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

Chapter 269 The First Flight of the Flying JF-17
Another thing is done; the chip industry can now be considered fully developed!

Qin Liang was happy to leave his computer science major, but when he returned to the side road, he suddenly remembered something: what was he originally going to do?

By the way, I received a telegram from Duoduo. Regarding the picture tubes, we've found Thomson that's willing to export the production line. It just depends on whether Changhong can handle it. Next, I need to report to Changhong and ask them to organize personnel to go to France for negotiations as soon as possible.

I almost forgot about that!
Back in the Fifth Department office building, Qin Liang had just finished making a phone call when he saw Director Luo coming over excitedly: "Qin Liang, you've come back just in time!"

"What's the matter?"

"I got a call from Chengdu saying that our JF-17 Thunder has completed all its taxiing tests and is ready for its maiden flight. If you have time, you can come and attend."

From the J-7M to the Super-7, and then to the JF-17, it's like riding a rocket at a speed!

Qin Liang was instantly overjoyed: "Of course I have to go!"

Factory 132 was bustling with activity.

Old Ba, Sha Moumou... a large group of customer representatives stood on the tarmac, watching the JF-17 prototype preparing for its maiden flight.

Compared to the Super-7, the JF-17 is more beautiful. The large leading-edge extensions that jut out from both sides of the nose, the bulging air intakes, the medium aspect ratio wings, and the fully movable horizontal stabilizers are all unique features of third-generation fighters.

Qin Liang, who had just arrived at Factory 132, could only stand at the back of the crowd and watch the plane from afar.

In the 1980s, the F-16 and MiG-29 had only just begun to be exported, and only a few people with connections could buy them. Many countries could only wait and watch. The JF-17 Thunder is now being developed, which is just the right time to seize these markets!
It's fair to say that we're now taking almost all of Dassault's market share. I wonder how much the French will hate us!
"Liangzi, you're here!" Hearing the voice behind him, Qin Liang turned around and saw Old Lin's smiling face.

Although this aircraft was not intended for the Air Force, the Air Force was still very interested in it. Moreover, the fact that the Air Force was present at this event was enough to demonstrate the importance the Air Force attached to this aircraft, which would help sell it more easily.

"Yes, Mr. Lin." Qin Liang nodded, "Our first truly third-generation fighter jet is about to make its maiden flight."

"What do you mean 'first model'? Doesn't the twin-engine Q6 count?"

Whether the variable-sweep wing Tomcat is considered a second-generation or third-generation fighter is hard to say, but upon hearing Elder Lin's words, Qin Liang could only smile and say, "Yes, of course it is. I forgot. Elder Lin, the J-9 project is progressing smoothly, and the first prototype has begun assembly. I estimate it should have its maiden flight in a year or two."

"We know you're doing this for the good of the Air Force. With our limited military budget, we can't equip ourselves with multiple types of aircraft at the same time. We're not interested in the JF-17 Thunder. Besides, the preliminary research on the fourth-generation stealth fighter has already begun. Here's what the Air Force is thinking: if the bid is successful, the Air Force will invest; if the bid is unsuccessful, I, Sha, will invest. What do you think?"

Qin Liang smiled; that was actually what he meant too.

Just then, a pilot strode over, carrying his flight helmet, his face beaming.

"Lei Zi?"

"Elder Lin? Report: All preparations for the test flight are complete. Please give instructions!"

Old Lin nodded: "Fly well later!"

"Yes!"

"This maiden flight, it's actually Lei Zi?" Qin Liang asked curiously as he watched Lei Zi walk towards the plane.

"Yes, ever since Lei Zi helped solve the problem of launching missiles last time, we have focused on training him. Lei Zi has lived up to expectations and is now an excellent test pilot. He has also participated in the aircraft development process, so he is the one who will be the test pilot."

Generally speaking, the first flight is usually taken by an experienced pilot, after all, they have a lot of experience. However, when flying a new aircraft, especially the JF-17 Thunder which uses fly-by-wire control in the longitudinal direction, a novice may be more suitable than an experienced pilot, because they are more capable of accepting new technologies.

For example, the cockpit now has a flat-bottomed layout! This is the result of months of tireless research and development by the Department of Electronic Engineering at Northwestern Polytechnical University and several other related units. Only a few mechanical instruments have been retained, and most of the displays are on screens. For veteran pilots who are used to the style of the old watch shop, the graphical interaction is naturally a step behind.

In the future, with further technological advancements, instruments will be completely eliminated, resulting in a layout with one horizontal and three vertical sections.

Thump thump thump... Lei Zi stepped into the cockpit and began preparing for takeoff, while the others walked away, watching the canopy close, the engines start, and then the plane taxi from the tarmac to the runway.

"Old Lin, Liangzi, you're here!" Only then did Old Tu notice the two standing on the outer circle, and greeted them with a smile.

"Hmm, our plane is progressing pretty fast."

"Yes, let's work on the JF-17 first, and once we've perfected the one-way digital fly-by-wire flight control system, then..."

We can't be too explicit, after all, there are still quite a few foreigners here!
Those who don't understand won't understand, but those who do understand can immediately grasp it.

The JF-17 Thunder fighter jet only uses longitudinal fly-by-wire technology, while the J-9 uses three-axis fly-by-wire technology. The latter is more difficult to test fly. Once the JF-17 is successfully test-flown, the relevant technologies will be mature, and the flight of the J-9 will be more reliable.

In later generations, the J-10 was developed first, and then the technology was transferred to the JF-17. Now, it's the other way around!
As he spoke, the engine roared even louder, and Lei Zi had already engaged afterburner. Even though it was the maiden flight, he wanted to demonstrate the aircraft's formidable performance!
Release the brake, and the tracks on both sides will quickly move backward. Pull the control lever, lift the front wheel, continue to accelerate, and the rear wheel will leave the ground!

Everything felt so natural; Lei Zi felt as if he and the plane had become one! He was incredibly excited when he left the ground.

"Fantastic! This plane is very maneuverable!"

Hearing Lei Zi's excited shouts over the radio, everyone was also very excited. After working so hard for so long, they finally achieved the desired result.

The JF-17 fighter jet circled overhead once, then aimed at the runway and slowly landed.

After it came to a stop, everyone ran up to it. A Young Pioneer who had been waiting in advance presented Lei Zi with flowers. Excited applause filled the air. The maiden flight was a complete success!

“Ray, you’re very good! On behalf of Sha, I’m awarding you a million dollars!” Prince Khalid, who had come over from Sha, said with a big smile.

After he finished speaking, someone came over carrying a money box!

Lei Zi was stunned and stood there, while everyone else stared wide-eyed.

This guy, Sha, really has the style of a nouveau riche!
"The maiden flight of a new aircraft is very risky. Anyone who can get it airborne is a hero, and we Shah admire heroes the most," Prince Khalid said. "This one million dollars is the reward a hero deserves!"

Others were silent.

Test flights are high-risk; every flight could be a matter of life and death. However, none of the test pilots from the East were afraid or retreated. When the motherland needed them, they went, even if it meant shedding blood in the sky. They knew that by testing out the problems with the aircraft, the planes delivered to the military would be safer.

Their treatment is no different from that of other pilots, but they don't care; they love being test pilots.

In the West, test pilots are paid very well, especially for new aircraft models. Once they complete the maiden flight, the bonus they receive is enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives!

Now that Mr. Sha has arrived and intends to purchase or even produce this aircraft in large quantities, they have already taken it for themselves. Therefore, in accordance with international practice, the test pilots should be given bonuses!

Lei Zi looked at the equally bewildered people with a blank expression, but finally focused his gaze on the only calm person.

"Ryoko..."

"This is a kind offer from Sha, why don't you quickly accept it and express your gratitude?"

Lei Zi then realized what was happening and said, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome, this is yours. Now, let's go celebrate, and we'll cover all the expenses for the banquet!" "No, no, you've all come from afar, you're all guests. It's only right that we treat you to a meal, how could we let you spend so much!"

Old Master Tu also realized what was happening: "We have prepared halal food, please proceed to the canteen!"

Everyone headed towards the cafeteria, with Lei Zi deliberately lagging behind and walking alongside Qin Liang.

“Liangzi, I can’t accept this million; I plan to donate it all…”

"You'd better think this through. You've set an example. From now on, when other test pilots receive bonuses and want to stay, they'll have no choice but to donate because of your example."

Lei Zi was taken aback. He hadn't thought that much about it. But thinking about it, Confucius taught his disciple Zigong that if someone saved a life, they should also receive a reward. He was afraid that this would set a bad precedent for others. What seemed like a good thing on the surface could actually lead to a lot of bad things!
Test flights are high-risk. Given Mr. Sha's example today, there will definitely be corresponding rewards in the future, which they deserve!
But... this was only the early 1980s, and people in that era weren't so materialistic!
"But a million is too much!"

"Too much? Then give it to me."

"can."

Lei Zi didn't really think Qin Liang was joking. Northwestern Polytechnical University has many research projects that are expensive!
“Then I really will take it,” Qin Liang said. “Northwestern Polytechnical University has launched a display chip project and needs to recruit a large number of engineers. The salaries and settlement allowances for these people alone will be a huge sum of money. This million can really come in handy. Of course, we can’t let you spend the money for nothing. Let’s put this money in your spouse’s name as an investment…”

Lei blushed: "I don't have a boyfriend yet!"

"No boyfriend? That's no problem. There are so many college students at Northwestern Polytechnical University, I'll introduce you to someone..."

Lei Zi looked complicated and quickly shook his head: "No, no, I don't have time to find a partner right now, but... I want to go to Northwestern Polytechnical University!"

Test pilots not only need to be excellent pilots, but also top-notch engineers who understand aerodynamics, flight mechanics, avionics, and even have some knowledge of meteorology!

Lei Zi was recruited into flight school during high school. He did not attend university, and the basic theoretical knowledge he learned at flight school was not solid.

Compared to finding a partner, he'd rather delve deeper into various theories and go back to university for further studies!

“That’s easy,” Qin Liang said. “After the maiden flight, once the JF-17 completes its initial test flight mission, it will be transferred to the Flight Test Institute. At that time, you can come to Northwestern Polytechnical University to study during your test flight breaks. I’ll just give Director Luo a heads-up.”

This certainly doesn't qualify someone as a regular college student, but what Lei Zi wants isn't the diploma, but the knowledge itself; whether or not they have a graduation certificate is irrelevant.

"Okay!" Lei Zi nodded.

As they spoke, the group entered the halal canteen, where a celebration banquet had been prepared. Steaming hot dishes were served one after another. Old Ba and Sha's guests couldn't help but give a thumbs up, saying that Eastern food was indeed good, even the halal dishes specially prepared for them were so rich and varied!
Those who wanted to drink were poured wine, and those who didn't were poured juice. Tu Lao raised his glass and said, "Today, the JF-17 Thunder's maiden flight has been a success. On behalf of Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, I would like to thank everyone present for their hard work and support!"

"The success of the JF-17 Thunder is a true reflection of the vigorous development of the Eastern aviation industry. The technology here is no less advanced than that of the West!" Prince Khalid raised his juice.

“We are very satisfied with the equipment from the East!” General Sabir from the old barbarians also said.

The liquid in the cup was drunk in one gulp, and everyone was in high spirits.

"Next, we are even more excited about the next generation of fighter jet projects," Prince Khalid said. "What we, the Shahs, desire most is a twin-engine heavy fighter jet. Recently, Dassault Aviation has been trying to sell their Mirage 4000 to us..."

At this time, it was already around noon in the east, while for the distant Mr. Sha, it was only seven o'clock in the morning.

The sun had just risen, and it wasn't very hot yet. At an air force base near the capital of Saudi Arabia, an air show was being prepared.

Prince Sultan sat under the pergola, watching a group of Frenchmen maintain and service the twin-engine heavy fighter.

It has air intakes on both sides with air intake cones, a pair of fixed canards above the air intakes, and a large delta wing at the rear. It looks similar to the Mirage 2000, but if you go around to the back, you can see that it uses two engines!
This is a twin-engine heavy fighter jet, codenamed Mirage 4000!

Marcel Dassault sat next to Prince Sultan, speaking eloquently: "Back in 1975, when Dassault was working on Project Goshawk, we planned two versions: a single-engine medium fighter and a twin-engine heavy fighter, codenamed Mirage 2000 and Mirage 4000."

"We believe that a major power like Saudi Arabia needs heavy fighter jets! Since you can't buy F-15s, you should continue to purchase our Mirage 4000s. The advantages of these fighter jets are far greater than those of light fighter jets!"

"As you can see, our fighter jet has a maximum takeoff weight of 32 tons, can fly at Mach 2.2 at high altitudes, has a range of up to 3700 kilometers, and a combat radius of 1850 kilometers..."

Hearing this, Sultan couldn't help but ask, "You measure the combat radius by dividing the maximum range by two?"

Marcel Dassault smiled sheepishly.

The French, known for their boasting, always exaggerate the capabilities of their weapon systems in order to sell their equipment.

Dividing the maximum range by two is definitely not the combat radius! According to international practice, the combat radius is the distance to and from the target, and also requires flying over the target for 30 minutes. In this case, 1850 kilometers would shrink rapidly to less than 1500 kilometers, or even only 1200 kilometers.

Of course, this maximum range is achieved by carrying three large external fuel tanks, which greatly limits flight performance. Not to mention, the maximum range is calculated using the most fuel-efficient method, and in reality, it has to be discounted.

“Our aircraft was designed using advanced concepts, such as finite element method, computer-aided design and manufacturing, carbon fiber composite materials, fly-by-wire flight control system, and relaxed static stability, etc…” Marcel Dassault decided to use terms that the other party could not understand.

"For example, computer-aided design was pioneered by Dassault Systèmes..."

In this respect, Dassault was truly at the forefront of the world. Dassault Systems, a subsidiary of Dassault, specializes in computer-aided design software. In later generations, the J-10 fighter jet design used this kind of software, but in this time and space...

"If I remember correctly, Eastern aircraft were also designed using computer-aided design, right?"

Marcel Dassault was speechless again. It was obvious that this guy had started to like Eastern equipment. This was illogical. What could have caused him to develop such a prejudice?
No need to think about it anymore. No matter what methods the other side uses, our fighter jets have advanced performance and will definitely impress them.

"Report, the aircraft has completed pre-takeoff preparations!"

"Alright, let's do an air show then, and let our friends know just how advanced Dassault's fighter jets really are!"

With a roar, the two M53 engines started up one after another, taxied to the runway, and after aligning with the center line, the engine exhaust turned orange-red, a phenomenon that only occurs when the afterburner is activated.

With a thrust of 190 kN, the Mirage 4000 quickly taxied and took off!

Two engines can double the power, but the weight of the aircraft will not double. Therefore, the thrust-to-weight ratio of a twin-engine aircraft is far superior to that of a single-engine aircraft. This is the significance of twin-engine heavy fighters. Great powers need this kind of fighter jet!

Unfortunately, France doesn't need it... Thinking of this, Marcel Dassault felt a little downcast.

The Mirage 2000 has an empty weight of 7.5 tons, while the Mirage 4000 has an empty weight of 13.4 tons. Now, with four tons of fuel for aerobatic displays, the thrust-to-weight ratio of the aircraft exceeds 1, enabling it to perform many impressive maneuvers.

After takeoff, the nose of the aircraft began to rise, and it began a high angle of attack climb!

The Mirage 2000 has a standard delta wing with a small slat wing installed on the air intake, while the Mirage 4000 has a fixed canard wing, and its high angle-of-attack performance is top-notch!
A look of amazement appeared in Sha's eyes.

Marcel Dassault was delighted. "Hmph, you're saying derogatory things, but your eyes betray your true intentions. Our Phantom 4000 is definitely the best choice for you guys!"

The Phantom 4000 soared through the sky, climbing vertically, rolling horizontally, performing a somersault, and spiraling with added power...

Each of these movements was performed beautifully, and many of the Sha people cheered!
　P.S.: In the Dassault family photo, the big one in the middle at the back is the Phantom 4000.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)