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

Chapter 105 Super 7's First Flight
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, at Factory 132's runway.

A C-130 transport plane landed smoothly, the tail door opened, and the passengers rushed over.

"General Jamal, welcome to our Factory 132!"

"Mr. Tu, today is your first day back to work after the Spring Festival. We hope we haven't caused you any trouble by coming at this time."

"Of course not. Our Factory 132 is still upholding its old tradition of working non-stop on the 30th and continuing on the first day of the new year... It's just that the Air Force leaders in the capital are all busy with work and don't have time to come and receive you all."

Back then, when the People's Republic of China had just been established, a three-day holiday was stipulated for the Spring Festival, giving people who had worked hard all year a chance to rest. But in the 1960s and 70s, the situation changed. What was the Spring Festival? What was the Spring Festival?

We'll work until the 29th, then get back to work right after we finish eating dumplings! We won't stop until New Year's Eve, and we'll be out in force again on New Year's Day!
This continued until January 1979, when the People's Daily published an article titled "Why is there no holiday for the Spring Festival?" This marked the return of the three-day holiday system for the Spring Festival. Of course, for Factory 132, there was really no time to rest. Every day was precious. Our workers were not cattle or horses. Every day after get off work, they would go home with their benefits. This was not like the empty promises made by capitalists in later generations.

The only pity is that the air force leaders from the capital couldn't come; it's just past the New Year, and they have to arrange work for the new year.

But... it doesn't matter, as long as Qin Liang is here!

Jamal nodded: "It's okay, we just came to see the plane, Super 7... oh..."

Jamal exclaimed "Huh?" and then turned and walked towards the tarmac.

On the tarmac, a uniquely designed aircraft is preparing for its maiden flight!
The impurities have been removed, the engine has been installed, and the ground test and taxiing experiments have been completed in a tense but orderly manner over the past few days. Now, it's time for the maiden flight!
So the plane was placed on the tarmac, and it can be easily seen from where it landed!

Whoosh... a whole bunch of Pakistani Air Force high-ranking officials walked over, no, ran over!

With its pointed nose, two air intakes, and double delta wings, this aircraft has completely shed the shadow of the MiG-21. If it weren't for its high spine, you wouldn't recognize it as a modified version of the MiG-21!
"Beautiful, truly beautiful!"

"That's right, it looks like a third-generation fighter jet!"

"The number of wing pylons has increased to six, not bad, not bad!"

Old Ba couldn't contain his praise.

"This is our Super-7's 01st flight, and we're preparing for its maiden flight today. You've all come at just the right time to watch this modified aircraft take to the skies!" Old Tu said with a smile.

These past few days of gliding tests have filled Tu Lao with confidence that this Super 7 will definitely soar to new heights!
"Hmm, good, it's a pity it's not a two-seater, otherwise we could go up and experience it too!" Jamal was already eager to try it out.

"General Jamal, test flights are high-risk. Let's have our professional test pilots do it." Old Tu looked into the distance, where several test pilots were striding over.

"Old Tu, I'm most familiar with the J-7 fighter jet, so please leave this maiden flight mission to me!"

"Old Tu, two years ago, Old Wang already narrowly escaped death. This time, for the maiden flight mission, we're not trying to steal his credit, but rather we don't want him to take any risks. We can choose any one of us, just not Old Wang!" Test flights are high-risk subjects. In the 1950s and 60s, global statistics showed that test pilots died every week!

The J-7 fighter jets produced by Factory 132 also faced numerous risks during test flights. Two years ago, test pilot Wang Guanyang made an emergency landing in a farmland to save the aircraft and protect the people on the ground. He suffered a comminuted fracture of his lumbar spine, a fracture of his sacrum, and multiple injuries. After diagnosis, he was diagnosed with the possibility of high-level paraplegia.
At the time, General Wang paid close attention and ordered the necessary medicines to be obtained from the Fengtai warehouse in the capital and delivered by plane! He also met with the test pilot's family and offered them words of comfort.

Of course, the key was the test pilot himself. The most challenging part was the spinal repositioning surgery, which was not only extremely painful but also could not be performed under anesthesia. On the operating table, Lao Wang gritted his teeth and persevered without uttering a sound until the surgery was completed.

The surgery went very well. He was able to get out of bed in just over four months, and now he can even fly. However... the maiden flight is too risky. We can't let Lao Wang continue to take the risk!

"Old Tu, since we've chosen this profession, we're not afraid of danger. I've already been through the gates of hell once. The life I have now is something I snatched from the jaws of death. Let me fly! I've been flying for so many years, and all I've been hoping for is to fly a modern fighter jet!"

“This honor should belong to Comrade Wang,” Qin Liang said.

The maiden flight wasn't a big problem; it was just a round trip and a return flight. There weren't any extreme flight maneuvers, and it was still a mature, older aircraft. Qin Liang was confident.

"Alright, Lao Wang, you fly!"

Jamal, standing nearby, remarked with deep emotion, "With such a group of test pilots in the East, we are sure to be able to produce world-class aircraft!"

A dozen minutes later, Lao Wang, wearing a TK-2 flight helmet and a one-piece flight suit, stepped into the cockpit. The canopy closed, the engine started, and under everyone's gaze, he saluted in this direction before releasing the brakes.

The Super 7 glided toward the runway, aligned itself with the center line, and then orange flames shot out from the rear engine, a sign that the afterburner had engaged. Then, it released the brakes.

With a roar, the Super 7 slid down the track, its speed increasing faster and faster, fifty, one hundred, one hundred and fifty... the front wheels had already lifted off the ground!
The speed continued to increase, 200, 230... and the landing gear at the back also left the runway!
At this point, the total skating distance was less than 500 meters!

"The prototype of the J-7, the MiG-21, required an 800-meter runway and a takeoff speed of 280 kilometers per hour. Our modified version greatly improves takeoff and landing performance, and its flight speed is only about 250 kilometers per hour," Tu Lao explained.

Second-generation aircraft, which pursued high altitude and high speed, had poor takeoff and landing performance. It was not until the third-generation aircraft that they improved. Simply put, aircraft with good takeoff and landing performance must also have strong maneuverability!

Jamal nodded: "Yes, this aircraft has excellent maneuverability! It's exactly the kind of aircraft we need! I just don't know about its other performance characteristics, such as its radar..."

"Well, our relevant departments are currently developing it. Of course, if you have better options, we can also help you match it with other types of radar. As long as the airframe is fine, modifications to avionics, or even the engine, are no problem!" Qin Liang said from the side.

Old Tu stood to the side, listening intently.

"Our nose section can accommodate a radar antenna with a diameter of 600 to 700 millimeters. The United States is reportedly developing an AN/APG-67 radar for the F-20 Tigershark, which is very suitable for its nose section. If you have any other requirements, we can also make improvements, such as a 1553B data bus, a glass cockpit, or a head-up display. As long as you can coordinate, we can install them."

Tu Lao took a deep breath. He said that we should focus on both self-development and import, and both aspects should be strong. In this way, the shortcomings in avionics can be resolved quickly!

(End of this chapter)