This is the port city of Ludong where autumn tigers are raging, and the training base of the Naval Aviation Academy.
On the runway, a trainer-9G "Sea Mountain Eagle" trainer aircraft accelerated and taxied. With a sharp wheel lift, the War Eagle took off southward, climbing steadily along the established take-off route.
"Tower, the turning point is in good condition, close the wheel." Quasi-pilot Li Hai reported to the tower for instructions. He looked to the left and saw that the rising sun was just right and was dispersing the cold dew in the early morning in eastern Shandong.
Director of the Air Force Aviation Tactics Research Institute, General Technical Advisor of the Air Force Aviation University and Distinguished Professor of the School of Marxism, recipient of the Air Force Flying Technical Talents Special Allowance, Director of the Air Force Special Operations Research Center, General Director of Sea and Air Tactics of the Naval Aviation Command, Naval Aviation Academy
Colonel Li Zhan (deputy military position), a part-time chief instructor and the first chief instructor of the growth class, was at the tower to direct the solo flight of the new batch of student pilots.
(For the story of Li Zhan, please see the second part of the Rifle Military Trilogy, "The Fighting Falcon of the Great Power")
Those who were flying solo were the growth class students he personally recruited back then. In order to participate in their solo flight day, Li Zhan, who was participating in military exchange activities in St. Petersburg, returned home early and rushed to the Naval Aviation Academy training base.
After today, these student pilots will become real naval pilots. As for whether they can become brave men who fly Shark fighters to take off and land on the aircraft carrier deck as Li Zhan expected, it will take some time. Maybe many of them will be eliminated along the way.
Out.
He instructed: "The Yaoliu can be used to close the wheel."
"Understood, retract the wheel." Li Hai retracted the landing gear and turned left according to the predetermined plan.
Since 2013, when I entered the Hainan Aviation Academy through recruitment and became one of the first batch of "growth mode" carrier-based aircraft pilot students, more than four years of hard training have finally come in handy today. Today's solo flight means a new beginning, and the distance has become a carrier-based aircraft pilot.
The fighter pilot is one step closer.
Li Hai is confident that he can complete his solo career perfectly.
"Bang!"
The war eagle trembled.
"Warning warning... warning warning..."
"Tower, stop at the 16th corner. There is no power. I hit a bird. I hit a bird. Report. I hit a bird."
"Don't panic, Yaoliuguai will continue to turn left! All returning fighters should get out of the airspace!" Li Zhan issued several instructions in a very short period of time.
Li Hai quickly calmed down, his tone was not obviously panicked, and he was relatively calm, "Continuously turn left, facing the no man's land! Yaoliuguai Yao is parachuting! I'm going to parachute!"
“Be careful to avoid densely populated areas!”
"Understood, processed!"
Li Hai pulled the ejection tab, the cockpit opened, and the ejection seat instantly popped up and was thrown high. At this time, it was only 101 meters above the ground. When Li Hai landed, the parachute did not fully open. Fortunately, it hit a piece of loose material that had just released.
After landing on the dirt field, I quickly checked it and found that there were only some minor scratches, and I was secretly grateful.
While he was still in the air, he saw Coach-9G "Hai Shan Eagle" No. 167 plunge to the ground and quickly explode and burst into flames. The crash location was very safe, more than 500 meters away from the nearest residence.
Li Hai breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Without any time to think, he strode towards the crash site, getting faster and faster, and finally broke into a trot.
On the command tower, through the camera mounted on the fighter plane, Li Zhan saw the entire process of the fighter plane crashing to the ground, and also saw all the situations in the cockpit. He was very satisfied with Li Hai's calm and composed emergency operation, and he was very satisfied with the first-time firefighter.
For students who fly solo, this is extremely valuable.
For Li Zhan, who is known as an expert in dealing with dangerous situations, what he sees in front of him really doesn't matter. He even came up with an idea - whether to let this new member who encountered a special danger in his first solo flight to the Flying Shark Unit in advance.
If you go through a lot of training, you might be able to train a successor.
The people nearby did not realize that something had happened until the fighter plane crashed to the ground. Many people ran here, calling the police while running, and some called the military airport gate.
The village chief drove a motorcycle to catch up and shouted to everyone: "Why are you running around! Find the pilot! Disperse and find the pilot! Call the clinic and ask the doctor to come over!"
From bird strike to crash, the whole process only lasted nineteen seconds.
"Village Chief! Isn't that the pilot?" A middle-aged man said loudly, pointing at Li Hai running towards the smoking crash site in the distance.
The army's emergency rescue team is already on its way.
Li Hai came to the crash site and saw the shape of the fighter plane. The nose was missing and the fuselage was broken into two sections. However, the wings remained relatively intact. The damage to the engine compartment seemed to be the second most serious and was still occurring.
on fire.
Standing there, Li Hai lowered his head and stared at the war eagle in silence, as if in mourning.
This Trainer-9 "Haishan Eagle", which had been in service for only three years, died young and dedicated his "life" to building a strong People's Naval Aviation Force.
The danger happened in an instant, so that Li Hai didn't have enough time to handle it according to regular actions. With 19 seconds to deal with it, he only left himself three seconds to parachute. He was unscathed even though he parachuted at such a low altitude.
It can be said that luck is on your side.
Engine shutdown during takeoff is a special air hazard. The bird strike occurred in an instant. Li Hai did not even have time to judge the cause. The engine stopped instantly and the fighter plane lost power.
He reported quickly and made a decisive and continuous left turn, risking a stall and turning the plane's nose toward the farmland area on the left, avoiding the dense residential buildings on the normal takeoff route.
Therefore, on his first solo flight in his flying career, he encountered a severe mid-air danger. Fortunately, everyone was safe and sound.
"Man, I'm sorry, keep going." Li Hai sighed in a low voice and saluted the "remains" of the war eagle.
The emergency rescue team rushed to seal the scene, and Li Hai was taken away by ambulance. A series of aviation medical examinations were conducted as usual. After repeated confirmation that he was fine, Li Hai was sent to a guest house to stay. What followed was a series of investigations as usual.
Don’t expect a go-around without a few months.
A week later, Xue Xiangnan, the commander of the Sea Eagle Regiment of HNA, nicknamed Cannon, came over.
"How are you feeling? Hey, you have gained weight. It looks like the food is good." Xue Xiangnan smiled and sat down and pointed at Li Hai who was standing there, "Sit down, sit down and talk."
"yes!"
Li Hai sat down and said with a wry smile, "Can I eat every day without getting fat after waking up? Captain, when will the investigation results be out?"
"Why are you so anxious? You were the one who flew. Let me tell you, your handling was timely and correct, and you avoided crashing in a densely populated area. The team decided to give you credit. But the investigation results must be released. This is the process.
, you can't go faster even if you want to." Xue Xiangnan said.
Li Hai said, "What credit do I have? I deserve it for not being able to save the plane. But the captain, please tell the investigation team to hurry up. The year-end assessment is coming soon. I might have to miss it."
"Is that what I have the final say?" Xue Xiangnan asked, waving his hand and saying, "You don't need to participate in the year-end assessment..."
"How can that be done?" Li Hai became anxious upon hearing this.
Xue Xiangnan glared, "Why are you in such a hurry? The captain is still irritable even after being connected. Can you just listen to what I have to say?"
"Yes..." Li Hai lowered his head.
He is a good prospect. Although his performance is not outstanding among the new recruits in the same period, he always excels in every assessment and examination. He is a new generation of pilots that Xue Xiangnan values very much. He can't wait to train him as a key talent of the Sea Eagle Regiment. After two or three more years of experience, he will become a good pilot again.
He is the ace of the Seahawks.
It's a pity that he is a young member of the Flying Shark Army.
Xue Xiangnan said, "You are the first batch of carrier-based fighter pilots trained in the growth mode. The Haisi has ordered that some of you be selected from your group to directly conduct training on the modification of the Flying Shark fighter. Arrive before 18:00 on September 5th.
Report to the Fertile Land Training Base. After organized research, it was decided to send you and the party to serve the people."
"Flying Shark? Can I modify the Flying Shark? I can participate in modifying the Flying Shark now!" Li Hai stood up all of a sudden, with a fierce desire in his eyes.
Wasn't it just to fly the Flying Shark fighter when I participated in the recruitment? After becoming the first batch of carrier-based fighter pilots trained in the growth mode, they were looking forward to the day when they flew the Flying Shark fighter. According to the training plan, their batch of rookies would have to fly again.
It took several months of training to modify the Flying Shark, which is the J-15. Now we have the opportunity to advance it, how can we not be excited!
Xue Xiangnan was unhappy again, "What do you sound like! Sit down!"
"Yes!" Li Hai sat down, unable to sit still and excited.
Flying Shark Training, a training camp for cultivating carrier-based fighter pilots, is considered a palace-level training, an epic level of difficulty training that all the proud men soaring in the sky are eager to participate in.
He didn't expect that the opportunity would fall on him inadvertently and early.
"Oh no, Commander, my establishment seems to be in our Seahawks Regiment. So, Commander, is this a formal transfer or is it?" Li Hai couldn't help but ask.
Xue Xiangnan became even more unhappy, "Why, my small temple of the Sea Eagle Regiment can no longer support you? Is my Bald Eagle fighter so unpopular?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant, Commander. Our Sea Eagles are famous, the best flying group in the world, everyone in the world knows about it..."
"Okay, okay, don't sing hymns like me." Xue Xiangnan wanted to get angry and didn't know where it came from. He pointed at Li Hai and said, "As for you, you are in the Haiying Regiment, but with your ability, sooner or later you will be
If you drive Feisha, I can't keep you here. But I remind you that Feisha training adopts a full elimination system. If you fail in any item, you will be asked to pack up and get out. At that time, you will have no choice but to return to my place.
Xiaomiao honestly gave me the Bald Eagle! You all want to fly carrier-based fighter jets, right? Then you have to see if you have the talent! Let me tell you, you and the party and the people must fight for me when they get there.
!”
Li Hai grinned and said, "Captain, that is necessary. But if we stay in Feisha, will you let us go?"
"If you have the ability to stay, I won't stop you!" Xue Xiangnan said angrily.
Anyone who had worked so hard to cultivate the top talents would be unhappy. Two people would be given away at once. How could Xue Xiangnan not be angry? But, he couldn't stop him no matter what, unless Li Hai was killed.
Brush it down.
He sighed and said, "You are all trained as carrier-based fighter pilots. You can't keep them even if you want to. The order was given by the Marine Corps, and there is nothing the ship commander can do about it. The rank of officer is crushing people to death. This is more than two years old."
Level. Get ready, I’ll send someone to take you there tomorrow.”
"Commander, don't be angry, maybe the party, the people, and I will be eliminated," Li Hai said smoothly.
Xue Xiangnan immediately stood up and said seriously, "If you don't have the determination, then don't go. I'll choose someone else!"
"No, no, Captain, I didn't mean that." Li Hai said secretly, and quickly stood up and stood at attention, "I will report to the Captain, I will do my best to pass the six levels and kill six generals until the end, to win glory for you and the Sea Eagles."
Win glory!"
Xue Xiangnan finally lost some of his anger, "You still look like a sea and air eagle, although you are not yet a real Sea Eagle pilot. I remind you that this matter is confidential and cannot be told to anyone, Lin Li
No way either."
"Yes! I understand!" Li Hai said decisively.
After a pause, Xue Xiangnan said, "Logically speaking, you just suffered a special danger and cannot participate in the training camp, but Mr. Li has spoken and called your name. You are lucky."
"Mr. Li, please order my general?" Li Hai became even more excited.
The General Li they refer to refers to the college's part-time chief instructor Colonel Li Zhan (who enjoys deputy military level treatment) who was introduced earlier and has a long list of titles. He is a legend of the People's Air Force. He is only 34 years old but already has 4,000 pilots.
The "Little Prince of Tie Rods" who was a child, even held a part-time position in the Navy, and his full-time job was still in the Air Force. This person also has a nickname - an expert in handling dangerous situations in the air, and he grew up quickly in various dangerous situations.
legendary pilot.
Perhaps because of this, Li Zhan looked at Li Hai with admiration, who crashed the plane while flying solo.
"There are not many people who can catch the eyes of Mr. Li. You, a new recruit, have something, so work hard."
After a while, Xue Xiangnan softened his tone and said, "How are you going to explain Lin Li? You're a good girl. She left her hometown and came here to work for you. I think so, I'll go get the marriage certificate tomorrow. The wedding is
I’ll make it up later and give people an explanation.”
Li Hai was startled, "Captain, getting married is such a big event, it's too hasty."
"There's nothing wrong with it. You two are high school classmates and you can be considered childhood sweethearts. You've been in love for four or five years. You've been here for almost a year. Did the girl come over from your hometown and find a job in the station? No.
Just to spend more time with you?" Xue Xiangnan said, suddenly thinking of something, his face became serious, "Is your kid falling in love with someone else?"
When Li Hai heard this, he quickly shook his head and denied, "No, no, how could I be in love with someone else? I would be very interested in someone else, let alone the girl I have liked since high school. That's right, I am...
"
"What is it? Don't be hesitant and say it." Xue Xiangnan pointed at the tip of Li Hai's nose, as if he was explaining something unreasonable and just scolding him.
Li Hai's high head slowly lowered, and his tone was heavy, "Commander, as you know, the risk of flying a carrier-based fighter is extremely high, especially the landing. Flying is a high-risk job, and carrier-based pilots are on a knife's edge.
You know how risky it is to fly. I'm afraid..."
Xue Xiangnan's heart was throbbing in pain. Who said it wasn't? Especially for Li Hai, who had just survived a take-off collision with a bird, he had a deeper understanding of the risks and consequences.
"I'm afraid I'm sorry for her." Li Hai's voice was very, very low, as if it was squeezed out of his throat.
Xue Xiangnan was silent, unable to get around the practical issue. Aren't combat pilots worthy of love? No, it was because he loved her too much and was unwilling to let her suffer even the slightest bit of pain.
If Lin Li knew what Li Hai was thinking, she would definitely slap him in the face - selfish!
"Okay, okay, I don't care about you young people's affairs." Xue Xiangnan waved his hands irritably, neatly and without any sloppiness.
Quan Dang didn’t understand.
He is the leader of the army and the leader of the regiment. At his age and level, it is difficult for him to return to his twenties and express emotions with Li Hai with a young mentality. The most important thing is the dilemma Li Hai faces.
It was also a dilemma that he had never gotten out of.
What others see is the naval pilots galloping across the sea and air, exuding the excitement of fighting youth, but what they cannot see are the many family members behind them who are silently dedicated to the cause, and the families who are not as happy as people imagine.
Are there many Li Hais? Maybe not. There are more young people who have difficulty balancing career and family, or are facing starting a family or have already started a family. What they can't get rid of is the endless quarrels caused by the inability to balance both. Or for Lin Li,
Li Hai's choice made her feel unfair, but from Li Hai's perspective, he thought it was just fair to Lin Li.
Someone has to sacrifice, right?
"Captain, then, is my solo career a success or a failure?" Li Hai collected his emotions, raised his head and asked.
Xue Xiangnan said, "Of course it is considered a success. You have also made meritorious deeds. Don't worry."
Li Hai was relieved, which meant that he was qualified to fly a fighter plane independently.
