Start with a blacksmith shop.

Chapter 151 Goodbye to the "Big" Airplane

Cui Tianzhi was very optimistic about the future of this aircraft and cherished the only one of these aircraft he currently owned.

Just like recently, he couldn't bear to let planes that were close to their major overhaul timeline fly.

After receiving Cui Tianzhi's invitation, he packed his things, made arrangements with his family, and left the next day.

He drove over a hundred kilometers to the Quancheng base. After arriving near the base, he contacted someone who would come to pick him up and take him inside.

Upon entering the base, we didn't go anywhere else but headed straight for the hangar where the aircraft were located.

In this hangar, after more than half a year, he finally saw the plane he had built again.

The plane in front of him had changed significantly after it left his sight.

The most obvious thing is the paint scheme. The aircraft is currently painted a sophisticated gray with the August 1st emblem on it.

The paint color was very similar to that of Weilong, and he guessed that the paint might be Weilong's paint.

Besides these, the most eye-catching features are the four hardpoints under the wings of the aircraft.

Four protrusions have appeared on what was originally a beautiful wing.

This seems abrupt, and it's unclear whether it will affect the deployment and retraction of the variable-sweep wing.

At this moment, the airplane looked so familiar to him, yet also somewhat strange.

It's like your child going to university in another city, coming back after six months, and seeing your child again...

You know this is your own child, but the change makes you almost unrecognizable.

Just as he stood in front of the plane, carefully observing it, Cui Tianzhi walked in from outside the hangar.

Upon entering the hangar, I saw Li Zhenhua next to the plane and walked straight towards him.

"How about it? Isn't this plane impressive now? Don't let its quietness fool you."

When he mounts the missile and flies in the sky, he can quiet down even the most restless neighbors.

Our modifications to the aircraft are alright, aren't they?

As if showing off, Cui Tianzhi pointed to the pylons under the wing while speaking to him.

He did not answer Cui Tianzhi's question, but instead took a few steps closer to the plane, intending to observe it up close.

"Chief Cui, please don't speak yet, let me take a look first!"

He then looked around the plane, paying particular attention to the pylons under the wings.

At this moment, he also took the initiative to use his analytical eye, and immediately all the aircraft's data was displayed on the virtual screen in front of him.

Yes, it's about proactive use. In the past six months, the Eye of Analysis hasn't upgraded, but he's been able to actively master this ability.

When he wants to analyze something, the data of the thing being analyzed will be revealed, but at other times his eyes are the same as those of an ordinary person.

Looking at the aircraft's various data, which showed the engine's running time and highlighted any malfunctions in the aircraft in red, I could see...

Looking at the missile rack marked in red, and then back at Cui Tianzhi, the expression on his face said it all.

After watching the plane, he returned to Cui Tianzhi's side.

"Chief Cui, after this tour..."

To be honest, this modification is rubbish. Don't blame me for being blunt.

That is the truth, and there is no denying it.

Upon hearing this, Cui Tianzhi, who had initially appeared smug, immediately lost his composure.

"Xiao Li, how can you say that? Maybe the modifications don't suit your taste or your wishes."

But we've increased its practicality, and we use it very well. That's what makes a good modification. How can you say a modification is rubbish?

Faced with these words, Cui Tianzhi became anxious. Wasn't this negating everything he had done before?

He doesn't acknowledge this claim, but in any case, once the missiles were mounted, the aircraft gained military capability.

"Chief Cui, don't be anxious, let me explain to you slowly."

First, let's talk about the wall mount issue; this is the biggest problem.

The pylons were mounted on the wings, which is incorrect in the first place. They should have been mounted on the fuselage or under the fuselage.

This is the first point, so as not to affect the variable sweep wing.

Secondly, the external missile pylons directly affect the aircraft's overall stealth performance.

Keep in mind that this is an aircraft with excellent stealth capabilities, further enhanced by stealth coatings.

But this external mounting bracket is something I really can't agree with.

Cui Tianzhi, who had been full of confidence, immediately wilted like a frostbitten eggplant after hearing those two sentences.

Didn't he know these things? Of course he knew. Making the aircraft combat-ready without affecting its original structure was simply beyond their capabilities.

This kind of modification is just a temporary expedient for them.

The reason for summoning Li Zhenhua this time was not simply because the plane was due for major repairs.

Also, because they wanted him to incorporate the aircraft's weapon systems into the design.

"Xiao Li, I know what you're saying, but this is all we can do."

If further improvements are needed, that's something you can do.

So the reason I brought you here this time is not just to have you overhaul the aircraft and give you flight data.

The main purpose is to clearly explain the problems we are currently facing to you, so that you have a general understanding. Hopefully, these problems can be resolved through subsequent improvements!

Cui Tianzhi stated his purpose directly, and Li Zhenhua listened attentively to what he had to say.

The two then sat down in the hangar next to the aircraft to discuss the current problems with it.

Cui Tianzhi also shared the experiences and insights that the pilots had gathered over the past six months, explaining all the issues clearly.

Through his explanation, he also learned about some of the problems the aircraft is currently facing.

These problems were inevitable, because the aircraft was not designed as a fighter jet from the beginning.

"Chief Cui, I am aware of all the issues you have raised."

These problems were bound to arise sooner or later, and they were inevitable. You should know the background of this aircraft's development.

Was there only one purpose for producing this airplane? It was simply a big toy for myself.

At first I called it a model airplane, but thanks to you all, it has become a fighter jet.

This was decided from the beginning; it was simply not suitable for use as a fighter jet.

If we're talking about its uses, the only redeeming quality is that it can be used as a stealth unmanned reconnaissance aircraft; adding any other tasks to it wouldn't be appropriate!

The conversation between the two men also defined the aircraft's nature; it was not suitable to be a fighter jet.

"What can we do? It's such a waste that such a high-performance aircraft can't be used as a fighter jet."

"Xiao Li, think of a way! Our air force really needs this type of aircraft!"

He did not immediately answer Cui Tianzhi's final plea, but instead fell into deep thought.

"This aircraft has its limits. Even with modifications, there are fundamental differences in its original design philosophy."

But Chief Choi needs such a fighter jet, so what can I do?

I can rebuild an aircraft from scratch, starting with a design philosophy geared towards fighter jets.

We built a real fighter jet, not just a model aircraft.

Having figured out what he could do, he felt a surge of excitement. This was about building a fighter jet, something completely different from the model airplanes he'd worked on before.

Everything was designed for war, not for gameplay.

At this point, he also felt great admiration for Minister Wang of the Equipment Development Department. He was truly prescient in solving his own qualification problem first.

"I believe we should redesign an aircraft to meet your operational requirements."

As for this aircraft, the basic structure is what it is, and there's not much room for modification, so there's no need to waste energy on it.

Commander, I promise you, I will go back and get a new aircraft that meets your needs.

"The first thing I've done here is to help you overhaul the plane, at least get it running again, right?"

Upon hearing these words, Cui Tianzhi was overjoyed. It seemed he would be able to fly new planes again.

His original intention was simply to have Li Zhenhua conduct a thorough modification of the existing aircraft.

But the final result was a pleasant surprise; the other party immediately agreed to redesign it, focusing on combat operations—a truly unexpected delight.

"Great, great, this is exactly what I wanted. I won't consider anything else then. Shall we go and do a major overhaul of this plane?"

"Well, you don't have the equipment here for the major overhaul. Chief Cui, why don't you have your pilot fly the plane to Hongdu?"

I also went to Hongdu to have the aircraft undergo major repairs; all the conditions there were met.

After 872 hours of flight time, the plane was once again pushed out of the hangar and returned to the blue sky, flying towards Hongdu.

He said goodbye to Cui Tianzhi, left the base, and drove towards the airport.

Upon arriving at the airport, I found the front desk and picked up my ticket. I didn't have to wait long before I was led directly to my flight.

The shuttle bus took him to a flying boat, which was painted with the words "Dongshan Airlines".

Yes, this is a new service launched by Dongshan Airlines: private jet tickets, which are 50% more expensive than first class.

This new business, also known as the air taxi service, is modeled after the "City-to-City Pass" system in Camel Country.

This service provides great convenience to those who have the means, allowing them to come and go at any time.

As they traveled by airship to Hongdu, the pilot never imagined that the designer of the aircraft's engine was sitting right behind him.

As he took off, his plane was also rapidly taxiing on the runway at the Quancheng base.

Once the plane reached high altitude, its speed immediately exceeded the speed of sound, and it was flying towards Hongdu at Mach 1.3.

Meanwhile, the flying boat that Li Zhenhua was on was slowly making its way to Hongdu.

Even after the plane he built had landed at the Hongdu test flight site, he was still flying in the sky.

(End of this chapter)