Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 104 High standards and strict requirements: it's time to change the old ways!

Processing residue?
“Comrade Qin Liang, we know your design skills are excellent, but you wouldn’t understand how to manufacture it. We’ve always built it this way, and we’ve never heard of any processing residue!” Master Zhang said, “If there really is, I…”

"Old Zhang!" Master Liu interrupted him, "Let's listen to Comrade Qin Liang and check it again!"

Who says Qin Liang doesn't know anything about manufacturing? He was the one who fixed the defect in the wing actuator tube. This young man is definitely capable!

Mr. Zhang was still unhappy: "Old Liu, I'm just stating the facts..."

While the group was arguing, Qin Liang had already walked up to the plane and casually reached into the air intake.

The J-7 is very low, and the Super-7's air intakes are located on the lower sides, making it easy to reach out and touch. Qin Liang went inside and rummaged around for a while, and then... he managed to pull out a thin wire about half a centimeter long.

This is……

A broken rivet?
The aluminum alloy skin of an aircraft is riveted to the frame. Some rivets are of poor quality and may break. If the outer rivet breaks, it can be pulled out, and if the inner rivet breaks, it can be pushed in...

"It's just a broken rivet, it's not a big problem..." At this point, Mr. Zhang had not yet realized the seriousness of the problem.

"No residue can be left on the plane. Most of it is fine, but a small amount... even just one piece of residue blown onto the engine can have a catastrophic impact, such as causing the engine to be scrapped. Mr. Zhang, you should know how much an engine costs, right?"

Master Zhang still seemed somewhat dismissive: "That's how we've been doing it all these years..."

Qin Liang sighed: "Old Tu, I think Master Zhang doesn't meet the production requirements of our Super 7. Let's transfer him away from his post."

"You! I, Old Zhang, haven't left the workshop for three days and three nights straight because of this plane! I haven't had a good night's sleep since we started building it, and now you actually want me to leave? Who do you think you are?"

"Old Zhang, you've been working yourself to the bone lately, you should take a rest," Old Tu said.

"Director Tu, you..."

“Go back and rest, and reflect on this. Our country has undergone reforms and taken on a new look. We old workers can no longer continue to do things according to the old ways!” Old Tu said, “Whether it’s delivering to the military or exporting to earn foreign exchange, top-notch quality is required. There can’t be any debris inside the aircraft. This is a must! Comrades, let’s not rush the maiden flight. Next, let’s remove the debris first!”

Master Liu patted Master Zhang on the shoulder: "Old Zhang, times have changed, and our standards for building airplanes are much higher now. If we continue to do things the way we used to, it really won't work. I'm a living example. Go back and think about it carefully!"

Qin Liang took a deep breath. He couldn't let history repeat itself! In July 97, the J-7 was fitted with the "Third Aunt's" engine for ground testing. The engine operated normally, and other systems coordinated well. Everyone thought it was a perfect ground test. But then… when the engine structure design researcher, armed with a flashlight, crawled into the engine's underside intake to inspect it, they discovered countless marks on the blades of the "Third Aunt's" engine, indicating severe damage. The ground test failed!
Everyone was in a panic. An engine, worth three million dollars, was destroyed just like that!

Upon closer inspection, most of the debris was found to have fallen in during the riveting of the skin, including broken rivets and metal fragments. Because the fuselage and engine compartment were not properly sealed, the debris was sucked into the engine.

Let's change it!

After a thorough cleaning and replacement of the engine, the second test drive... damn it, the engine was damaged again due to an impact from an external object!

After more than half a year of inspection and cleaning, we nervously switched to the third machine, and finally, we succeeded! The experience gained from spending six million US dollars and nearly a year was to improve production processes and raise production standards. In the past, workers didn't care if a rivet broke, but now, if one breaks, they have to find it. If they can't find it, they can't leave work!
Of course, that mainly relied on the third-generation turbofan engine, employing a high aspect ratio design, meaning slender blades, high pressure ratio, and strong suction. The WP-7 might not experience similar malfunctions, but… the Super-7 is designed to compete with third-generation fighters, so it must adhere to third-generation standards. Who knows, they might switch to turbofan engines someday; continuing with current production processes would damage the expensive engines!
"I...I want to stay here and watch over it. The plane is already built, and even if there are impurities inside, there's no way to clean them!" Master Zhang said.

"Simple, just remove the engine and blow air through the air intake with a high-flow blower!" Qin Liang offered the simplest solution.

The rear fuselage was also modified, and the engine was installed by drilling into the mountain. It only took a few minutes to remove. With the sound of the blower, the crackling sound was incessant. Looking at the countless metal fragments that appeared under the specially placed baffle at the back of the fuselage, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

There are so many impurities?
Master Zhang's face grew increasingly grim.

"Comrade Qin Liang, I apologize for my attitude just now. I didn't know there were so many impurities inside the plane." Master Zhang finally spoke up: "If the engine is really damaged, then I will be committing a crime!"

Qin Liang nodded: "Comrades, although our Super-7 is a modified J-7, its development goal is to counter third-generation fighters. We can't cling to our old experiences; we must hold ourselves to the same high standards as those for producing third-generation fighters. Next, we need to discuss how to improve the process and raise the requirements to prevent unwanted objects from appearing inside the fuselage. Also, how to reduce gaps to prevent them from being sucked into the engine! High standards and strict requirements are essential for our products to gain market recognition, for our factory to thrive, and for everyone to receive daily benefits!"

Talking about other things won't impress everyone, but when it comes to benefits, that's definitely what everyone cares about most!
"Yes, Comrade Qin Liang, don't worry, we will definitely do as you ask!" the workshop director said.

Thump thump thump... Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came.

"Old Tu, Old Tu, we just received news from our superiors that Old Ba plans to inspect our Factory 132 in three days!"

Old Ba is finally coming! Old Tu glanced at the Super-7 still clearing debris, his face beaming with excitement: "Perfect timing! Just in time for our Super-7's maiden flight, then..."

"Old Tu, has the Air Force agreed to show the Super-7 to Barack Obama?" Qin Liang asked curiously.

“That’s right!” Old Tu nodded. “The Air Force reviewed the modification project from Institute 611 and concluded that only that project could support the future of the Air Force. The importance of our project has decreased. By the way, Northwestern Polytechnical University needs to be prepared. We’ll probably need to use your computers next…”

(End of this chapter)