Chapter 713: Ejection Takeoff and Ski Jump Takeoff
"Report to Leader Wu that the AWACS has completed the inspection and the airspace is clean. Please take off!" Duan Yi finally asked Wu Shengli for instructions.
This airspace is clean, which of course means that there are no surveillance satellites overhead. Although you cannot avoid being detected by surveillance, you still have to avoid it for a while if you can.
"It's okay to take off. I wish you a successful first flight!" Wu Shengli nodded, walked up to the crew and shook hands with them.
There are five or six regular AWACS crew members. The two in the front fly the aircraft and the following ones operate the radar equipment. But now, because there is no radar and electronic equipment on the aircraft, and the test flight is also full of risks, there are only two flight personnel.
.
They are all experienced old pilots. They used to fly the Y-7, which is similar in size to the AWACS aircraft for a long time. Now they have hundreds of hours of flying experience in flying the Air Police 600. Before this test flight, they even flew on the simulator.
I have simulated it countless times and experienced real takeoff and landing in the cockpit of a trainer aircraft, so my experience is quite rich.
At this time, the two shook hands with Wu Shengli, both of whom were full of confidence: "Please rest assured, leader, we will definitely complete the test flight mission successfully!"
"Okay, I look forward to your success!"
The hangar door opened, and a professional aircraft carrier tractor came over, towing this special-shaped early warning aircraft forward slowly. Countless curious eyes looked over.
This early warning aircraft arrived at Wasteland Village in the middle of the night yesterday. The flight training was over at that time, and there were not many people in the venue. After arriving, it went directly into the hangar, so most people did not see it.
Today is different. Many people were surprised when they saw this kind of aircraft in broad daylight. After the surprise, they became excited.
Early warning aircraft!
Our navy also needs to have early warning aircraft!
"Attention, prepare the electromagnetic catapult!"
The personnel who specialize in operating the electromagnetic catapult are already in place, the energy storage is completed, and they are ready to eject at any time. Since the catapult was equipped in Wasteland Village, a large number of ejection experiments have been carried out. In addition to regular maintenance, there have never been any unexpected situations.
If the ejection success rate were announced, it would definitely make the U.S. Navy jealous to death.
The front wheel of the Air Police 600 is a double-wheel design, which is also to facilitate ejection. The landing gear is very thick. After the front wheel is firmly fixed, the entire aircraft is ready to go.
The flame deflector slowly rose. In fact, for propeller aircraft, this flame deflector is of little significance, but this is a fixed process. The same is true for the US Navy's ejection early warning aircraft, so everyone followed suit.
The engine roared, and the huge propeller turned from slow to fast.
Different from the e2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft, this engine has three rotors, and the propeller is a complex coaxial counter-rotating propeller. There are two pairs of propellers in front of an engine, rotating in opposite directions. The biggest advantage of this is that it offsets the rotational torque and allows
The aircraft is more stable, but the price is of course greatly increased complexity.
The huge propeller looks very unique and breathtaking.
Even Delano sighed: "A huge engine requires this kind of special propeller. However, it sounds like the engine is not running at full power?"
"Yes, the power of 14,000 horsepower is excess. Even for take-off, we use 9,000 horsepower, which is enough. The excess power is mainly used as reserve power. Once one of the engines fails, the other one will
Full power will be output quickly."
Their e2 does not have this ability. Even if it is later replaced with an engine with greater thrust, it will only improve the take-off and landing characteristics. Once one of the engines fails, it will definitely fall into the sea.
The ejection commander made that skillful body movement, and the buzzing excitation sound of the electromagnetic catapult filled everyone's ears. The Air Police 600 withstood the test of ejection takeoff for the first time. It was dragged by the catapult.
It moved forward quickly, getting faster and faster. Before it reached the end of the catapult, the nose landing gear had separated from the catapult's pulley, and the catapult began to slow down and stop. Air Police 600 continued to move toward
It accelerated one or two meters forward, and the entire fuselage easily left the runway.
It's flying!
Easy and no surprises!
"This time it is an unloaded ejection take-off and landing. Next time we should continue to add counterweight." Duan Yi said: "However, the catapult does not have full power output and there is still a lot of margin. It should not be possible for a full-weight ejection.
question."
Of course, nothing can go wrong. If something goes wrong, it will be a big trouble!
The carrier-based early warning aircraft must be able to take off with a full load. If it cannot, it means that it must carry less stuff. There must be no less people, and there can be less equipment. It can only carry less fuel. If there is less fuel, the endurance will be insufficient.
.
Therefore, you have to find a way on the aircraft carrier: extend the length of the catapult. This is a big project. Just look at the French experience on the Charles de Gaulle. Isn’t it because the e2 cannot be boarded on the ship and has to be lengthened?
The catapult, the extended deck, and eventually became a joke around the world.
We must not make this kind of mistake. Now the construction of the aircraft carrier has begun. It is estimated that the first section has been built, and the aircraft carrier has been finalized. If it is modified again, it will definitely be a big project.
"Yes, the test flight was successful. Now we're going to land." Wu Shengli said.
This early warning aircraft came here for testing, for no other reason than to take off and land. Therefore, one side ejects and takes off, and the other side blocks the landing. Every opportunity cannot be wasted.
Delano had already strode toward the landing guidance area, where he often worked. Almost every carrier-based aircraft pilot had the experience of being guided to land by him, but this was the first time for this early warning aircraft.
Moreover, after coming to the East for many years, Delano can speak fluently, and communication is very convenient. Of course, carrier-based aviation is a proud man, and he can also hold conversations in English. In short, no matter what he says, there is no communication.
question.
Qin Tao and others did not go there. They stood on the outside of the landing area and watched the landing of the plane from a distance. This kind of distance view would be more spectacular.
"The take-off and landing test of the carrier-based aircraft is very important. This means that our Air Police 600 is one step closer to practical use." Wu Shengli stood next to Qin Tao and said.
"Yes, this kind of early warning aircraft is one step closer to being officially put into service. Our 002 aircraft carrier will become a truly modern super aircraft carrier. Its combat effectiveness is not inferior to that of American aircraft carriers. As for the gap in quantity, we can slowly make up for it. Wait until
The 002 aircraft carrier has officially entered service, and our country's economic strength has also been enhanced. By then, we can start construction on two ships at the same time, with Mingzhou building one and other shipyards building one."
After hearing Qin Tao's words, Wu Shengli glanced at him: "Starting construction of two ships at the same time? Only you dare to think so."
"What is there to dare to think about? Did the navy dare to think about having an aircraft carrier back then? Doesn't it have two now?" Qin Tao said: "In order to protect our maritime rights and interests, we must build a strong navy."
When I said this, there was a rumbling sound in the distance, and the figure of Air Police 600 had appeared outside the landing zone and accurately entered the glide path.
"Stay steady, that's good. Keep the current state and continue to slide. Don't be afraid!" Delano held the radio and kept shouting inside, as if he was calling his former students.
The landing of a carrier-based aircraft is different from that of an ordinary aircraft. It is more like being dropped directly. Therefore, when the pilots of a carrier-based aircraft land on the ship for the first time, they will feel a sense of fear in their hearts and watch the deck coming towards them.
, you will involuntarily want to pull the control stick to go around. If you cannot overcome this fear, you will not be able to become a qualified carrier-based aircraft pilot, and you will have to go back to where you came from.
At this time, the landing AWACS aircraft was holding up pretty well. It had to continue to descend, and it was necessary to descend bravely without fear.
In the cabin, the two pilots were concentrating. Unlike the flight simulator, if you fall, you can start over. If you fall now, there will be no second chance.
Carrier-based aircraft pilot, the crystallization of bravery and skill!
Their eyes looked at the Fresnel-assisted landing mirror, which kept sliding down and down, and the landing area became bigger and bigger.
"Okay, very good, low-altitude clearance!" Delano shouted.
No mistake can be made in any landing action, otherwise there will be catastrophic consequences. Therefore, the critical first landing must be prepared several times. Just like now, the carrier-based aircraft is only one step away from landing.
It came up, but it did not hit the runway directly and hook the arresting cable. Instead, it passed through the field at a low altitude, went around, and aimed at the landing area again.
"Attention, just like last time, keep it up!"
Air Police 600 landed again. Just like last time, the flight was very smooth and there were no flaws in the glide line. Delano shouted with satisfaction: "We can land!"
An ordinary pilot might have flown the descent maneuver more than a dozen times before landing after he was thoroughly proficient. But now, Delano was very satisfied with the pilot's performance of this aircraft, so he issued the landing order.
The huge landing gear hit the runway, the buffer device shrank a lot, and the aircraft body shuddered, and then continued to slide forward, firmly hooking the second arresting cable.
The moment the plane stopped, bursts of cheers erupted from the scene.
Air Police 600 successfully achieved carrier-based takeoff and landing in Wasteland Village for the first time!
"Tow it back to the hangar within five minutes and conduct a second test flight at three o'clock in the afternoon!" Wu Shengli issued the order.
It's really hard to find gaps in satellites in the sky. Who would have thought that just a few minutes ago, a satellite suddenly changed its orbit and flew over here?
The long blocking cable was quickly restored, the trailer drove smoothly to the aircraft, and then towed the early warning aircraft to the hangar. Everything was done very skillfully, after all, this was already a daily operation.
"The carrier-based aircraft pilots in the East are all top-notch." Delano said: "In the U.S. Navy, there are not many pilots who can land in the second flight."
"This is also because the performance of our simulator is excellent." The pilot said after coming down: "We can realistically simulate all real-life situations on the simulator. So now the real landing is almost the same as flying the simulator. Of course, the acceleration and
The feeling of deceleration cannot be simulated.”
"We have to fly in the afternoon, so we can't have a celebratory drink. Let's go to dinner first, sum up the test flight experience, and prepare for the afternoon flight!" Wu Shengli said.
Lunch has been prepared in the cafeteria for a long time, but everyone is obviously not in the mood to eat, they are all excited.
"Our Navy has been looking forward to fixed-wing early warning aircraft for a long time. The Air Force has the Air Police 2000, and our Navy also has the Air Police 600. The combat effectiveness of our Navy can also be raised to a higher level!"
"This is our second domestic early warning aircraft. I hope our scientific researchers will continue their efforts and develop more and better early warning aircraft!"
"That's right, a good thing like an early warning aircraft must be built no matter how much money it costs!"
"Everyone, you are worrying too much." Qin Tao said: "The early warning aircraft project did cost a lot of money. However, this thing is not completely wasteful. We can also sell it to make money. Isn't Saudi Arabia planning to
Are their C130 airframes transformed into airborne early warning aircraft? Countries such as Laoba will also purchase them. Our current research and development funds will be recovered in the future."
Duan Yi nodded: "Yes, there are not many early warning aircraft using active phased array technology in the world at present, and we are the only one with a big market share. As long as it is exported, there will definitely be many customers."
The first people to install an active phased array radar on an early warning aircraft were the Davidians, but they used a big nose and big cheek method. They only made a big deal when they cooperated with Dongfang for early warning aircraft. Unfortunately, they have not yet succeeded.
The project was terminated due to Western interference. Fortunately, Qin Tao took precautions and set a high compensation in advance. The development of the current early warning aircraft project depends on that compensation.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Our technology is advanced, and as long as the military allows export, the market prospects will be good.
"I have an idea." Qin Tao suddenly said: "If the early warning machine can guide air-to-air missiles, then can our fighter jets just fly over, launch the missiles and then fly back? There is no need for relay guidance.
In this way, our stealth aircraft will be even more silent."
The basic tactic of a stealth aircraft is to quietly approach the opponent under the guidance of the early warning aircraft, then launch the missile and return home. However, if you elaborate on the details, you still need to turn on the radar before launching the missile, as long as it is not the infrared missile that locks the target in advance.
Radar must be used to provide various firing data to the missile.
Moreover, even if it is an air-to-air missile guided by active radar, it is limited by the diameter of the missile and the power of the seeker head is small. The active guidance distance is only more than 20 kilometers. Before that, it still needs radar illumination.
Therefore, this brief period of radar exposure is when the aircraft is most in danger.
If the relay guidance is given to the early warning aircraft, the stealth aircraft will completely become a missile carrier aircraft. It flies over, launches missiles, and returns. It is that simple, no need to elaborate.
Duan Yi thought for a moment, then shook his head: "This is difficult to do. After all, the radar band of our early warning aircraft and the fire control radar band of the fighter jet are completely different. We can't guide the missile. At most, we can only use the data link.
Relay guidance is carried out, but if it is in complex airspace, our data link may have insufficient bandwidth or be interfered with, causing the missile to miss the target."
Qin Tao nodded, knowing that his assumption was somewhat taken for granted.
"However, in the future, perhaps when technology develops faster, our early warning aircraft radar can also be equipped with dual-band radar, which may be possible." Duan Yi said: "This is a development direction, and the early warning aircraft will also have combat capabilities."
"This is just my personal idea, don't interfere with everyone's thinking." Qin Tao said, later generations of early warning aircraft do not have this technology, and he does not know whether it will be possible. It is okay to brag, but if it is really done, there are still risks.
of.
He didn't want to give everyone the wrong route. Now these words should be regarded as bragging.
The ejection take-off after increasing the load in the afternoon was also smooth. At night, another full-load take-off was carried out. In this way, the ejection take-off was considered completed. The next step is to conduct more experiments to find the most suitable take-off and landing routes. In addition to
All this leaves us with the last important item: ski jump takeoff.
"If our ski jump take-off experiment is successful, then our aircraft can not only test fly in the wasteland village, but also simulate real takeoff and landing on the 001 aircraft carrier. We can even train a group of pilots until the 002 aircraft carrier is built.
, our pilots will become mature." At the celebration banquet that night, Duan Yi continued to suggest to Wu Shengli.
"Yes, for the development of the Navy, this risk is worth taking. I will continue to stay and watch our ski jump takeoff experiment. If there is a risk, I will take it."
Wu Shengli took a lot of risks with his words, but for the development of the navy's carrier aviation, he took the risk.
"For the sake of safety, we still take off without a load first, and at the same time the engine power is output to the maximum." Duan Yi continued: "Then we will increase the counterweight little by little and test it slowly."
No matter how many times they calculated it on paper, the risk of ski jump takeoff was still very high. Therefore, compared with catapult takeoff, they had to take their time.
"Okay." Wu Shengli nodded.
The next day, the sky was clear and it was still a good weather for flying.
Delano knew about today's test flight project and was extremely excited.
Ski-jump takeoff! Even the ace carrier-based early warning aircraft of the US aircraft carrier has never done this kind of experiment!
The U.S. Naval Engineering Experiment Center has verified that under deck wind conditions of 25 knots, the e2c carrier-based early warning aircraft weighing nearly 25 tons can take off from a 165-meter-long, 12-degree ski jump deck. Looking at these data, you can know that this
It was tested on Asan's aircraft carrier. I don't know why this kind of test was conducted. Could it be that Asan wanted to purchase an E2 early warning aircraft?
Of course, this was already in the early 21st century, and Asan had to have the Super Sun King to experiment. Now, American early warning aircraft have no experience in ski-jump takeoff. After all, they have no conditions unless they go to the British Invincible-class aircraft.
I tested it, but it can only take off, not land, because it has no arresting rope.
Yesterday's catapult take-off was already very eye-catching. After all, this is the first carrier-based fixed-wing early warning aircraft in China and the second in the world. It can take off and land successfully through catapult, which fully demonstrates that the Eastern Navy has officially entered the modern carrier-based aircraft fleet.
aviation phase.
However, if it can take off from the ski jump deck, it would be even more significant, and Dongfang’s existing aircraft carriers can carry it!
Everyone is looking forward to it. Early in the morning, there are people with various vests lined up in a long queue. They walk through the simulation deck repeatedly and confirm that the entire deck is very tidy and fully meets the needs of take-off fighters. Once the tires take off,
If it gets punctured, a major accident will happen.
Near the front of the ski jump deck, fire trucks and ambulances are also in place. If it really doesn't fly but falls, they will have to be dispatched urgently.
Although the height of the ski jump deck is not high enough, the take-off speed is very high, just like a car taking off on the highway, and the consequences are unpredictable.
Everyone was a little nervous. Even Delano rubbed his hands repeatedly and kept looking, sometimes looking at the ski jump deck, sometimes looking in the direction of the hangar, sometimes looking up at the space, the damn reconnaissance satellite,
When will everything pass?
"Delano, why are you so nervous?" Qin Tao looked at Delano and was very curious: "It's not like you need to fly today."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "If I were flying, I wouldn't be nervous." Delano said: "Today's flight is of great significance, but it's a pity that you won't let me participate.
"
"Do you want to fly? Will you completely switch to flying early warning aircraft in the future?" Qin Tao asked.
Delano stopped talking. He had never seen an AWACS take off from the ski jump deck, so he was looking forward to it. If he was asked to fly AWACS every day, he would be bored to death. After all, AWACS is stable and cannot perform any maneuvers at all.
Even if he is a mad dog, he would not dare to move. If he falls, he will not be the only one who dies. He cannot harm his companions.
At this moment, the hangar door slowly opened, and the early warning aircraft was towed out again. Just like yesterday, the entire aircraft looked so beautiful and majestic.
The large plate of the e2 early warning aircraft is flat, while the large plate of the early warning aircraft in front of you is bulged and looks more rounded. This is not only a streamlined consideration, but also has many requirements for heat dissipation, radar wave transmission, etc.
Take off farther away.
This kind of early warning aircraft cannot fly from the two 105-meter take-off points. The longer the take-off line, the better. The far point of 195 meters is the most suitable.
Seeing the early warning aircraft parked there, everyone held their breath and waited quietly.
When in the hangar, the AWACS aircraft had already made all preparations. Now, after being dragged out, it is ready to take off at any time. Just after aligning with the takeoff line, the engine started and the roar became louder and louder.
The propeller is rotating faster and faster, and it has entered the maximum power output state!
As the two yellow vests made that familiar move, the air marshal slid forward at a speed of 600. Looking at this momentum, it was no worse than using a catapult?
With the power of flying bricks, and the power output of 14,000 horsepower, the Air Police 600 is like a tiger descending the mountain, rushing forward quickly, faster and faster.
"No problem taking off," Delano said.
As soon as he finished speaking, Air Police 600 had already left the jump deck and continued to fly upward along the 12-degree upward throw curve just now!