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

Chapter 301: You want information? Sure, buy the plane and you'll get the information!

During World War II, the Stuka's howling sound became a deathly presence on the battlefield, giving Hitler the illusion that having Stukas was enough. However, after advancing into the Soviet Union, he found that the situation had changed. Their bombers were unable to bomb bases in the Ural Mountains and could not destroy the Soviet Union's war potential, which was one of the reasons for the German army's ultimate defeat.

On the other hand, the Allied bombing power was very strong. Starting from Britain, hundreds of bombers would often fly together to bomb various factories in Germany. Germany's military production capacity declined rapidly, ultimately leading to its defeat.

As for the island nation, it was so frightened by the bombs dropped by the B-29 that it immediately surrendered. This is the difference between tactical bombers and strategic bombers.

Becoming a strategic bomber is no easy feat. The first requirement is to have intercontinental flight capability, with a range exceeding 10,000 kilometers. With aerial refueling, it can achieve strikes on a global scale. This alone is enough to stump many people. Britain's largest bomber is the Vulcan, with a range of only over 4,000 kilometers, making it a true tactical bomber.

The largest bomber in the Eastern Air Force was the H-6. Due to the use of fuel-intensive turbojet engines, its maximum range was only five or six thousand kilometers. After being equipped with the Spey engine, the range was increased to more than eight thousand kilometers. However, if you calculate it, it is still classified as a tactical bomber.

A strategic bomber must have a range of over 10,000 kilometers!
At the same time, there are also limitations on payload. If it can only carry two or three tons of ammunition over a distance of 10,000 kilometers, which is less than what a fighter jet can carry, then it is meaningless. Strategic bombers are meant to fly over and carry out carpet bombing. Ten tons is just the starting point; it is best to carry twenty or thirty tons.

The Air Force lacks this kind of program!

Old Lin gave a wry smile.

"Yes, our air force certainly needs strategic bombers, but... as of now, our air force simply doesn't have the funds to invest in this project. It would be good enough to have a modified version of the H-6. In addition to modifying the engine, we now hope to replace the avionics and cockpit to make it a modern bomber."

The H-6's cockpit is still quite old, with a dedicated compartment for the navigator and bombardier on the nose and a tail gunner on the tail. The ejection process is very complicated, and once an accident occurs, there are very few survivors. It needs to be converted into a modern bomber with only two or at most three people in the cockpit, all ejected upwards, which would greatly increase the survival rate.

This is what the Air Force should be doing right now.

Qin Liang was also helpless. Yes, no matter how he pushed, it was useless. The Air Force had no money. If the Air Force wanted money, the country had to have money, and the economy had to develop. That would take time.

"However, you can tell us how to design a completely new bomber."

"Well, Northwestern Polytechnical University believes that the flying wing design is the best..."

Everyone was shocked.

Aircraft technology has matured to the point where most designs are very similar. However, in the early days of aircraft technology, there were many different design schemes.

As early as the 1920s, the Russian designer Chelanovsky developed the BICH-1 and BICH-3 flying wing gliders, which can be regarded as the initial exploration of the flying wing layout. During World War II, the German Ho 229 bomber became the world's first tailless flying wing jet bomber.

"The flying wing configuration combines the wings and fuselage, which makes the airflow smoother during flight, with less vortex and wake. Reduced drag means improved flight capability. A huge flying wing can provide enough lift, carry enough fuel, and be very stable at high speeds."

In fact, Northwestern Polytechnical University has not yet started researching the flying wing layout, but Qin Liang is very clear about these advantages.

"Of course, the most important benefit is that after integration, the radar cross-section will be greatly reduced, giving it a good stealth capability..."

In that era, aircraft layouts seemed to be still on the designers' drawing board, but in later generations, the flying wing layout became the most popular design. From stealth bombers to unmanned combat aerial vehicles, the flying wing layout was used to its fullest extent, fully demonstrating its advantages.

"What about the disadvantages?"

"The downside is that flying wings are inherently statically unstable, which places high demands on flight control. Without a vertical tail, control would be even more difficult. However, I believe that as long as we study hard and thoroughly understand this design, it will surely bear fruit and flourish."

Back then, Horton's HO229 used complex control surfaces and simple circuits for control, which proved to be completely ineffective and had to be abandoned. Even though the B-2 bomber had been developed to a mature stage, it still crashed due to sensor failure and flight control failure.

Upon hearing Qin Liang's introduction, everyone nodded frequently. The first day of the Lunar New Year passed in discussion, and it was late at night when Qin Liang left Princess Tomb.

I said I was going to spend the New Year with my mother-in-law, but what happened? I ended up spending it with leaders from the navy and air force. This whole thing has caused quite a stir…

Outside, fireworks were in full bloom. Qin Liang sat in the car, enjoying the fireworks all the way home, and then... he saw a black-plated sedan parked on the side of the road outside the courtyard.

This...this British guy is going too far! They actually came to our home?

However… considering that his wife also travels around a lot, often going to Europe, Qin Liang could only relax his brows and stride inside.

"Come on, Rahim, have some tea and try some pastries. These were bought at Daoxiangcun and taste very good."

"Thank you."

The man on the sofa, dressed in a suit and tie, maintained a gentlemanly demeanor, but this was only on the surface; in the hearts of these guys, there was the blood of a bandit.

At this moment, he remained calm, but his gaze kept drifting out the window. When he saw Qin Liang's figure, he immediately stood up.

"Mr. Qin, you're finally back!"

Yang Duo'er welcomed Qin Liang into the room and introduced him: "Brother Liang, this is Mr. Rahim from the British Embassy. My mother met him at a cocktail party when she was working in England."

This means that we weren't very close, just met once, and this guy came to visit during the Chinese New Year and wouldn't leave, so we had no choice but to entertain him.

"Mr. Qin, hello. A few years ago, at the Paris Air Show, you sold a batch of Super-7 fighter jets to the Crying Nation. These fighter jets... now pose a great threat to our Royal Navy. Therefore, I hope you can give us the data on these fighter jets and the accompanying missiles."

This guy stopped with the pleasantries; after all, he'd been waiting all afternoon and was really anxious.

In the morning, they visited the people at CATIC and made their request. Then... the other party said they would ask their superiors for instructions, and then nothing more was heard from them. In the afternoon, they split up and went to find the leaders they knew in the East. Rahim found out that Qin Liang was spending the New Year at his mother-in-law's house, so he went to visit him and stayed there until Qin Liang finally arrived.

You wouldn't stay in a hotel during the Chinese New Year, would you?

"Well... I did try selling back then, but I was just a salesman," Qin Liang said. "As you know, salesmen sell products by understanding the customer's psychology. Specific data is irrelevant. I did remember some of it back then, but later... I forgot it all."

"Those equipment were mainly developed at Northwestern Polytechnical University, so Northwestern Polytechnical University must have the relevant data. Please contact Northwestern Polytechnical University and get the data from us!"

"This...this will have to wait until after winter break. The person in charge at Northwestern Polytechnical University isn't here right now, how can I ask for it?"

At CATIC, they can get back to work by the fifth or sixth day of the Lunar New Year at the latest. But it's different for universities. Universities have winter breaks, and by the time they start school, it will be at least past the Lantern Festival.

"Mr. Qin, we are in a great hurry, could you please...?"

"Right now, let alone sending a telegram, even if I went there in person, there would be no one at the school!" Qin Liang said. "Mr. Rahim, I know you are very anxious, but... these things can't be rushed!"

"If I remember correctly, there should be people at your university who don't go home for the Chinese New Year and are researching and developing various technologies."

"That was before. This year, all the people who did R&D have gone to the factory."

Rahim arrived full of hope, then stood up in disappointment: "Mr. Qin, since that's the case, we'll just have to wait until your school starts, and then..."

"Don't worry, as soon as school starts, I'll definitely go find them and get the materials! Since you know my mother-in-law, you're my friend!" "Okay. Then I'll head back now."

"It's so late, why don't you stay for dinner?"

"no need."

Seeing Rahim stand up, Qin Liang suddenly spoke again: "If your side really goes to war, will you use bombers for the first round of attacks?"

Rahim was taken aback: "This...this is our military secret, I cannot disclose it."

Qin Liang smiled. "You still think it's a secret? The outside world already knows about all those aerial refueling tankers that flew over Asunción Island!"

"I just want to say that the longest-flying aircraft you have is the Vulcan bomber. The range of that aircraft is too short. You might as well buy a few of our H-6 bombers. It would be much easier for you to carry out missions."

"Thank you for your kind offer, but we don't need it."

What a joke! Even if Britain were to buy equipment, it would definitely buy it from the United States. Is equipment from you Easterners worth buying for Britain?
Qin Liang still wore a faint smile: "Alright, our arms sales doors are always open to you. Come and buy whatever you need."

At the entrance, watching the car leave, Yang Duo'er frowned: "Brother Liangzi, you just agreed to it like that? They clearly wanted to get something for nothing, and they didn't mention paying anything at all."

"Well, I just casually agreed to it; I didn't really intend to do it."

"What will you do when he asks for the information?"

"First, he has to be able to find me. Second, even if he finds me, I might not be in Chang'an. Third, even if he finds me in Chang'an and I get the information, then an officer will come in and tell me that the information cannot be given out because it involves military secrets. If it is given to a foreigner, I will be executed... They still have to go to the relevant departments. Finally, they probably can't wait that long. The rest of the buck-passing will be the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation's problem."

The two walked back, talking as they went. Once in the living room, Qin Liang plopped down in a chair: "What's for dinner? I'm starving!"

Huanglou will provide meals, but... Qin Liang still felt that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, dinner should be eaten at home.

Yang Duo'er breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, you wait here, I'll go get it."

Annie looked at Qin Liang with a complicated expression. Now that Qin Liang had agreed, it was probably mostly out of consideration for her, and he didn't want her to lose face.

At this moment, no one knew that Qin Liang's last words were the key. He was pointing out to the other party that their only option was to buy equipment from them!
Want information on the Super-7 and C801? Then we'll have to buy a batch of aircraft! As for the H-6? That's just a starting point. Of course, the British aren't very bright; they'll have to figure it out slowly.

Actually, the H-6 is really good; the British Vulcan bomber is definitely a useless piece of junk!
Asunción is a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean. The main island has an area of ​​88 square kilometers, and there are some smaller islands and reefs nearby. It was first discovered by Portuguese navigators in 1501. Unfortunately, because it was very desolate and barren, no one claimed sovereignty over it for more than 300 years after its discovery.

It wasn't until 1815, when Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena, that the British Royal Navy stationed a detachment on Asunción.

The island's real development began during World War II. In 1942, the United States established Wildwick Air Force Base on the island, which played a significant role in the anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic. To this day, there is still a junkyard on the base, filled with various materials from World War II.

During the Cold War, it seemed to serve little purpose other than as a temporary docking point for warships. However, when the Crying Nation challenged British authority, they immediately realized the benefits of Asunción.

This place is only 6275 kilometers away from the Falklands, which is only half the distance from the British mainland. Without this base, British bombers would not be able to even think about going there to bomb!

At this moment, at Wildwick Air Force Base, two oddly shaped aircraft were preparing for takeoff. From the nose, the protruding bubble-shaped cockpit gave it the look of a fighter jet. However, the bubble-shaped cockpit was larger, large enough to seat the pilot and co-pilot. Behind them, there was a separate compartment that could seat three more crew members. There were round windows on both sides and a sextant observation bulge.

Looking back from the cockpit, you can see the huge air intake at the wing root, followed by a large delta wing that extends all the way to the tail, making the aircraft look like Batman's cape.

This is the Vulcan, Britain's most "advanced" bomber.

It was the culmination of the British aviation industry in the 1950s, originally designed for dropping nuclear bombs. It had an 8.5-meter-long bomb bay inside the fuselage that could carry a nuclear bomb. Of course, now it carries a row of aerial bombs and performs conventional bombing missions.

"As everyone knows, that damned Crying Nation has brazenly sent troops to occupy our Falkland Islands. Now, the navy is assembling, and we need to fly over there to launch an initial bombing mission, especially bombing the airfields there so they can't take off or land their fighter jets!" An air force commander addressed the departing soldiers.

Throughout the Falklands War, the Crying Nation's air force performed exceptionally well. However, due to the need to travel from their homeland, their time in the air was very short upon arrival at the battlefield. It would have been much more convenient if they had taken off from the Falklands. In fact, the Crying Nation did not establish an air force base on the Falklands because... the runways had been bombed by the British. Even if they went to repair them, they would be bombed again as soon as they were repaired.

This is the first time!
"This time, the most crucial thing is not the bombing, but the aerial refueling. Because of the great distance, we need to refuel multiple times in the air. To outsiders, this seems like an impossible task. However, we are the proud Royal Air Force, and we will definitely fire the first shot. We must be faster than the Navy."

"Yes!"

"set off!"

Captain Martin-Weiss and his crew ran to his XM607 bomber, climbed the ladder below, and crawled into the cramped cockpit.

With a roar, the four tail engines started up in sequence, and the aircraft taxied onto the runway and took off in formation with the lead aircraft XM597.

Two large delta-wing aircraft flew at the forefront, followed by a formation of four Victory tanker aircraft, and behind that formation was a second formation of seven Victory tanker aircraft...

This operation was indeed the first of its kind in the world. In the end, it was because their bombers were not up to par.

"I heard that after the H-6 bombers in the East were equipped with Spey missiles, their range was increased to over 8,000 kilometers. Our bombers..."

Martin Wiesys listened helplessly to his co-pilot's words: "Our bombers can only be fitted with Olympus engines. The engine bay space isn't suitable for the Spey, otherwise..."

When this aircraft was first built, it used the Olympus 101 with a thrust of 5 tons. Later production models were equipped with the Olympus 104 with a thrust of 5.9 tons, and later production models were equipped with the Olympus 201, which increased the thrust to 7.7 tons. However, no matter how it was changed, it was still an Olympus turbojet engine, which had high fuel consumption, short range, and a combat radius of only more than 2,000 kilometers. Now, to bomb targets more than 6,000 kilometers away, it needs to be equipped with aerial refueling tankers.

The key issue is that aerial refueling tankers aren't very effective! They don't have enough fuel, so they have to carry so many other aircraft...

If one of the aerial refueling attempts fails, it's game over; they'll have to parachute into the sea, and nine times out of ten, they'll still die.

To win, we must take risks!

Looking at the lead aircraft ahead, his resolve strengthened once again.

Just then, a voice came through the radio.

"XM597 calling, glass sealing strip malfunction, cockpit pressurization cannot be guaranteed..."

Ruined!
One of the old bombers broke down shortly after takeoff, meaning that now only their XM607 bomber is left, going on missions all by itself!

　PS: The Vulcan bomber, in my opinion, looks like a flying giant bat.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)