Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 221 Pirates Take Flight
No one could comprehend how excited the F4U "Corsair" fighter jets, which seemed to have descended from the heavens like divine warriors, were when they were truly displayed before Cheng Rufeng, Ye Qiyuan, and the other thirty-seven pilots.

These once proud sons of the skies, who could only fight to the death with dilapidated planes of various countries, now finally possess powerful weapons that can rival the enemy's most elite air force!

After the initial shock and elation, these pilots, like children who had received the latest and coolest toy, poured all their enthusiasm and energy into these new fighter jets.

For a whole week, they all devoted themselves to those thick technical manuals and operating guides, neglecting to eat or sleep.

For these elite pilots, memorizing and understanding all the aircraft's performance characteristics before boarding the plane has become second nature. Anyone who is not familiar with the aircraft's performance is not qualified to take to the skies.

Besides, it's just memorizing information. Is it really more difficult than when we didn't have any fighter planes and could only watch helplessly as Japanese planes ravaged our skies overhead?
Even so, the F4U Corsair, as one of the most advanced carrier-based fighters in the world at the time, required them to learn and adapt from scratch to its complex operating system, advanced instrument panel, and unique flight characteristics.

They absorbed everything about the "pirate flag" like sponges soaking up water.

From every parameter of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Twin Wasp" engine to the rate of fire and trajectory of the six Browning M2 heavy machine guns; from the aerodynamic advantages brought by the unique inverted gull wing design to the complex hydraulic landing gear retraction and extension procedures;

From the functions of the densely packed instruments and switches in the cockpit to the emergency response plans... they studied and pondered every detail repeatedly, afraid of missing any crucial information.

Ye Qiyuan spent only three days thoroughly studying the thick, brick-like flight manual, and could even recite most of the key data from memory.

He would often sit alone under the cold wings of the "Blackjack" with the manual in hand, comparing it with the real thing while muttering to himself. His focus and obsession were so intense that it was as if the plane was his long-lost mother.

Feng Mingqian demonstrated his meticulous and composed nature. He not only studied on his own but also took the initiative to organize some young flight trainees with relatively little experience to study the manual together, discuss difficult issues, and mark some important operating points and precautions to make them easier for everyone to remember.

As their leader, Cheng Rufeng set an example by his own actions.

He was the first to arrive at the tarmac every day and the last to leave. He not only had to thoroughly understand the performance of the "Corsair" fighter jet himself, but also had to pay close attention to the learning progress and morale of each team member, answering their questions and boosting their spirits in a timely manner.

He understood very well that while advanced fighter jets were powerful, their true strength lay in the pilots who flew them. Only by perfectly combining people and equipment could the strongest combat power be formed.

Driven by this unprecedented enthusiasm for learning, in just five days, these Chinese pilots, who previously knew nothing about the F4U "Blackjack," had gained a fairly in-depth understanding of the basic performance and operating procedures of this advanced fighter jet. They had memorized all the flight data, operating procedures, and emergency plans, and even dreamed of piloting the "Blackjack" soaring through the blue sky.

Su Yaoyang clearly saw the pilots' efforts. After confirming that they had a good grasp of the basic theoretical knowledge of the "Corsair" fighter jet, he decisively made the next step.

He formally organized these thirty-seven pilots into a pirate flight squadron, which consisted of three squadrons.

Considering Cheng Rufeng's qualifications, prestige, and rich air combat experience, Su Yaoyang appointed him as the captain of the newly formed "Pirate Flight Squadron" and concurrently as the squadron leader of the First Flight Squadron.

Ye Qiyuan was appointed as the squadron leader of the second flight squadron due to his outstanding flying talent and influence among young pilots.

Feng Mingqian was appointed as the squadron leader of the third flight squadron because of his calm and meticulous style and organizational and coordination abilities.

Each squadron consists of twelve F4U Corsair fighter jets.

After the formation was established, Su Yaoyang did not immediately put them into high-intensity combat missions.

After all, even the most advanced theoretical knowledge needs to be consolidated and tested through practical operation.

Especially for high-performance fighter jets like the F4U "Blackjack," which are powerful and have handling characteristics that are completely different from the aircraft they have flown before, a gradual adaptation process is needed.

Therefore, in the following days, he first arranged for these pilots to conduct ground taxiing, take-off and landing training, as well as basic formation flight exercises.

Only after the pilots are truly familiar with the "Blackjack's" "temperament" and can skillfully control these steel raptors will they be allowed to carry out real combat missions.

However, the situation on the front lines waits for no one.

Since the "Raiden Squadron," composed of P-47 "Raiden" fighters led by Doolittle, entered the battle, although it effectively curbed the Japanese aircraft's harassment of the Wutai Mountain area and achieved some results, its manpower was limited after all.

They are not only responsible for air patrols in Wutai, Xiangding, Xinxian and the surrounding areas, but also sometimes receive requests for help from friendly forces such as the Jin-Sui Army and the Eighth Route Army, asking them to provide air support, and even occasionally have to play the role of ground attack.

The prolonged and high-intensity aerial combat had left Doolittle and his team feeling somewhat exhausted, and the wear and tear and maintenance pressure on the P-47 "Thunderbolt" fighter jets were also increasing day by day.

Therefore, Su Yaoyang decided that after Cheng Rufeng and the others had become more familiar with the "pirate-style" fighter jets, he would immediately deploy the first and second flight squadrons, namely the two squadrons led by Cheng Rufeng and Ye Qiyuan, to the daily patrol and guard missions around western Shanxi.

Their primary objective was to alleviate the air defense pressure on Doolittle's "Thunder Squadron," ensuring the safety of the 300-400 square kilometer area centered on Wutai County. At the same time, through this relatively low-intensity combat patrol, they aimed to allow pilots to further familiarize themselves with the performance of the F4U fighter jet, accumulate air combat experience, and prepare for potentially larger-scale air battles in the future.

As for the Third Flight Squadron led by Feng Mingqian, it will temporarily serve as a reserve and training unit, continuing to conduct higher-level tactical training, such as air combat, ground attack, and joint combat exercises with the P-47 "Thunder" Squadron.

And so, on the heavily guarded rear tarmac of Jinshaling Airport, the roar of engines gradually replaced the sound of pilots reading manuals.

One after another, brand-new F4U Corsair fighter jets, piloted by their owners, began to clumsily yet resolutely taxi, take off, and land on the runway...

Although the initial attempts inevitably resulted in some minor errors such as veering off the runway, unstable landing attitude, and excessive spacing between formation flights, and even a few impatient young pilots nearly flew their planes into the grass due to improper operation, causing a commotion and even cursing among the ground crew and the American onlookers.

These minor setbacks did not dampen the pilots' enthusiasm in the slightest. Every successful takeoff and landing, every smooth taxiing, drew cheers and applause from the tarmac.

They were like a group of children who had just learned to walk; though their steps were unsteady, they were filled with endless longing and courage to explore this brand new world.

…………

The mornings at Jinshaling always carry a unique chill.

A thin morning mist, like a light veil, enveloped the rolling mountains and the nascent airport. The lingering chill of the morning air stimulated people's senses, giving them a refreshing boost.

On the tarmac, two deep blue F4U Corsair fighter jets, like lurking beasts, quietly basked in the faint morning light.

Their distinctive inverted gull-wing lines appeared somewhat hazy in the morning mist, and the dewdrops on the fuselage, not yet completely dry, shimmered with tiny sparkles in the dim light.

Cheng Rufeng, the newly formed "Pirate Flight Squadron" captain and first squadron leader, was standing under the left wing of one of the "Pirate Flag" aircraft.

He was wearing a thick, yellowish-green flight jacket, a flight cap, and goggles pushed up to his forehead.

His face held a focus and solemnity that one only displays before engaging in battle or taking flight.

Beside him, dressed in the same uniform, was his wingman, a young lieutenant named Zhao Tiezhu.

Although Zhao Tiezhu was relatively young, he had an excellent talent for flying and a kind and brave personality. Because of his accurate shooting skills and fearless fighting spirit, he was specially chosen by Cheng Rufeng to be his wingman.

Today is the first routine patrol since the pirate fleet was officially established, so it's impossible not to be nervous.

At this moment, Zhao Tiezhu's face was also filled with barely suppressed excitement. He carefully inspected the tires and landing gear of his vehicle while occasionally looking up at Cheng Rufeng.

"Tiezhu, how's the checkup going?" Cheng Rufeng's deep and powerful voice broke the morning's tranquility.

"Captain! Everything is normal! Full fuel tank, ammunition plentiful, and all parts of the aircraft are intact!" Zhao Tiezhu straightened his back and answered loudly, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"very good!"

Cheng Rufeng nodded, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Tiezhu's young face, which was slightly flushed with excitement, and said in a deep voice, "Remember what I told you, the 'Pirate' has a lot of power and a fierce temper. When taking off, you must keep it steady, gently push the throttle, and pay attention to correcting the direction."

Today's patrol is just a routine patrol. Our main focus is on familiarizing ourselves with the aircraft's capabilities and coordinating operations. Don't take any unnecessary risks, understand?

"Understood, Captain!" Zhao Tiezhu nodded vigorously.

Cheng Rufeng said no more. He reached out and patted Zhao Tiezhu on the shoulder, then turned around and looked at the tall fuselage of his own vehicle.

These days, he has spent almost all his time on the F4U, numbered "Corsair One," and knows every part and feature of it like the back of his hand.

But when he officially pilots this fighter jet and takes on the responsibility of defending the motherland's airspace, an indescribable excitement still wells up in his heart.

He took a deep breath, feeling the cold, fresh morning air fill his lungs, and then strode confidently toward the boarding stairs.

Ground crew had already placed a lightweight aluminum boarding ladder on the fuselage behind the left wing root of the "Blackjack". Cheng Rufeng stepped onto the boarding ladder and quickly climbed onto the wing.

He didn't immediately enter the cockpit, but instead walked around the edge of the cockpit, carefully checking the canopy rails, antenna connections, and the condition of the wing surface.

This is a habit he developed over many years of flying: no matter how advanced the aircraft, a thorough pre-flight inspection is essential.

After confirming that everything was in order, Cheng Rufeng nimbly flipped over and stepped into the somewhat cramped cockpit.

The F4U "Corsair" cockpit offers less than ideal forward visibility while taxiing on the ground due to its unique long nose design. However, once airborne, the high cockpit position and wide bubble canopy provide pilots with excellent aerial visibility.

Cheng Rufeng skillfully secured himself to the seat and fastened his seatbelt. The thick umbrella pack pressed against his back, giving him a sense of security.

His gaze swept quickly across the densely packed instrument panel in front of him: air speed gauge, altitude gauge, vertical speed gauge, engine tachometer, fuel gauge, boost pressure gauge... He knew the data of every single instrument by heart.

His hands moved with practiced ease, as if they possessed a memory, skillfully manipulating the various switches and levers.

"Click, click, click..."

A series of crisp switch clicks echoed in the cramped cockpit.

Main power is on, fuel pump starts, magneto turns on...

As he operated the controls, the instrument panel in the cockpit lit up one by one with faint indicator lights, as if a sleeping behemoth had been awakened.

Cheng Rufeng put on his headset, adjusted the microphone, and pressed the radio communication button: "Tower, tower, Pirate One requests engine start, over."

The tower controller's clear response came quickly through the headset: "Pirate One, ready to start, wind direction northwest, wind speed three meters per second, runway clear, over."

"Pirate One received, over."

After ending the call with the control tower, Cheng Rufeng turned his gaze to the engine start panel. His right hand gripped the starter crank, while his left hand rested on the throttle lever and the air-fuel mixture control lever.

“Tiezhu, are you ready?” he asked through the internal communication channel.

"Reporting, Captain, all ready!" Zhao Tiezhu's excited voice came through the earpiece.

"Okay! Start according to the procedure!"

Cheng Rufeng took a deep breath and pressed down hard on the starter crank with his right hand!

"Buzz—whoosh—"

The inertial starter wheel emitted a dull but powerful rotating sound, causing the huge Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Double Wasp" eighteen-cylinder radial piston engine to begin to turn slowly.

"Huff...huff..."

The engine pistons began to move laboriously inside the cylinders, and the huge four-bladed propeller also began to slowly rotate, like a giant who had just woken up, stretching its limbs.

Cheng Rufeng focused intently on the engine tachometer and cylinder head temperature gauge, while precisely controlling the throttle and air-fuel mixture ratio with his left hand.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft..."

A few soft ignition sounds were heard, followed by a plume of black smoke billowing from the engine exhaust pipe!

suddenly!

"boom--!!!!"

A deafening roar suddenly erupted!

Like a dormant volcano awakening in an instant! Like a captive monster breaking free of its restraints!
The "Double Hornet" engine, with its two thousand horsepower, was successfully ignited under Cheng Rufeng's precise operation!

The massive propellers began to spin wildly, whipping up powerful air currents that sent dust and weeds flying everywhere on the tarmac! The entire fuselage trembled slightly from the powerful torque of the engines, emitting a series of heart-pounding metallic resonances!

As Cheng Rufeng felt the intense vibrations from the seat and the violent, rhythmic roar of the engine, a confident smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

This is the "Corsair" fighter jet! This is power!
Almost simultaneously, Zhao Tiezhu's "Pirate" also successfully started its engine. The roar of the two "Twin Wasp" engines intertwined, like two awakened beasts responding to each other, echoing throughout the entire Jinshaling Airport!
Ground staff quickly removed the boarding stairs and wheel chocks.

Cheng Rufeng glanced at the instrument panel, and after confirming that all parameters were normal, he called the control tower again: "Tower, Pirate One and Pirate Two are requesting to taxi to the takeoff line. Over."

"Pirate One and Two, you may glide. Please pay attention to ground guidance. Over."

"Received, all done."

Cheng Rufeng released the brake and gently pushed the accelerator lever.

The massive fuselage of the "Corsair" began to slowly glide forward.

Due to its unique long nose design, pilots need to use an S-shaped route to observe the situation ahead when taxiing on the ground.

Cheng Rufeng skillfully maneuvered the rudder and brakes, guiding the aircraft in an elegant "Z" shape, following the ground guide lines, towards the starting point of the takeoff runway.

Zhao Tiezhu's "Pirate No. 2" followed closely behind, maintaining a safe distance.

During the taxiing process, Cheng Rufeng constantly swung the nose of the aircraft left and right to observe the runway conditions ahead, while also feeling the aircraft's attitude and control on the ground.

Soon, the two Blackjacks arrived at the waiting area on the takeoff line.

Cheng Rufeng checked the flaps, trim pieces, and other settings again, then sent a takeoff request to the control tower: "Tower, Pirate One and Pirate Two have reached the takeoff line and are requesting takeoff. Over."

"Pirate One and Two, you are ready for takeoff. Best wishes for a smooth flight. Over."

"Pirate One, received! Iron Pillar, get ready!"

"Ready, Captain!"

Cheng Rufeng took a deep breath and slowly pushed the accelerator lever forward!

"Whoosh... Buzz... Boom..."

The engine speed increased rapidly, and the wind whipped up by the propeller almost blew up the pebbles on the ground! The powerful thrust was like being pushed forward by an invisible giant hand, and the "Corsair" fighter began to accelerate on the runway!
The aircraft veered to the left due to the immense torque, but Cheng Rufeng calmly applied the right rudder to correct its course. His gaze was fixed on the end of the runway, sensing the plane's steadily increasing speed.

The wind howled in my ears, and the vibrations inside the cabin grew more and more intense!

The airspeed indicator needle jumped upwards rapidly!

Eighty sections! One hundred sections! One hundred and twenty sections!

It's now!

Cheng Rufeng pulled the lever back sharply with his left hand!

The heavy nose of the "Corsair" fighter jet suddenly lifted up! Like an eagle breaking free from the earth's shackles, its huge inverted gull wings drew a beautiful arc in the air as it soared into the sky!

Closely following behind, Zhao Tiezhu's "Pirate II" also roared off the ground with the same agile movements!
Two deep blue Corsair fighter jets, like two arrows released from a bow, pierced through the morning mist, roaring deafeningly as they soared into the sky! They quickly adjusted their attitude in the air, retracted their landing gear, and flew in a beautiful two-plane formation toward the designated patrol airspace.

(End of this chapter)