To ensure the maiden flight today, he stayed at the workshop the whole time. By the time he got to the hospital, it was already too late..."

Xie Wei remained silent.

Soon, the men carrying Commander Yang joined the team that followed silently behind the prototype.

From the workshop to the takeoff line, 2000 meters!
In the end, only a handful of people, including General Song, Xie Wei, and Commander Yang, made it to the takeoff line.

It's not that they don't want to.

Upon reaching the takeoff line, the tractor detached and then departed.

Commander Yang struggled to get off the stretcher and walked shakily to the yellow prototype standing quietly on the takeoff line. With his hands, which were as thin as withered tree branches, he gently stroked the prototype that countless people had risked their lives for.

He murmured to himself:
"Fly! Fly! We must fly!"

"Mr. Yang, it can fly!"

Xie Wei walked to the side, fighting back tears, and spoke firmly to the frail old man who was already on his deathbed.

9: 55!

Everyone evacuated from the takeoff line.

Lei Qiang, inside the cockpit, took a deep breath. Of everyone, he was under the greatest psychological pressure.

Even just now, Xie Wei wanted to find him and demanded that he parachute out if he encountered an emergency. The plane could be rebuilt if it was lost, but the loss would be much greater if the test pilot was killed.

parachute?

impossible!

Even if it has run dozens of times on the runway, no one can guarantee whether it will actually take off and safely complete its maiden flight.

This is an advanced fighter jet designed and manufactured entirely independently by China.

Compared to previous fighter jets, this is a generational leap, and even the difficulty of operation has increased significantly.

"Suck~"

After taking a deep breath, Lei Qiang cleared his mind of all distractions and awaited the control tower's orders.

"03, System startup!"

Following the previous procedure, Lei Qiang started the system and turned on each system switch one by one.

"System startup complete..."

"Start the engine."

"Boom~"

The WS-6G roared the moment it started up.

Orange-red flames spewed from the tail nozzle.

On the reviewing stand, everyone held up binoculars and silently watched the takeoff line.

The flames at the engine's exhaust grew brighter and brighter, and the engine vibrations became increasingly intense.

"System check complete, everything normal, requesting takeoff!"

"Clearance for takeoff!"

After receiving clearance from the control tower, the brakes were released.

In an instant, the fighter jet, which had been stationary, began to taxi rapidly forward from the takeoff line, its speed increasing rapidly.

"Fly! You must fly..."

Everyone in the viewing area was on tenterhooks.

Even breathing stopped.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Watching the fighter jets on the runway accelerate faster and faster, propelled by the lift from the canards and the surging power of the engines, their noses slowly lifted, and then the angle of the nose pitched up became increasingly steep...

At that moment, everyone's heart was in their throat.

The rear landing gear hasn't even left the ground yet!

This moment is often the most worrying for a maiden flight.

"It's off the ground!"

Through the telescope, the fighter jet's rear wheels smoothly lifted off the ground, and the distance between them and the ground increased, increased...

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the prototype smoothly leaped into the air, and the scene erupted in cheers.

Especially after the fighter jets flew higher and higher, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

It's flying!

China's own third-generation fighter jet has taken to the skies!
(End of this chapter)