Great Power Fighting Falcon

To resume flying and resume combat readiness, the prerequisite is to complete the modification training of the J-8FR high-altitude and high-speed reconnaissance fighter jet.

High-altitude and high-speed reconnaissance fighter jets are nothing new. During the arms race between the Warsaw Pact and NATO during the Cold War, many models appeared. In terms of technical level, many indicators were ahead of their time. The J-8 is actually a fighter jet that is influenced by the Cold War mentality and pursues high altitude and high speed.

After entering the 21st century, the performance of the J-8 no longer meets the requirements of the new military struggle situation. The Chinese people's mentality has always been to use as much as possible and to modify it as much as possible. Just like the H-6 bomber, a technological platform of the 1950s, it has been modified and modified until you don't recognize it at all. It has never stopped exploring the combat effectiveness of the old platform. pace of.

After the new fighter aircraft was installed, the J-8 was not directly eliminated, but was improved based on it, and was changed into a homeland defense interceptor and a reconnaissance fighter. The FR type appeared under the guidance of such combat thinking. Make full use of the high-altitude and high-speed performance of the J-8F, cancel unnecessary weapon systems, and install reconnaissance equipment for tactical-level aerial reconnaissance.

This type of equipment is new to the Chinese Air Force. How to use it and how to modify it are basically only theoretical studies. As a result, manufacturers need more feedback from the actual use of the troops, and the troops also need to explore the actual combat application of this type of equipment through modification and use.

It is quite appropriate to hand over the experimental modification to Li Zhan. There are two pilots who have partnered with Li Zhan, Chen Fei and Nie Jianfeng. The former had an accident while partnering with Li Zhan, but the latter was unharmed, so the latter modified the J-8FR with Li Zhan.

There are some things that you have to believe, and even if you don’t believe them, avoid them if you can.

Before the J-8FR, the Air Force and Hainan Airlines also equipped a front-mounted tactical reconnaissance aircraft, numbered Jianzhen-8. In military colloquial terms, Jianzhangba is often used to refer to the tactical reconnaissance aircraft improved based on the J-8. The J-8FR is the latest model that has been improved on the basis of the J-8. It is still highly confidential.

In short, the J-8FR is an improvement on the latest F-type. It has an aerial oil receiving pipe, a new built-in modular reconnaissance pod, an optical camera, a synthetic aperture radar, an external reconnaissance pod, etc., and there are more improvements in other small aspects.

The degree of confidentiality of this aircraft model can be seen from the fact that after the fighter jets arrived, the division sent two staff officers to lead a guard squad for round-the-clock guard duty.

Immediately, after the manufacturer's technical representative and the aviation department's staff arrived, Li Zhan and Nie Jianfeng were thrown into the small guest house and began a two-week secret training. Prior to this, their direct superior Zhang Wei had received training. Last month, Zhang Wei was promoted to reconnaissance section chief and major in camp.

At the same time, the Nighthawk Task Force Squadron was formally established at the deputy battalion level. Li Zhan served as the squadron leader, and Nie Jianfeng served as the squadron instructor. At the same time, Nie Jianfeng was the deputy captain of the third brigade of the fourth regiment. It organized four fighters and two J-8FR tactical aircraft. Reconnaissance aircraft, two J-7E fighters.

Zhang Wei is the head of the department specifically responsible for the Nighthawk Squadron at the division headquarters. In fact, in addition to daily management, the Nighthawk Squadron is already directly under the division headquarters in terms of operations and training.

After August 1st, the Nighthawk Squadron officially put into combat readiness duty. This modification speed is relatively fast. Among the new pilots, Tang Leilei and Li Hanzhi were the first to fly solo, using two J-7Es to join the Nighthawk Squadron. At this point, the personnel and equipment of the Nighthawk Squadron are all in place.

It should be pointed out in particular that Tang Leilei was using Li Zhan’s aircraft No. 037 J-7E.

Fighter No. 037 has really gone through many hardships.

After a week of tactical formation training, the two new pilots Tang Leilei and Li Hanzhi had basically completed their running-in with the veteran pilots, and the division compiled a combat readiness flight schedule for the Nighthawk Squadron. Li Zhan and Tang Leilei are in a group, and Nie Jianfeng and Li Hanzhi are in a group, a total of two mixed groups.

At exactly 9 a.m. on the day when Usain Bolt set a new world record in the 100-meter run, Li Zhan and Tang Leilei taxied the fighter plane to the take-off position. The lead plane formed a two-plane take-off formation with the front wingman on the right side.

The personnel on duty at the tower performed their duties. The weatherman on duty felt a heavy responsibility after seeing the list of today's flight personnel. The pressure given by the name Li Zhan was really too great. The weather that was originally good would suddenly deteriorate as soon as Li Zhan went up to the sky, and there would even be day and night weather spectacles. How not to make the weatherman on duty nervous.

The duty officers at other positions were also under greater psychological pressure than usual for the same reason - Li Zhan was preparing to fly due to the huge uncertainty.

Zhang Wei raised his telescope to observe the two aircraft at the take-off position without putting down the microphone in his hand. After confirming that the ground support personnel had issued the permission, he immediately gave the order, "Yao Dong Yao, get ready for takeoff."

"Get it, start sliding." Li Zhan turned to look at Tang Leilei behind him, holding up three fingers on his right hand wearing a white labor protection glove, "Turn three times, three, two, one, release the brake. "

At the same time, the brakes were released, and the J-8FR took the J-7E into a rapid taxi. The two brothers took off in a crisp two-plane formation and flew directly into the cruising route. Troops are increasingly using formation take-off, which is closer to actual combat, and there are often training plans for mixed formation take-off.

"Yao Dong Yao, adjust the frequency to 8433.33, follow his command, see you later, and wish you good luck." Zhang Wei gave the Nanzhi contact channel and said goodbye.

Li Zhan replied, "Frequency 8433.33, follow Nan Zhi's command. Goodbye."

"Yao Dong Yao calls, eight four three three point three three." Li Zhan adjusted the frequency and called Nan Zhi.

The South Pointer replied, "I am eight four three three point three three, Yaodong Yao, maintain heading altitude, cruising speed."

"Understood, cruising speed." Li Zhan moved the accelerator to the economic cruising position, and Tang Leilei completed the action at the same time, in perfect harmony.

Li Zhan followed the fixed flight path and began a long-term alert patrol flight with his wingman Tang Leile.

After installing three external auxiliary fuel tanks, the maximum range of the J-8FR with tail number 101 has reached 3,500 kilometers, and the maximum range of the No. 037 J-7E fighter piloted by Tang Leilei is also close to 3,000 kilometers.

According to the plan, they had to fly close to the edges of the outermost numbered airspaces, which meant cruising inside the airspace line. The total distance was 2,500 kilometers, and the flight time was about three hours.

This is no small test for fighter pilots.

Fighters are no better than passenger planes or transport aircraft, and they are all second-generation aircraft. They have no automatic cruise at all and rely entirely on manual control. Moreover, their flight route is tortuous, so they have to concentrate even more once they enter the sea and air. Passenger planes cruise at an altitude of 10,000 meters, but their cruising altitude can be only 5,000 meters.

An hour after flying out, the tower staff on duty breathed a sigh of relief after everything was normal.