Chapter 307: J-11 First Flight

Just as the prototype's engine started, a jeep creaked to a stop outside the hangar, instantly attracting the attention of a large group of people.

The soldiers responsible for guarding the door quickly surrounded it.

"He's one of us, let him in."

Fang Xiang turned around and saw that the person getting off the car was an old acquaintance whom he hadn't seen for more than a year, Wang Jinyang.

He turned around and said something to Wu Chang.

When Wu Chang heard Fang Xiang's words, he nodded and walked over.

"Sorry, something happened on the way and delayed me a bit.

It seems that I arrived just in time."

Wang Jinyang wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and greeted Fang Xiang.

Then he stood beside Fang Xiang, his eyes seemed to be glued to the prototype and could not be moved away.

"18 years ago, do you still remember Factory 320 in Changcheng?"

Fang Xiang did not respond to Wang Jinyang's words, but suddenly remembered what happened 18 years ago.

The first time I met Professor Li was on the day when Wu Ye conducted his test flight.

Similarly, it was also the first time I met Wang Jinyang.

"18 years... it seems like just a blink of an eye...

The aircraft that was tested initially was the Q-5, and the aircraft that was tested today was the Q-11.

Time is unforgiving... "

When Wang Jinyang heard Fang Xiang's words, the smile on his face that he couldn't stop just now suddenly paused.

"Yes, Senior Brother Wang also has white hair..."

Fang Xiang turned around and glanced at Wang Jinyang.

Ever since Fang Xiang stepped down from his position as deputy chief engineer of Factory 112 and head of the J-10 project, Wang Jinyang took over.

As Professor Li's assistant who has been with him for many years, Wang Jinyang has always been low-key.

But relying on the solid foundation and the connections he has made over the years following Professor Li.

One step at a time.

Although he is not as dazzling as Fang Xiang's rocket-like rise, he has now become an indispensable core member of the domestic cutting-edge aviation projects.

"I'm already fifty years old, it's normal to have white hair.

Do you think everyone is like you, who has been in his twenties for more than ten years?"

Wang Jinyang touched his hair. Although it looked thick, the few silver strands between the hair revealed his age.

After saying that, he smiled and glanced at Fang Xiang beside him.

Fang Xiang didn't say anything else, just smiled and shook his head.

"You're really quick. I thought it would take at least two or three years to see the prototype.

I didn’t expect you’d only been gone for a year...”

As the engine was ignited, the sound became louder and louder.

Wang Jinyang and Fang Xiang unconsciously took a few steps back.

After standing still, Wang Jinyang leaned close to Fang Xiang's ear and spoke loudly.

"It has to be quick. Have you cut your funding this year?"

Fang Xiang also came over and asked Wang Jinyang a question close to his ear.

“You guys cut it too?

Our funding has been cut this year!

After the test machine was built, no new funds were approved.

Other scientific research activities were stopped if possible, and those that could not be stopped were forced to reduce staff.”

Wang Jinyang lowered his head and listened carefully to Fang Xiang's words.

Then he used his hands to make a trumpet and spoke loudly.

"We'll talk about it later."

Fang Xiang nodded and pointed to the prototype whose engine had already been preheated.

The engine noise was too loud, so he covered his ears.

Wang Jinyang also nodded and covered his ears.

Soon, the test pilot in the cockpit of the prototype stretched out his hand and raised a thumb.

The butcher standing below turned his head and glanced at Fang Xiang.

Fang Xiang stretched out his hand and gave a thumbs up.

The test pilot shook his arms up and down, then pulled them back.

As the afterburner was pushed forward, the engine sounded louder and the crew below the plane removed the fixings on the wheels.

After shaking a bit, the fuselage began to move forward slowly.

After only a dozen meters, the plane slid out of the hangar and onto the auxiliary road outside.

At this moment, the noise in the hangar was instantly reduced by more than half.

"Let's go outside and take a look."

Fang Xiang nodded to Wang Jinyang and Wu Chang.

The two of them didn't say anything, just followed Fang Xiang and walked outside.

When the three men walked out of the hangar, the prototype had already landed on the ground.

Several staff members carried the ladder and placed it on the fuselage again.

The butcher, wearing a full white coat, climbed up the ladder to the cabin door and said something to the test pilot.

Fang wanted to know, that was explaining some precautions and doing some routine checks.

In fact, before today, the test pilot had already memorized it by heart, but the process is the process and it still needs to be done.

Not long after, the butcher climbed down the ladder and the ladder was moved away.

Standing a few meters away from the plane, the butcher stretched out his arm and drew a circle towards Fang Xiang.

This means there is no problem and you can proceed to the next item.

Fang Xiang stretched out his arm again and gave a thumbs up.

The test pilot on the other side also stuck his head out of the cabin, and after seeing Fang Xiang's gesture, he turned his head and looked at the butcher.

When the butcher gave a thumbs up, the test pilot also gave a thumbs up to show that he received it.

After doing all this, the butcher and several workers around him who were also wearing white coats quickly evacuated the plane.

In the blink of an eye, the nearest person to the plane was more than 20 meters away.

This is a safety regulation that must be followed.

Because there has been a lot of data showing that before the plane takes off, this is the time when accidents and explosions are most likely to occur.

More than twenty meters is only the minimum safe distance.

The nearest staff member, wearing a striped reflective safety suit and holding a small red flag in his hand, was looking at Fang Xiang.

When the butcher and others walked to the safe area, Fang Xiang gave the staff member a thumbs up.

Then the staff immediately turned around and waved a small red flag at the plane.

After seeing the signal, the cabin extended a thumb again, and then as the arm was retracted, the cabin cover began to slowly lower.

After more than ten seconds, the canopy was completely lowered and the signal lights on both wings of the fuselage turned on.

As the lights on the wings flickered, the engine noise grew louder.

The prototype also slowly started to glide from a stopped state.

When the speed stabilized at around 20, the plane turned a few turns on the auxiliary road and slid to the take-off point of the runway.

When it arrived at the take-off point, the plane stopped again.

The yellow indicator lights on the ground on both sides of the runway had lit up at some point.

Like breathing, a path of light extends out.

Next to the runway, there were several staff members wearing safety uniforms standing.

At this time, he was using the small red flag in his hand to make flag signals.

Fang Xiang knew without even looking that it was a request to take off.

Immediately stretch out your arms, raise them high toward the sky, make a fist, and then turn it into a thumb pointing up.

Immediately, the little red flag changed its signal.

This is a signal to the test pilot.

Immediately afterwards, the engine sound that had just become smaller became louder again, and the nose of the plane tilted slightly downward, visibly.

"one two Three!"

Fang Xiang silently recited three numbers in his mind.

As the third number was read out, the nose of the plane suddenly raised its head from a slightly downward angle.

Although the amplitude was not large, Fang Xiang could see it clearly.

As the small red flag waved, the engine sound of the prototype increased by an unknown number of decibels.

The plane, which was originally parked steadily in place, began to accelerate.

In just a few seconds, the prototype slid past Fang Xiang's left direction.

Heat was rising around the prototype on the runway, and the originally straight lines seemed to be distorted by space.

Then two tail flames spurted out and disappeared in an instant. Only blue, white and red colors could be seen at the nozzle.

Watching the prototype running faster and faster, first the front wheels left the ground, and then the nose began to point to the sky.

The next second, the rear wheels left the ground and the plane began to climb steadily.

The huge roar became smaller and smaller, and the plane was getting farther and farther away, but the cheers in my ears were getting louder and louder.