I am an industrial worker during the War of Resistance

Chapter 91 Extreme Dive Test
The weather is great today, with a gentle breeze and a clear blue sky without a single cloud, though the sunlight is a bit too bright.

Jiang Dacheng, wearing goggles, glanced at the direction of the sun. Thanks to the goggles, the glaring sunlight had no effect on him.

The plane has climbed to an altitude of 4,000 meters and leveled off.

"Tower, tower, Eagle One has climbed to 4,000 meters and is now leveling off. We await further instructions."

"Tower received. Order Eagle One to perform the first step of the established test flight plan: a high-speed, small-radius horizontal turn tail-chasing maneuver to test the minimum turning radius."

"Eagle One understands."

After receiving instructions from the ground control tower, Jiang Dacheng began preparations for performing a small-radius slewing maneuver.

The nose of the plane was pointing due north.

The smoke generator was turned on.

At this point, the aircraft engine throttle had been pushed to its maximum. Jiang Dacheng first maintained the speed, then suddenly moved the control stick to the left and simultaneously pushed down the left rudder.

Under his control, the left aileron deflected upwards and the right aileron deflected downwards, and the aircraft began to roll to the left.

The rudder veered to the left, and the nose of the aircraft simultaneously turned rapidly to the left.

There are no reference points in the sky now.

The only way to gauge the aircraft's turning angle is with the simplest directional and sideslip indicators available at present.

A compass can be understood as a precise north compass.

The principle of a turning sideslip meter is similar to that of a level; it consists of a small ball placed inside a U-shaped glass tube with a certain curvature that is sealed with alcohol.

When the plane is flying level without sideslip, the ball is in the center. If the plane turns left and sideslips, the ball will move to the left, and if it turns right, it will move to the right.

By observing the movement of the ball, the aircraft's turning and sideslip angles can be estimated.

Data is calculated during high-speed turns using instruments such as steering, sideslip, altimeter, and airspeed meter.

Finally, we can roughly calculate the turning radius of this aircraft when making a high-speed, small-radius turn.

Although this number is not as precise as it was in later generations, it is the best method that Chen Changzai can do at the moment.

This is a method that is now basically used throughout the global aviation industry.

On the ground, what Chen Chang and the others saw through their binoculars was that the plane, under Jiang Dacheng's control, suddenly changed direction to the left and then made a sharp backward turn.

The entire plane drew a perfect circle in the sky.

Chen Changzai and his group were observing the plane with binoculars, while his students were using rangefinders to watch the yellow smoke rings trailed by the plane's smoke exhaust in the sky.

Then, the radius of the smoke ring can be estimated on the ground using trigonometric functions (angle of elevation + distance).

After Jiang Dacheng made a small-radius high-speed turn to the left in the sky.

Then it made a high-speed, small-radius horizontal turn to the right.

After these two actions are completed, the smoke in one smoke generator is basically used up.

"Control tower, control tower, this is Eagle One."

The test of high-speed turning maneuvers with small radii on the left and right has been completed.

The aircraft is currently in good condition.

The engine operates without any changes, without any surge or abnormal noise, and the power output is smooth.

The aircraft is maneuverable and smooth.

Please request instructions from control tower for the next steps.

"Tower received."

Now, command: Perform the second test maneuver—a small-radius dive turn followed by a pull-up and tail-bite.

"Eagle One understands."

After the communication ended, the plane in the sky had already shifted from level flight to a left bank angle and began to dive and turn. When it was more than halfway through the turn, the plane was suddenly pulled up again.

At this point, the smoke from the second smoke canister had perfectly drawn the plane's flight path.

Under the command of Chen Changzai on the ground.

Jiang Dacheng piloted his plane, constantly performing various highly difficult maneuvers.

"Dacheng, how do you feel about your physical condition and stamina right now?"
Is it still possible to perform a dive and pull-up maneuver?

"If your physical strength declines, don't push yourself. Get down and rest first," Chen Chang shouted into the walkie-talkie from the ground.

"Reporting to the tower, my physical condition is excellent, and I still have plenty of energy to complete the dive and climb maneuver."

"Okay, then let's get ready for the last move."

At an altitude of 7,000 meters, it dives at a high speed at a 60-degree angle, and then rapidly ascends at an altitude of 2,000 meters.

be safe."

"Yes, Eagle One understands."

The rapid climb following a high-speed dive is an extreme test of the aircraft's structural strength, especially the main beams and load-bearing areas.

When an aircraft is diving at extremely high speeds and under strong inertia, it suddenly changes direction to the opposite direction of climbing.

Ordinary aircraft main beams cannot withstand such a large overload.

At this point, the aircraft's main beam will be subjected to enormous bending, shearing, tensile/compressive, and torsional forces.

This is why Chen Changzai did not use spruce wood as the main beam of the aircraft, just like the later British Mosquito fighter plane, but instead used I-beam aluminum-magnesium alloy.

The Mosquito aircraft has very poor performance in dogfights.

Because its fuselage cannot withstand the various force changes brought about by the aircraft's high-G maneuvers.

If it dares to perform high-G maneuvers.

Then we dare to break its four main beams made of spruce wood and phenolic resin laminate.

The Mosquito's speed is simply due to its two powerful engines and extremely light fuselage.

This is also the main design concept of the Mosquito; from the beginning, it was not designed for close combat.

Chen Changzai, however, could not do that; he had to make his aircraft have excellent dogfighting capabilities.

Moreover, when designing this aircraft, Chen Changzai specifically took into account the characteristics of the Japanese fighter jets.

The Japanese fighter jets, whether it's their current Type 95 fighter jet or the Zero fighter jet that came out two years later.

They all share a common weakness: in pursuit of extreme lightweight design, they compromised the strength of the aircraft's fuselage.

This resulted in difficulties in recovering from high-speed dives, whether it was the Type 95 or the Zero fighter.

When the Japanese fighter jets wanted to recover after a high-speed dive, they had to gradually pull back on the stick and use smooth maneuvers such as rolling before slowly recovering.

If they dare to quickly recover from a dive at a small angle, their planes will disintegrate in mid-air.

When the Zero fighter came out, its floating carburetor would frequently cause the engine to shut down during high-speed dives.

This was also a weakness of the Zero fighter that was later discovered by the Americans.

Whether it's the Japanese Type 95 or Type 0, they all try to recover from a dive after a high-speed dive.

Even if their planes don't break apart or shut down.

However, during the time it takes to recover from a dive, their aircraft speed is relatively slow and their maneuvers are relatively clumsy.

This period of time is the opportunity that Chen Changzai's designed aircraft needs to seize.

Fighter jet design always involves compromises based on various environmental conditions. To counter a specific enemy, you must target the weaknesses of their aircraft and strengthen your own.

The Japanese Type 95 fighter jet was more maneuverable and had a stronger low-altitude dogfighting capability.

However, at an altitude of 7,000 meters, it is because its V12 engine is naturally aspirated.

Moreover, its fuel supply system uses a float chamber carburetor, which causes its engine power to drop drastically during high-altitude operations.

Its speed will decrease, dropping by more than 100 kilometers per hour compared to when it is at 4,000 meters, and the average speed can only be maintained below 300 kilometers per hour.

Because its horizontal stabilizer and tail rudder area are smaller than the area of ​​the aircraft designed by Chen Changzai.

Therefore, at an altitude of 7,000 meters, the Type 95 fighter jet becomes very difficult to maneuver due to the thin air.

Chen Changzai's aircraft uses a multi-point direct injection supercharged engine.

At an altitude of 7,000 meters, its power hardly diminishes.

Its handling is also better than that of the Japanese because of its large horizontal tail fin and tail rudder.

If the Japanese Type 95 fighter jets could not reach 7,000 meters and fight against us.

Then we can rely on our altitude advantage to attack the Type 95 from high above.

If the Type 95 dodges its charge, it will continue to dive rapidly towards low altitude.

If the Type 95 comes down with me, then I will bring the Type 95 down to a low altitude of less than 2,000 meters, then quickly change to a dive and turn back to catch up with the Type 95.

If the Type 95 doesn't come down with me, I will climb up again to reach an altitude of 7,000 meters and then dive down again.

In any case, when dealing with the Type 95, Chen Changzai was determined not to engage it in close combat at an altitude of 2,000 to 5,000 meters.

Because that's the area of ​​advantage for the Type 95.

At this level, one's chances of winning are not high.

This was the tactic Chen Chang designed to counter the Japanese aircraft, and his own aircraft were designed with this tactic in mind.

Eagle No. 1 in the sky had already begun its rapid descent from an altitude of seven thousand meters.

In Jiang Dacheng's eyes, his plane was rapidly crashing.

The entire earth felt like a wall, getting closer and closer to me.

When Jiang Dacheng caught a glimpse of the altimeter showing that they had reached 2,000 meters out of the corner of his eye.

He suddenly pulled the control lever towards his chest.

The elevator on the large horizontal tail at the rear of the fuselage immediately began to deflect upwards.

The tail of the aircraft was then quickly pushed downwards due to the resistance of the elevator.

Due to the leverage force, the nose of the entire fuselage was quickly lifted up.

Amidst the roar of the engine, the plane piloted by Jiang Dacheng suddenly turned around and flew upwards again at a very small angle.

When Chen Changzai and the others on the ground saw this scene, their hearts pounded so hard they almost jumped out of their throats.

It wasn't until Jiang Dacheng's plane climbed back to an altitude of 5,000 meters and resumed level flight that the situation changed.

The crowd at the airport erupted in deafening cheers and thunderous applause.

At this moment, Chen Changzai also swallowed hard and calmed himself down.

He shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Eagle One, Eagle One, this is the control tower. I now order you to return to base and land immediately."

I order you to return to base and land immediately.

"Eagle One understands, return to base and land immediately."

Jiang Dacheng's voice came back calmly through the walkie-talkie.

Just like taking a quick trip to the gates of hell, it's a very simple thing.

After the plane slowly came to a stop on the runway.

Chen Changzai was the first to run towards the parked plane.

Behind him, a large group of people rushed over as well.

After Jiang Dacheng was helped off the plane by ground staff, Chen Changzai was the first to give him a big hug.

Then, looking at the man who was nearly thirty, he smiled and said, "Well done, Dacheng, you really are well done."

How did that feel? Have you ever done anything this thrilling in your previous flights?

Jiang Dacheng also said with a smile: "The planes I flew before, although they did dive maneuvers, never one with such a large angle."

I've never done such a rapid upward movement at such a small angle before.

However, this time, I feel that the aircraft is definitely able to withstand the intensity of this dive and climb.

Even if the dive angle is greater, there is no problem in pulling up at a closer point to the ground.

This time, the altitude of 2,000 meters was a bit high, and the dive angle was also a bit small.

Also, Director Chen, the anti-G suit you made is really effective.

During my rapid dive and ascent.

At such high speeds and under overload, I did not feel particularly uncomfortable, nor did I experience any blackouts.

With this suit, I feel that as long as the aircraft's mechanical strength is sufficient and the engine's power is adequate, we can perform all kinds of high-G maneuvers.

When that time really comes, we won't have to play this game of cat and mouse with the Japanese planes anymore.

After hearing this, Chen Changzai smiled and said, "Yes, that day will come soon."

By then, you won't be wearing the simplest anti-G suits you have now; you'll be wearing much better ones.

The working principle of anti-G suits is to place several inflatable air bladders on the abdomen and limbs.

When an aircraft performs high-G maneuvers, the airbags inflate and compress blood vessels in the abdomen and limbs, preventing a large amount of blood from flowing to the legs and arms.

It is used to prevent conditions such as coma and blackouts caused by cerebral ischemia.

Basically, it feels like having an inflatable armband used for measuring blood pressure strapped to your limbs and abdomen.

The device that controls the inflation and deflation of the anti-G suit is called an anti-G pressure sensor.

It has a fancy name, but it's actually just a spring that controls a gravity-operated two-way valve.

When the aircraft overload reaches the threshold, the springs yield due to the overload gravity, the intake valves open, and the exhaust valves close.

High-pressure air, compressed by an air compressor driven by the engine, is sent into the anti-G suit for inflation.

When the overload decreases, the air intake valve closes due to the pressure of the spring, the exhaust valve opens, and the air inside the anti-G suit is expelled.

The principle is that simple.

After everyone shook hands with Jiang Dacheng and congratulated him on successfully completing the mission.

He then had everyone surround him and crowd into the cave dwelling next to the airport.

The plane was towed into the hangar by a three-wheeled vehicle.

It will undergo another full-body check-up here.

Especially its main beam and various key load-bearing components, these are the key areas to inspect.

If no deformation or cracks are found in these load-bearing parts after inspection, then the aircraft can basically be considered a success.

(End of this chapter)