Great Power Long Sky

What Li Lu could think of, the higher-level leadership had already been considering.

The vision of a mere deputy company-level lieutenant is naturally inferior to that of the higher-level leadership. In other words, the higher-level leadership must consider the overall picture, rather than simply focusing on improving tactics, methods, and training models.

The good news arrived almost immediately, followed by the reply regarding Li Lu's application to be transferred to the No. 10 Project Flight Test Team—it was not approved.

Although he had expected this result, Li Lu still felt regret.

However, Chief Wang Yong told him over the phone that they might coordinate with the Naval Aviation to bring over a few JH-7s for the tactical test team to conduct low-altitude penetration training tests.

this is a good news.

Li Lu's immediate priority is to figure out a method for air combat training without altitude difference restrictions.

With Deputy Division Commander Feng personally in charge, Xu Hailiang personally taking charge, and Fang Zhenwei in charge of aircraft maintenance and logistics, it can be said that the East China Sea Air Base Command Group and the 7th Air Regiment were all elite forces deployed.

The first step in this trial-and-error approach is to develop a training plan.

Following the principle of taking several steps, Li Lu led the tactical test team to spend two days developing a training plan, first adopting the method of keeping the course unchanged and eliminating altitude differences.

Xu Hailiang and Deputy Division Commander Feng reviewed and approved the document in turn.

Everything is ready; we're just waiting for the right opportunity.

On the morning of January 24, the meteorological department sent a weather report stating that the weather conditions were suitable for flight training.

At 9:15 a.m., two J-6 fighter jets and one JJ-6 trainer jet were ready.

Li Lu and Zhang Fei piloted J-6 fighter jets for their first introductory-level free air combat training, while Xu Hailiang and Zhao Chaoyang piloted JJ-6 trainers to provide guidance, command, and filming.

Deputy Division Commander Feng was stationed at the control tower to direct operations.

One minute later, Zhang Fei took off in another J-6 fighter jet.

After climbing to an altitude of 1,500 meters, Li Lu turned and flew back, slowing down in the airspace above the airport and directly in front of the control tower to wait for Zhang Fei to arrive.

Zhang Fei estimated the distance and reported to the control tower, "Yaodong 2 has arrived in the training airspace and requests permission to conduct air combat training."

Deputy Division Commander Feng took a deep breath and gave the order, "Begin training!"

Zhang Fei engaged afterburner to pursue Li Lu, and the two planes circled and fought each other in the air above the airport.

Previous basic air combat training was mostly like this: cut the radius to pursue, seize the target's rear hemisphere position, open fire, and complete the training.

The two aircraft maintained a height difference of two to three hundred meters at all times, which was very safe.

Now that there is no height difference restriction, Zhang Fei can freely choose any height to pursue.

Zhang Fei was chosen to be the first to try something new because he had the most flying experience and was the oldest. It was a long-standing tradition for the older pilot to be the first to charge.

Zhang Fei increased his effort to climb higher, demonstrating the experience of a seasoned pilot.

Higher altitudes mean greater potential energy, and aerial combat is essentially a contest of energy. The iterative development of fighter jets fully demonstrates this essence; the more advanced the fighter jet, the better its maneuverability.

Li Lu frequently looked back at Zhang Fei's fighter jet, observing its movements.

Upon discovering that Zhang Fei was gaining altitude, Li Lu decisively took the same action.

The two aircraft were climbing at a high angle, but Zhang Fei's angle of attack was smaller and Li Lu's angle of attack was larger. During the climb, the distance between Zhang Fei and Li Lu quickly closed.

From the control tower, it appeared that Zhang Fei's fighter jet was heading straight for Li Lu.

This scene terrified Deputy Division Commander Feng. If it was this explosive right from the start, what would happen later?

Deputy Division Commander Feng turned to the radar station and asked, "Report the altitude difference between the two aircraft!"

"Report! The altitude of the two aircraft is changing too rapidly, and the altitude difference is rapidly decreasing!" the radar operator replied quickly.

Clearly, people haven't yet shifted their mindset from training in aerial combat based on altitude differences.

This scene was unlike anything we had ever witnessed in previous air combat training.

Regardless of the actual effect, the visual experience is incredibly exciting!

At that moment, Deputy Division Commander Feng really wanted to call a halt, but he held back and forced himself to. Since it had already started, he might as well see how it would turn out.

The real excitement is yet to come.

At this moment, apart from Li Lu, no one else had any idea what kind of Pandora's box had been opened by removing the height difference restriction.

Are the altitude difference restrictions applied to flight parameters?

Do not!

It restricts the pilot's tactical thinking!

Just like a limiter, it confines the pilot's tactical thinking to a parallel space.

If this restriction is lifted, even if there is only the slightest gap, the pilot's tactical thinking and combat mindset will be unleashed!

Soon, everyone will be able to see for themselves what true imagination is.

Zhang Fei was a veteran pilot who had been engaged in high-altitude air combat training for many years. His thinking had become ingrained, his flight maneuvers had deep muscle memory, and his combat methods had become fixed.

After briefly trying to choose his own flight altitude, he subconsciously assumed that Li Lu would continue to fly, acting as a docile imaginary enemy—this is a case of rigid thinking.

When he saw Li Lu climb at a high angle of attack, he was clearly stunned for a moment. For a few seconds, he almost subconsciously asked the control tower for guidance. After regaining his senses, he realized that the air combat was different from the past. At this point, his mind began to open up.

Li Lu climbed at a greater angle, meaning that although he climbed later than Zhang Fei, he was always able to surpass Zhang Fei in altitude.

Zhang Fei was experienced, and his approach was simple—to cling tightly to Li Lu's tail and climb up.

As long as Zhang Fei can stay in Li Lu's rear half of the field and close the distance to the range of the aircraft cannon, he will be the victor.

The typical tactic of aerial combat is to try every means to seize the rear hemisphere of the target, whether by using cannons or air-to-air missiles.

Li Lu was well aware of this. Seeing Zhang Fei quietly cutting to the left and closing the distance while climbing and pursuing, he had to find a way to get rid of him.

The simplest solution is to turn right, thus rendering Zhang Fei's leftward radius-cutting action tactically meaningless.

However, Li Lu prefers to take the initiative, and the prerequisite for winning is to seize the initiative on the battlefield.

Instead of turning right, he turned left. However, at the same time, he pushed off the stick, and the J-6 No. 101 quickly changed from a high-angle climb to a dive. And that wasn't all. Li Lu used the stick and rudder to perform a series of barrel rolls!

From the control tower, the J-6 modified No. 101 looked exactly like a large bird that had stalled and plunged its head into the ground.

The barrel roll maneuver causes the trajectory to be constantly changing. When attacking with cannons, it is necessary to aim at the trajectory in front of the target and make the shell collide with the target with a sufficiently accurate lead in order to achieve the purpose of hitting the target.

In this situation, Zhang Fei had to push the stick and dive to keep the nose pointing at Li Lu. Li Lu was rolling continuously, and even if he entered Zhang Fei's cannon range, the attack effect would be extremely poor.

This time difference is exactly what Li Lu needs.