Volume 1: The Empire Awakens Chapter 44: The Power of the Navy
Shenfei's engine laboratory is located in the north of the factory, where the empire's most complete aviation power test equipment is located.
Tan Renhao also saw the real Feng 12 engine for the first time.
"The Feng 12 is an air-cooled star-shaped 12-cylinder engine. After adopting the exhaust gas turbocharger, the maximum output power we tested reached 1,200 horsepower. The maximum output power is expected to reach 1,600 horsepower. Related improvement work is still ongoing."
Li Zhiyang explained to Tan Renhao in person, "This engine still has great potential for improvement. We are planning to develop a 16-cylinder radial engine with an estimated output power of more than 2,000 horsepower, or even 2,400 horsepower. However, based on the current situation, 1,600 horsepower is enough to meet the needs of the four new aircraft."
Tan Renhao nodded. Power is the core of any aircraft.
Some time ago, he spent a lot of effort to learn some knowledge about aviation design. The most basic point is that for any kind of aircraft, the design of other aspects will be completed based on the engine after the engine is determined.
The shape of the engine determines the layout of the aircraft, while the engine's output power directly determines the performance of the aircraft.
The engine is the heart of the aircraft. Without a strong heart, no matter how good the aerodynamic design is, it cannot create a fighter with excellent performance.
"Our cumulative ground test runs have reached more than 12,000 hours, with an average failure time of 1,500 hours, which fully meets the performance requirements set by the Navy."
Li Zhiyang made a gesture of invitation, and then led Tan Renhao to the experimental workshop. "Now, our only problem is the turbocharger system, which is also what we lack the most. However, Chengfei and Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group are not much better. Their turbocharger systems started later than ours, and I heard that they are still undergoing testing."
"Mr. Li, when will the Feng 12 be finalized?"
Tan Renhao is not indifferent to specific issues, but he pays more attention to results.
"By the end of this year at the latest, we will be able to obtain the production certificate from the Aviation Administration, and then we can officially start production."
Li Zhiyang seemed very confident. "By then, we will have completed the development of the 1,600-horsepower Feng-12A engine. If the navy has a special need, we can use the Feng-12A on the newly designed combat aircraft."
Tan Renhao nodded.
"I will send the report. Of course, this is not a decision I can make."
Li Zhiyang certainly understood what Tan Renhao meant.
"Now, are you satisfied?"
"very good!"
Tan Renhao laughed. The noise in the workshop was so loud that he almost shouted, "Now, according to General Yu Gengnian's request, we will develop a newer model of combat aircraft as soon as possible, so the development of new engines must be started as soon as possible."
"No problem, as long as the Navy is willing to order our aircraft, we will have enough motivation!"
Both of them laughed.
During the Last World War, in order to fully unleash the empire's war potential, almost all strategic industries were directly controlled by the imperial government, especially the military-industrial enterprises, which were nominally independent joint-stock private companies, but in fact the largest shareholder was the imperial government.
However, these enterprises are managed separately from the military, and the performance of the enterprises will be directly based on the military orders they receive, and the performance directly determines the welfare benefits of the employees.
It is this internal competition system that gives the empire's military-industrial enterprises sufficient motivation to develop new products and improve their technological levels as much as possible in order to win military orders.
In the following two days, Tan Renhao visited the aircraft design center and the aircraft manufacturing plant.
While he secretly admired Shen Fei's huge production capacity and strong research and design capabilities, he also made a very important suggestion to Li Zhiyang.
"I've read your reports. If we stop researching the Flamingo horizontal bomber, will the combat effectiveness of the naval aviation be affected?"
Li Zhiyang did not mention the main reason, which is that if they stopped developing the "Flamingo" horizontal bomber, they would lose a large order.
"Mr. Li, in fact, the performance of the Flamingo and Osprey torpedo bombers are very similar in many aspects."
Tan Renhao put his report, which had been revised and sorted out many times, in front of Li Zhiyang, "There is almost no big difference between the two in terms of range, payload, and flight speed.
In addition, the same engine is used, so there is a great deal of commonality in design.
If both types of bombers are equipped at the same time, the difficulty of logistical support will increase, which will also require more ground support personnel and bring a series of troublesome problems to the configuration of the aviation force.
If the Osprey's data is improved so that it can carry heavy bombs and perform horizontal bombing missions, there is no need to develop the Flamingo at all."
Li Zhiyang nodded slightly, then opened Tan Renhao's report.
"I think this actually doesn't do any harm to Shen Fei."
Tan Renhao knew exactly what Li Zhiyang was thinking, "The size of the naval aviation force will increase significantly in the next few years, and a large number of combat aircraft will be required.
While simplifying the organization, we will not reduce the number of fighter jets in each aviation brigade.
That is to say, after reducing the number of Flamingo, we will increase the order quantity of the other three fighter jets accordingly, and the total order will not decrease.
This will allow you to open one less production line, reduce the number of workers, and reduce the trouble of purchasing materials.
Of course, the most important thing is that the Flamingo is the cheapest of the four fighters, right? "
Li Zhiyang immediately laughed.
"Of course, your opinions make sense, I will consider them."
Tan Renhao also laughed.
"So, when will the new plane be able to take to the sky?"
"One month, two months at most."
Li Zhiyang closed the file and said, "The five verification aircraft of the 'Sparrowhawk' fighter will be launched at the end of the month, and the verification aircraft of the 'Waterfowl' dive bomber, which is the slowest in progress, will be completed next month.
The test flight mission has been arranged, and we can ensure that the first phase of the test flight mission will be completed before the end of this year.
This is the fastest progress achieved at the request of the Navy Command."
"Then let us all wish for good results from the test flight!"
Li Zhiyang immediately poured two glasses of wine which didn't taste very good, as a pre-celebration of success.
In fact, this is also to congratulate Shenfei for successfully passing the first round of inspections by the Navy Equipment Technology Office.
A few days later, Sergeant Du Xing returned, and Tan Renhao no longer needed to get his own meals or wash his own clothes. His work and life returned to normal.
Du Xing was very grateful to Tan Renhao. His mother was seriously ill, and he used the money given by Tan Renhao to send his mother to the best hospital in Lianyungang. Then he asked his sister to help take care of his mother, and he hurried back.
"Is the old man okay?"
Tan Renhao has deep feelings for this adjutant.
"Fortunately, the doctor said that I will be able to recover after two months of rest."
As soon as Du Xing came back, he was busy helping Tan Renhao wash clothes, even his underwear. "Captain, my mother asked me to thank you. Without your help, I'm afraid..."
"Don't say anything unlucky. I hope the old man is okay."
Tan Renhao handed a cigarette to Du Xing.
Du Xing looked at Tan Renhao with gratitude. He also felt that it was a blessing to have such a boss.
Over the next ten days, Tan Renhao was busy supervising the test flight preparations for the Sparrowhawk fighter.
The factory has its own test pilots.
These test pilots are all retired pilots from the Navy or Army Aviation, or are specially assigned. Each of them is a true top pilot with an average flight time of more than 2,500 hours, and can adapt to any flight situation.
Test flight is the most critical experiment before an emerging combat aircraft is officially finalized.
What kind of performance a combat aircraft can achieve, how strong its combat capability is, and how high its reliability is will all be revealed during test flights.
The entire test flight was divided into two stages.
The first stage is the test flight of the verification aircraft. The main purpose is to find out possible problems and to find out the problems through test flight. The design department will then make small-scale modifications to the fighter (if the problem is serious, the entire design plan will be overturned or even cancelled) to improve the performance of the fighter.
After this stage of flight tests, the fighter will be finalized and the first batch of production models will be manufactured. Then test flights will be carried out before it is equipped to the troops to fully determine the fighter's performance, such as its maximum flight altitude, maximum flight speed, stall critical point, maximum climb rate, turning rate, etc.
These data will be handed over to the troops equipped with the new fighter jets, so that the troops can master the performance and flight quality of the new fighter jets as quickly as possible and avoid accidents caused by excessive operation during training and combat use.
What Tan Renhao needs to supervise is the first phase of test flights, which is the key to determining whether a new fighter jet is successfully designed and whether it can meet the design standards.
On the morning of the first test flight, Tan Renhao got up very early. The test flight was scheduled for seven o'clock, and he had to get there at half past six.
"Captain!"
Du Xing rushed in and said, "It seems that Commander Liao Hanxiang is here."
Tan Renhao was shocked and wondered if he had heard it wrong.
"General Liao Hanxiang?"
"Yes, with a young woman, and the car is parked outside."
Before Tan Renhao could react, Liao Hanxiang's voice came over.
"Second Lieutenant Tan Renhao should not be Captain anymore!"
Liao Hanxiang appeared at the door. "Why, you just got up? Today is an important day, you won't be late, will you?"
Tan Renhao laughed awkwardly. He had already seen Liao Yingyu standing behind Liao Hanxiang and smiling at him.
"Hurry up and act like a soldier. Don't be so fussy. I really want to see the new fighter planes as soon as possible!"
Liao Hanxiang walked in with a smile, and then said to Du Xing: "Sergeant, go outside and get four breakfasts and bring them to eat on the way. You haven't had breakfast either, have you?"
Du Xing smiled awkwardly and hurried to the hotel restaurant to buy breakfast.
Tan Renhao didn't dare to say any more. Although there was still an hour before the test flight, looking at General Liao Hanxiang's expression, he was probably unwilling to wait even for a minute.
Fifteen minutes later, the four arrived at the apron at the south end of the runway.
Several technicians were doing the final inspection of the "Sparrowhawk" verification aircraft No. 01. The pilot who was going to take part in the test flight had not appeared yet. He was probably discussing with engineers and other colleagues in the pilot lounge at the back about things that must be paid attention to during the test flight.
Li Zhiyang also rushed over quickly and immediately went to meet General Liao Hanxiang. Only then did Tan Renhao breathe a sigh of relief.
There is nothing wrong with General Liao Hanxiang coming to inspect the test flight work. The Sparrowhawk will be the main fighter of the Fifth Fleet in the future. As the commander of the Fifth Fleet, it is very normal for him to care about the fleet's equipment.
However, what Tan Renhao couldn't understand was why Liao Yingyu followed him?
"Are you surprised?"
Liao Yingyu smiled and walked towards the lawn next to her. "Dad is on vacation. I'm his personal nurse, so I followed him here."
Tan Renhao frowned slightly, then sat down on the lawn.
It is obvious that Liao Yingyu came here not only because she is General Liao Hanxiang's nurse.
"Why, you're not happy to see me?"
Liao Yingyu sat down next to Tan Renhao.
"No, it isn't."
Tan Renhao smiled awkwardly, "I was just surprised. I didn't expect you to come."
"That's fine. If you dare to say yes, I'll tell my dad about it!"
Liao Yingyu laughed evilly. "But you are still an interesting person. You have been in the navy for only a few months and you have jumped directly to captain. I heard that Marshal Sagittin promoted you personally. How are you? You must have missed me recently, right?"
Tan Renhao almost choked on a piece of biscuit in his mouth. He originally thought that Liao Yingyu would ask him how his work was going, but he never expected that the question would come so directly and suddenly.
Seeing Tan Renhao's painful expression, Liao Yingyu smiled even more happily.
"I was just kidding you. Look how scared you are. Am I the White Bone Demon? Will I eat you in one bite?"
"Of course not. In fact, I really missed you. Are you satisfied now?"
Tan Renhao made a face.
Liao Yingyu suddenly blushed and lowered her head.
Tan Renhao also realized that his opening remarks, which were mostly joking, were indeed a bit too explicit, so he didn't dare to continue.
The roar of the plane engine eased the awkward situation between the two.
Tan Renhao also ran over immediately.
The test pilot had already entered the cockpit of the fighter plane, and two technicians helped him start the engine.
The huge airflow generated by the propeller blew away several wooden boxes stacked behind the fighter plane.
When the test pilot released the brakes, the Sparrowhawk slowly drove towards the runway, and the first test flight of the Imperial Navy's new fighter began.
