180: Chapter 180 Carrier-based Aircraft Test 3

Wang Wei felt the fuselage begin to vibrate slightly, and then the scenery around him slowly lowered. He knew this was the secondary engine starting to work.

The carrier-based aircraft was rising vertically. The next second, Wang Wei's body slammed back against the seat, the aircraft began to accelerate, and it shot diagonally into the high altitude.

On the base's flight control tower, Commander Li held a Telescope with his mouth slightly agape. It took him a while to come to his senses; he lowered the Telescope and turned to look at Academician Chu.

"Academician, Academician Chu, can this carrier-based aircraft even change its paint job automatically?"

"Yes, nano-programmed coating. You can change it to whatever color you feel like; it can even change into those flashy colors for you. Stealth coating is also possible—it only takes a dozen seconds!"

Commander Li didn't even have time to reply; he turned back and picked up the Telescope again to find the three carrier-based aircraft.

Compared to Commander Li's slightly agape mouth, Qi Gang was now so shocked that his jaw was about to hit the floor. He pointed his finger at the empty runway and turned to face Fu Lei.

"Ol', Ol' Fu, this is, this is just too damn cool! This carrier-based aircraft can actually change its paint job automatically!!! Look at those three colors the Naval Air Force changed into; they're so flashy. They're just doing it on purpose to piss us off! I regret it to death; I should have gone to find Commander Li."

After saying this, Qi Gang hammered his own chest and shook his head repeatedly.

"Gangzi, your focus is really different. Compared to changing the paint job, don't you think the momentum of its takeoff is even more badass?"

"It also has hidden secondary engines that can adjust direction. The takeoff speed is too fast. I've studied the Americans' F35B vertical takeoff and landing fighter and Great Britain's Harrier; compared to this, their speed is like a jalopy."

"And it maintains its attitude so well; the entire takeoff sequence is smooth and seamless. How did the Naval Air Force achieve that in such a short time?"

Fu Lei said excitedly. His personality was relatively calm, and he wouldn't easily have emotional fluctuations, at least not on his face, but today he had broken his composure.

Moreover, they didn't know that this carrier-based aircraft was equipped with an automatic voice intelligent system.

"It's already this flashy on the outside, what must it be like on the inside? It's driving me crazy... Where did those brats fly off to? Fly back and let me feast my eyes again."

After Qi Gang finished speaking, he stood on tiptoe and craned his neck to watch. Fu Lei looked around and discovered that everyone at the scene was in the same posture, and he almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

High in the sky, Wang Wei had already rendezvoused with the other two carrier-based aircraft. He looked left and right—sky-blue paint on the left, bright yellow paint on the right—and Wang Wei immediately laughed out loud.

"Feilong One, establish squad communication, connect to Feilong Two and Three."

"Yes! Captain Wang Wei."

Very quickly, Feilong One reported that the squad communication was established.

"I'm telling you, Two, Three, your two colors are just too flashy. Be careful, or the base leaders will scold you later. My color is the authentic one."

"One, who cares? Let them scold us. Anyway, I've had my fun today. Two will be with me from now on. I'll get anxious with anyone who tries to snatch it from me. I want to go roam outer space with it."

"Two is right. I think the same thing. I say, we've taken a turn around; should we head back to the base? We can't keep the brothers from the Air Force waiting too long."

"Almost forgot. Three, I've realized you're a sly brat, but I like it. Haha."

Wang Wei was speechless at these two guys. Two out of three votes had been cast, so he had no choice but to follow the crowd.

"Fine. On the way back, we'll test a few tactical maneuvers, and then do a flyby of the base."

"Alrighty."

In the blue sky, the three red, yellow, and blue carrier-based aircraft dragged three long shadows as they headed straight for the Air Force base.

An imposing momentum!

Inside the Air Force base, Qi Gang didn't know how many circles he had drawn on the ground. After the three carrier-based aircraft flew out, they disappeared from sight.

"They're back, they're back!"

A sudden commotion broke out in the crowd. Upon hearing this, Qi Gang stood up abruptly. The three carrier-based aircraft were approaching the base quickly in an oblique column formation. In the blink of an eye, they arrived before everyone. Qi Gang only felt them flash before his eyes, and then they were gone again.

"What the hell? Those brats, just you wait until they land, I..."

"This speed, at least Mach 3." Before Qi Gang could finish cursing, he was abruptly interrupted by Fu Lei. Qi Gang's hand remained frozen in the air for quite a while.

"Ol' Fu, what did you just say?"

"Their speed just now, if my estimation is correct, reached at least Mach 3."

Just as Fu Lei finished speaking, the sound of the three carrier-based aircraft breaking through the air came again. In a blink, they flew back again, like a mischievous child, poking their heads in at the doorway and then going back, and then poking their heads in again.

"Confirmed this time!"

"This, oh my goodness, no, nobody stop me, I'm going to find the Commander."

In the command tower, Chu Ge was being "interrogated" by Commander Li.

"Academician Chu, no wonder the factory and the military have been tight-lipped about the performance, data, and such of this carrier-based aircraft."

"You have given me a huge surprise."

Commander Li finally decided to put down his Telescope and turned to speak to Chu Ge behind him. Chu Ge was currently still staring at the real-time speed of the carrier-based aircraft on the radar.

"I guess the military is afraid you'll fight again?" Chu Ge lifted his head and smiled as he replied to Commander Li.

"Haha, I've decided. From now on, whatever new equipment Academician Chu develops, no matter what it is, I'll snatch it first."

"That's not my business; Commander Li, feel free to snatch it, haha. Their speed has dropped; they're probably going to land. Shall we go, Commander Li, and get some fresh air outside?"

"Alright!"

The two of them finished speaking and left the tower, walking towards the runway.

By the time Chu Ge and the others reached the runway, Wang Wei and the others had already landed. With the secondary engines, who would still land on the runway? It was all vertical takeoff and landing.

Chu Ge suddenly felt that those wheels on the carrier-based aircraft might just become decorative vases in the future. He was considering whether to replace the tire-style landing gear on the later carrier-based aircraft with strut-style ones.

This would probably save some costs. There was no helping it; this carrier-based aircraft was truly not cheap. Chu Ge had calculated that if this aerospace carrier were fully equipped with 500 carrier-based aircraft, the cost of the aircraft could be amortized. Even so, the cost of a single one reached over 2 billion huaxia currency.

This price was even significantly higher than the F-22. It was fortunate that this was in Huaxia; if it were placed in the US, Chu Ge estimated that this carrier-based aircraft project would likely fail and skyrocket to an astronomical price.

Wang Wei and the others got off the aircraft and were still complaining to the test personnel, grumbling that they were only allowed to fly for a little over half an hour before they were made to return to base.

The person in charge kept explaining, saying something about needing to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the carrier-based aircraft before it could fly again.

Chu Ge and Commander Li looked at each other and smiled.

"Don't blame them. It's just that I don't know how to fly a plane; otherwise, I would want to go up too."

Chu Ge shook his head helplessly.

"Academician Chu, have you forgotten the aircraft you designed? Do you think this carrier-based aircraft still has such high requirements for piloting skills?"

The factory chief engineer next to him heard Chu Ge sighing and hurriedly stood up to remind him.

"That's right, how did I forget that? Just let it fly fully automatically, and I'll be responsible for talking big, haha. Commander Li, I'll go along with the pilots for the next round."

"Nonsense! Academician Chu, you better stay put on the ground. If Old Chen and the big leaders find out about this, I'll be skinned alive."