Chapter 321 Paris Air Show
It was the same day that the J-10 completed its engine ground start-up test.
8500 kilometers away in the north of Paris, over Le Bourget Airport, a twin-engine propeller plane with a white body and Chinese and Italian flags on the left and right wings was directed by air traffic control to align with the runway and slowly descend in altitude, preparing to fly. landing.
On the plane was a XAC delegation led by Yi Yuanhe, chief engineer of the 603 Institute.
This trip was specially invited to attend the 42nd Paris Air Show, which is about to open soon.
What they were flying on was naturally the star product brought by the aviation industry this time - the first Chinese aircraft to pass the airworthiness certification of all 15 EU member states, the MA-60.
For those familiar with the situation, what is more concerning about this model is that among the 15 countries, five countries, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, have directly recognized the airworthiness of regional aircraft in the form of mutual recognition. Approved the review report made by China CAAC.
This is a feat worldwide - mutual recognition of airworthiness can greatly reduce unnecessary administrative processes and waste of resources, and increase the speed of the development of the aviation industry and the iterative upgrade of civil aviation aircraft models.
The FAA and JAA had discussed the feasibility of a similar approach, but it failed to take shape due to fierce competition and differences of opinion between the two parties.
No one would have thought before that it was Europe and China that first figured out the feasibility of this route.
Most people in the industry are optimistic about this, because since this agreement, which is obviously more beneficial to China, can be signed, it will inevitably mean that the European aviation industry represented by Airbus has obtained a sufficient share in the booming Chinese market. .
In the minds of many Europeans in this era, they should become the second pole in the world independent of North America. Therefore, as long as Boeing can do it, they can negotiate with China, Russia, or even India.
Of course, many media and commentators believe that although airworthiness certification is a beneficial thing, considering China's aviation technology level, Europe is most likely making a bad move.
If a large number of certified Chinese aircraft models have problems or even accidents, it will be a huge blow to the European aviation industry, which is already in a period of rapid development.
All in all, mixed reviews.
This is also one of the main purposes of allowing the MA60 to fly over thousands of miles after six stops.
After the agreement between China and Europe was reached in April at the beginning of the year, Paris, one of the two major air shows in Europe, extended an olive branch under the instigation of Airbus and Alenia Aerospace.
Although this is not the first time that China has participated in the Paris Air Show, as a special invitee this year, the specifications and treatment it received are obviously completely different.
The organizer arranged an area of about 1000 square meters next to the C position of the exhibition area as the exhibition location of China Aviation Industry.
The area is not large, but it is a prime spot with the densest flow of people.
For this reason, Factory 172 specially accelerated the final assembly progress of the No. 03 prototype, and finally made this new aircraft catch up with the air show schedule.
A few minutes later, MA6003, numbered B60, touched the ground lightly, decelerated and entered the taxiway, and finally stopped at the prepared position according to the guidance.
Around it, other Chinese models that set off earlier and came by sea have been arranged.
Yi Yuanhe got off the plane and shook hands with the team leader Lin Weixuan who was already waiting here.
"Preparations for the air show are in place, and we are just waiting for our star to arrive!"
Lin Weixuan looked at the MA60 that had just stopped the propeller and said.
"Organizationally, please rest assured that we will definitely present the aircraft in its best condition to our European counterparts and audiences!"
According to the plan, MA-60 will have a 15-minute flight performance opportunity on the morning of the second day of the air show.
This is also the main reason why Yi Yuanhe, as the chief engineer, must follow him in person.
"Good, good, good!"
This is the first time that China is not participating in a foreign air show as a supporting role. Lin Weixuan, who has been in this industry for decades, was naturally very excited. He said three good words in a row, and then pulled Yi Yuanhe to go. Go to the side,
"Let me show you the overall situation of this air show."
In order to repay the goodwill of the organizers, the aviation industry did not bring any imitation products like the Z-9 this time. Therefore, apart from the many models presented as usual and the MA-60, the only real ones at the exhibition were the aircraft. 12. K8 and J-7MG.
Originally, China Aviation Technology hoped to let the J-7F participate in the exhibition, but this model is so popular that in addition to launching user minibuses, several countries have shown strong interest in it. The current two prototypes have also There were test flights and demonstrations, and they were really exhausted and couldn't spare any time. The main strength of Factory 132 was concentrated on a few J-10 prototypes, and they couldn't come up with new aircraft for a while, so they had to give up.
Since the air show is about to open, most of the exhibitors have already completed the layout of their exhibition areas, and the two of them were able to take a look at the unique skills of their international counterparts in advance.
The core position of the air show is naturally left to the French themselves. Two huge four-engine dual-aisle passenger aircraft occupy most of the space in the field of vision. They are two new variants of the A340, A340-500 and A340-600.
根据展板上的信息，这两个型号分别为320座和380座级别，而航程则仍然能够维持A340-300的13500公里级别不变或者更远。
"Tsk...a 370-ton aircraft can fly 13500 kilometers..."
Yi Yuanhe looked at the two passenger planes in front of him, then looked back at the MA60 parked in his own exhibition area not far away, with a bit of envy in his eyes.
"We still have a long way to go..."
"Take your time, you have done a pretty good job, let alone going further, even last year, we would never have dreamed that an aircraft could pass the European airworthiness certification... You, Lao Yi, deserve the most credit. .”
Lin Weixuan next to him spoke to comfort him.
"Is it the most important thing to take credit for? I dare not say that..."
After hearing this comment, a young face appeared in Yi Yuanhe's mind, and he quickly waved his hand,
"Now this era belongs to young people, so we can use some of our remaining energy."
Although Chang Haonan's participation in the MA60 project is public information, it is impossible for everyone to know the details of his specific contributions, so Lin Weixuan only regarded Yi Yuanhe as being humble and did not ask more questions.
In addition to passenger aircraft, another highlight of the French exhibition area is the Rafale fighter jet, which is still in prototype form.
There are not many opportunities to observe other countries' fighter jets at close range, so Yi Yuanhe also moved closer to take a look.
"This design is so weird... It's obviously a big airplane, but why does the air intake compress the nose of the plane so much? It feels like the space left for the radar is about the same as the J-611F in the 7 Institute..."
Yi Yuanhe pushed up his glasses and was a little confused about Guofeng's design.
However, it is naturally impossible for anyone to answer this kind of question. His own specialization is not in fighter jet design, so he did not get any results after looking at it.
……
The exhibition areas of several other European countries were relatively boring. Only the EF2000 Typhoon fighter jet presented by the United Kingdom was a highlight, and the rest were basically familiar old faces.
"Due to the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, they were completely absent from this air show, so the position that was usually arranged opposite, where they competed with Airbus, was left to me. Do you want to go and take a look?"
Lin Weixuan suggested, sensing that Yi Yuanhe was somewhat uninterested.
