Chapter 1516 Update 1?

Rothman did not answer, nor did he even take his eyes off the screen, but just nodded.

Swift's expression was uncertain. He looked at the J-15 landing video replayed on the computer, and then looked at the busy aircraft carrier deck outside the porthole.

From a rational point of view, he knew that Colonel Lausman's judgment was most likely correct.

Traditional arresting cables that use flywheels to store energy are bound to be unable to escape the shackles of elastic potential energy, and more than 3/4 of the deceleration occurs in the second half of the arresting process.

Not only is it a bad experience for the pilot, it also poses a huge challenge to the structural strength of the aircraft, causing aircraft designers to have to add a large amount of dead weight to cope with this momentary lateral overload.

This part of dead weight does not exist at all on land-based aircraft.

But from a perceptual point of view, it is somewhat hard to believe that the Chinese Navy actually applied electromagnetic arresting technology before the Ford class.

After all, judging from the experience of other countries, the first aircraft carrier is mainly for feasibility verification, and rarely uses any overly radical technology...

"But this aircraft carrier has no catapult installed, and it is impossible to use an integrated power system... How to use the electricity generated during the electromagnetic arrest process?"

In fact, this question is entirely Swift's way of comforting himself.

Because even if a flywheel structure is used, the Liao Province, which is not equipped with a catapult, can only release this energy.

The energy release process of the electromagnetic rotor is at least faster, which is conducive to improving the recovery efficiency of carrier-based aircraft.

But this time, Lausman did not refute anything.

Maybe he was also a little undecided.

After all, 25-frame camera footage will miss a lot of details, and after frame extraction and generation in the secondary production process, it is indeed impossible to restore the actual situation 100% reliably.

"I know a few electrical engineers at General Motors," Lausman replied. "I can ask them for their opinions when I get back..."

After he finished speaking, he suddenly turned around and said:

"General, the fleet...hasn't given any additional instructions yet?"

Swift was stunned for a moment, then shook his head:

"Not yet. Our plan remains unchanged. After the visit, we will head to the Western Pacific to prepare for the Confrontation-North joint exercise next year."

Hearing this, Lausman finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The USS Washington's current mission cycle will only last until February next year, after which it will be replaced by the USS Reagan.

Even if something happens then, it will have nothing to do with him...

……

at the same time.

Shengjing, Beiling Airport.

Luo Yang stood at the gangway of the C909 aircraft, looking at the welcoming crowd that almost filled the apron.

The image on the Liaosheng aircraft carrier seemed to still float in his mind.

Each J-15 fighter jet drew a perfect arc on the deck like a steel eagle, with its tail hook accurately hooking the third arresting cable.

At that moment, the entire command room of the island erupted in deafening cheers, but he just stood there quietly, his eyes unconsciously moistened.

Good original design, as well as automated data recording and analysis equipment, greatly reduced the workload of participants, but did not relieve much psychological pressure.

Even he himself could not remember how he had spent the past half month.

Fortunately, everything turned out well.

"Boss Luo! Welcome back!"

A familiar voice brought him back to reality.

Sun Cong, his old partner and chief designer of the J-15 model, was walking towards him with a bouquet of flowers.

Luo Yang opened his arms and the two hugged each other tightly.

He could feel the other person's hands trembling slightly - it was not because of the cold, but the same uncontrollable excitement.

"Lao Sun..." Luo Yang choked up after saying just one name, his voice carrying a weight that only the two of them could understand.

Fortunately, after a night of relaxation, his mood had calmed down a lot, so he quickly took the bouquet and turned to face the crowd lined up on the tarmac to welcome him.

Hundreds of engineers, technicians and worker representatives from Shengfei Group stood in neat rows with bright smiles on their faces.

Luo Yang recognized many familiar faces - the young people who had stayed up countless all-nighters with him, the old experts who were shivering with cold at the test flight field but insisted on recording every parameter, and the workers who meticulously tightened every screw in the assembly workshop.

"Comrades!" Zhang Guoxin, general manager of AVIC, stood in the middle of the crowd and said in a loud voice, "Today, on behalf of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, I announce that Shengjing Aircraft Industry Group is awarded the first-class collective merit of the aviation industry! Comrade Luo Yang is awarded the first-class individual merit!"

The applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

Luo Yang saw several young engineers in the front row jumping up with excitement, and some even secretly wiped away tears.

For him, honors at the group level are just icing on the cake.

But for many younger generations who have just started working, it is the greatest praise they have received in their career.

Zhang Guoxin patted him on the shoulder and said, "Lao Luo, come up and say a few words."

Luo Yang nodded and walked onto the makeshift stage.

He handed the bouquet to the staff next to him and looked around, his eyes scanning every expectant face.

“First of all, I would like to thank the group leaders and all my colleagues for their support.”

Luo Yang's voice was not loud, but clear enough:

"Yesterday, I had the honor of witnessing the entire process of the J-15 aircraft landing and taking off on the Liaosheng. Whether from the perspective of data analysis or visual perception, the performance of the aircraft far exceeded the acceptance criteria and our initial expectations for this model, and it also received unanimous praise from the officers and soldiers of the carrier-based aviation force."

The audience cheered again.

After the applause subsided, Luo Yang continued, "As an aviation engineer, nothing can make me prouder than seeing the aircraft I participated in developing perform its mission perfectly... But this honor does not belong to me personally, but to the efforts of the entire Shengfei, the entire Aviation Industry Group, and even the entire Industrial Construction and Development Committee."

This time, even Zhang Guoxin, who was standing in the front row, clapped his hands with joy on his face.

However, when the applause died down again, Luo Yang's eyes became deep and his tone gradually became serious:

"However, comrades, we must also clearly realize that as my country's first carrier-based aircraft, the J-15 is an improvement on a land-based model and still has some fundamental problems that are difficult to resolve."

The meeting place suddenly fell silent.

It is not common practice to discuss such specific technical issues at a celebration party, but at least Chang Haonan liked to do so in his early years.

Therefore, he noticed that several leaders of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China in the front row exchanged glances, but no one interrupted.

"Many designs that are advantages or unimportant on land-based models will become defects when placed on an aircraft carrier deck with limited area and severely restricted operating procedures." Luo Yang took out a small notebook from his pocket and turned to one of the pages. "For example, the main landing gear is located too far back to adapt to the rough runway of a land-based airport, resulting in a relatively longer distance between the tail hook and the main wheel during landing, which increases the difficulty of landing to a certain extent."

He paused and saw that many engineers in the audience had begun to nod, and it was obvious that they were also aware of these problems.

"For example," Luo Yang continued, "the J-15's main wing has to adopt a relatively inward folding design, and there is an additional folding mechanism on the horizontal tail, which not only increases the weight, but also brings a lot of burden to the ground crew's maintenance operations..."

"..."

After giving some examples, Luo Yang closed his notebook and his voice became firm:

"Comrades, the overall design of the J-15 has been determined. We can only optimize it within the existing framework, and these problems cannot be solved by minor repairs. Therefore, I propose that while continuing to improve the J-15, we immediately start the preliminary research work of the new generation of carrier-based aircraft!"

The meeting place was silent for a moment, and then there was a whisper.

Many young engineers' eyes lit up——

New projects mean new opportunities, new challenges and new heights in your career.

For Zhang Guoxin, the pre-research stage itself does not cost much. Even with Shengfei Group's current profitability, there is no need for special funding from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Naturally, there is no reason to refuse.

He immediately went on stage and held Luo Yang's hand:

"Mr. Luo's proposal is very forward-looking. Although the Navy has not yet put forward specific requirements, the preliminary research work can be started first, and the group will also fully support it!"

……

Because of this interruption, the celebration, which was originally arranged on the spot, lasted for more than an hour.

After the crowd dispersed, Luo Yang was left alone on the tarmac, looking at the other two early prototypes of the J-15 that were looming in the hangar in the distance.

They are destined to have no chance to actually board an aircraft carrier, but it is indeed the first step taken by China's carrier-based aviation force.

"I knew you would be here." Sun Cong's voice came from behind.

"I'm used to it." Luo Yang didn't look back: "Only by looking at them can I figure out what to do next."

Sun Cong walked over to him and handed him a cup of hot tea: "Your 'next step' this time really shocked everyone."

"Technological development cannot keep pace with the times." Luo Yang took the teacup and felt the steam rising in the cold air. "The Americans are already testing the F-35C... Although the progress doesn't seem optimistic, if we are still satisfied with continuing to improve the third-generation aircraft, we will never catch up."

Sun Cong was silent for a while, then suddenly lowered his voice:

"Lao Luo, I'm not against your idea. But you know the current situation of the group - we are promoting the improvement of J-15 and J-11 at the same time, and we also have two new UAV projects, Wuzhen-9 and Attack-10, not to mention that we will soon transfer key personnel to COMAC to support the design of C919 mainline passenger aircraft..."

Since the mid-90s, China's training of aviation engineers has never kept up with the pace of development of the aviation industry.

The shortage of staff, which had eased only slightly in the past few years, has now become even more severe.

"I've thought about this." Luo Yang took a sip of tea slowly. "The new project can use the team of the pre-research office, and it won't affect other models."

"Pre-research office?" Sun Cong frowned. "But they have been working with AECC on the variable cycle engine project. How can they have the energy?"

"So." Luo Yang turned to look at his old partner, "When I say 'new generation' of carrier-based aircraft, I don't mean the fourth generation."

Sun Cong was obviously stunned for a moment, and then a light flashed in his eyes:

"Fifth... or according to the new international standards, sixth generation fighter?"

Luo Yang nodded: "So, it can be combined with the current tasks of the Pre-Research Office!"