Chapter 949 The "White Swan" Returning East
Until everyone got off the plane, Chang Haonan could not think of a more reasonable solution than in his previous life.
Mainly the combination of D30KP2+H-6 is indeed too cheap.
Whether it is to independently develop a new airframe or a new medium-bypass ratio turbofan engine, it is a serious extravagance and waste in comparison...
Finally, he decided not to pursue his duties in his position.
?Leave the problem to the aviation industry group next door—
??If they feel that the engine is a consumable and it is safer to build it themselves, then it does not mean that they cannot make the D30KP2 domestically.
By the way, I will give practice to the following research institutes with weak technology.
??If they feel that it is not worthwhile to set up a special project for hundreds of engines, then Chang Haonan is happy to focus resources on more important models.
The right is to support northern neighbors to resist military pressure from NATO...
Just as he was thinking this, two air force officers with 24 military ranks on their shoulders had already arrived in front of everyone.
?The two are Yan Kun, the person in charge of Lintong Station, and Shou Guofu, the political commissar of the 108th Air Corps.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the Air Force had not yet undergone reforms, and aviation units and ground support units were separated in organization.
Under normal circumstances, aviation regiments and stations are regiment-level units.
But due to well-known reasons, they are all assigned as assistant divisions here.
As for the leader of the 108th Regiment…
Naturally, he was still flying back from the plane.
After a brief situation report, everyone, led by Yan Kun and Shou Guofu, arrived near the area covered with a hangar.
Although he had roughly estimated the scale of these four things when he was on the plane just now.
But now that he actually stood on the ground to observe, he still felt a bit oppressive.
Actually, if we look at the volume alone, the sizes of these hangars are not particularly outrageous.
After all, even the main building of the Torch Laboratory has a lateral span of about 60 meters.
It''s just that the hangar is open to all directions, so the visual effect is much more exaggerated.
?Furthermore, Chang Haonan discovered that two of them had not actually been completed yet.
It can be seen that the relevant preparation work is indeed carried out in a hurry.
“We originally planned to build a reinforced hangar for each of these four aircraft, just like the B52 at Tyndall Air Force Base.”
?? Qiao Chenqing sat on the viewing platform and said to Chang Haonan next to him:
“But...it turned out that time was really tight and it was simply impossible to build four hangars in two months.”
He smiled helplessly:
"Furthermore, the construction of super-large reinforced hangars is also very difficult. Our country currently has no experience in this area. In addition, the Tu-160 itself does not have a stealth layer and is relatively sturdy, so we temporarily built four hangars. At least take precautions against wind and rain..."
?Chang Haonan was a little difficult to evaluate for a while.
In fact, even the wealthy US military, in most cases, leaves non-stealth bombers like the B1B and B52 out in the open.
After all, strategic bombers usually park in the rear areas. If such a place is bombed, there is a high probability that it will go to the nuclear warhead. Whether or not there is a hangar does not really matter.
??Moreover, the exterior parts of the aircraft are actually designed to withstand rain and snow, so they are not as delicate as outsiders imagine.
As for stealth aircraft, the stealth paint is too delicate and must be kept in a place with constant temperature and humidity, so it has no choice but to have a closed environment.
?However, Qiao Chenqing, as the head of the Air Force, should naturally be familiar with these things.
So, this behavior can only be explained as...
Similar to the kind of care a child would receive after getting a new toy.
Fortunately, it’s just a few tin sheds and doesn’t cost a lot of money.
Even if we put aside the plane matter, we can at least make the working environment of the ground crew members more comfortable.
…
?Following Chang Haonan''s random thoughts, the sun also moved all the way to the west, and finally hung not far above the horizon.
Actually, if you flew directly back to China from Ermao, you should have arrived a few hours earlier.
??But the Tu-160 is a strategic bomber after all, and many countries are unwilling to allow such a four-plane formation to pass through their airspace.
From China’s perspective, if you choose to fly direct, many areas in the middle are not really safe.
??The disintegration of the Soviet Union left behind a large number of medium and long-range field air defense systems. No one knows which ravine has a missile launcher hidden in it.
Hence, the pick-up crew still chose to take a relatively safe route.
Just when everyone was getting a little sleepy from waiting, a refreshing voice finally came from the intercom that had been placed on the table:
“Attention all units, direction 310, distance 330km, four large targets, diamond formation, altitude 9000, speed 950…”
?Those Tu-160s still maintain the technical status of the Soviet Air Force period intact. Naturally, it is impossible to have the identification friend or foe system on the Chinese side—
Even if it were available, IFF would not be effective at this distance.
?Hence, radar can only distinguish the approximate attributes of the target.
?Of course, at this juncture, a rough attribute is enough.
??Everybody knows what it will be.
?However, for such a big event, of course not only people from the Air Force were sitting on the viewing stand.
“Four goals?”
A leader in casual clothes was a little confused and approached Qiao Chenqing:
“Didn’t I just say that after entering our country’s airspace, there will be fighter jets accompanying and escorting us throughout the entire journey?”
“Oh...because the early warning radars that can see such a distance are UHF band early warning radars, and their accuracy is relatively poor.”
The latter replied:
"So, either the RCS of the tactical aircraft is too small and has not been detected, or the echoes from the small targets are simply mixed into the large targets." "How can it still be like this?"
The questioner just now had a shocked look on his face and was obviously a complete layman in terms of technology.
"sure."
Another officer next to him replied:
“In fact, a typical tactic of the air force of Western countries is to hide tactical aircraft performing reconnaissance or bombing missions near normal flying passenger planes, so as to allow the defenders to take advantage of them.”
“There are many accidental attacks on passenger planes that happen like this, but it’s hard to find evidence.”
…”
For a few aircraft flying close to the speed of sound, a distance of more than 300 kilometers does not take too long.
Therefore, Chang Haonan quickly saw several streaks of brown smoke extending from the northwest through the telescope—
The NK32 engine uses nitrogen-containing T-8B aviation fuel. When the aircraft flies at low or ultra-low altitudes, a trace amount of nitric oxide will be ejected from the tail nozzle due to fuel-rich combustion, and then it will be quickly oxidized into nitrogen dioxide.
It is also reflected as a yellow smoke.
Just a few seconds later, a large white plane with an exaggerated wingspan appeared in his field of vision through the thin clouds.
Next, there will be the second and third planes...
!!”
At this moment, Chang Haonan''s breathing almost stopped.
Although these aircraft were not designed and built by him.
But it was through his hands that he came to China.
In fact, this is the first time in Chang Haonan’s two lifetimes that he has seen this model with his own eyes.
It was only then that he finally intuitively understood why the designer called it the "white swan".
Four planes, like swans spreading their wings, floated lightly from the distant sky towards the airport.
It is completely impossible to see how bulky this 400-ton body should be.
?Only elegance.
It must be admitted that in terms of aviation aesthetics, the Soviets, like the British, have reached certain limits.
It’s just that the directions of the two limits are opposite.
From an aviation design perspective, the Tu-160 has almost identical design features with its old rival B1B.
But when the two planes are placed together, their appearance gives people completely different feelings.
“Coming, coming!”
At this time, excited shouts finally broke out from the viewing platform.
?Chang Haonan''s five senses became much sharper than ordinary people after his rebirth, so others would see it later than him.
?A few dozen seconds later, a total of 8 J-11 fighter jets located on both sides of the four Tu-160s also appeared in front of everyone.
Obviously, the distance is already very close.
?However, the fleet did not intend to land directly.
Rather, directly above the airport, a 12-plane formation made a low-speed pass.
Of course, in order to ensure safety, the height is not very low.
Just so that the people on the ground can vaguely see the belly of the aircraft with the naked eye.
Even so, Chang Haonan seemed to feel a top-down airflow, causing him to subconsciously tighten his hat.
There are not a few people who have made similar actions to him.
Obviously, this is not an illusion.
As for those without hats…
More than one person exposed the secret of being a "Mediterranean" because his hair was blown up...
It can be said that this is a feeling that no one has ever experienced...
A few minutes later, the four Tu-160s returned to the airport along the landing route.
The J-11s responsible for the **** mission have already left.
?Yaocun Airport has only one runway, and the four bombers must be arranged to land in order.
If we keep up with the other 8 planes, it will be a bit of a mess...
?Under the command of the tower, the first plane lowered its landing gear and slowly fell from outside the airport wall.
With a "squeak" sound, the main landing gear hit the specially reinforced cement runway surface, and a cloud of cyan smoke generated by rubber friction rose up.
Immediately afterwards, three speed parachutes arranged in a "pin" shape popped out from the cone-shaped part of the tail.
The sound caused by the friction between the umbrella surface and the air can be heard even on the tarmac.
??But the sound was immediately covered up by the thunderous cheers from the viewing platform...
The publicity officer captured the moment when the plane slid on the runway and passed directly in front of the viewing platform, and quickly pressed the shutter.
The camera recorded the time at this moment—
November 15, 2001, 16:07.
? ?The first Tu-160, numbered "Red 24", landed at Lintong Yaocun Airport in China, becoming the first supersonic strategic bomber equipped by the Chinese Air Force.
(End of this chapter)