Chapter 119

Air Force doesn't want it, because there's no money, Marconi's avionics contract has been signed, but we can't not buy it, otherwise it will bring a series of problems, so the best way to solve these problems is to sell the aircraft!

The Air Force no longer needs to spend money, Marconi can make money, and the predicament of Factory 132 is also resolved!

"Comrade Qin Miao, do you have a way to sell our aircraft?"

Hearing the voice of a tall, thin old engineer, Qin Miao looked over and saw the other's eyes full of expectation.

"Well, I'll do my best. We're now pursuing a market economy, which is treading a path no one has taken before; difficulties are sure to arise, and not a few of them. But I believe that as long as we boldly move forward, we will surely overcome all difficulties!"

"Look, everyone in the room is complaining, nobody thinking of a solution; Comrade Qin Miao arrives and immediately starts thinking of a solution for us!" Director Zhang also broke into a smile.

"That's right, in our country's move to a market economy, we can't do without pioneering, enterprising people like Comrade Qin Miao!"

"Comrade Qin Miao, are you interested in coming to our AVIC Technology?"

In the meeting room, the earlier gloom had already dissipated, and everyone's face showed a smile.

Can Qin Miao sell the aircraft? Yes, he definitely can!

After all, a few months ago he had just sold the Truck Cannon and made friends with Yue Tuo; now he is the top arms dealer in the East! Northern Industry treats him like a bodhisattva, and this AVIC Technology also wants to poach him.

"Look at your little ambition!" Lin Lao glanced at everyone present with a full-face smile: "The problem of Factory 132 is solved; that's just a small matter. What we need to discuss next is the big issue. Fortunately, everyone is here, especially Old Tu, so let's continue the meeting. San Shui, you go on!"

Qin Miao blinked: "Old Lin, why is it me again?"

"Give you kid a chance to perform, come up quickly!"

"Alright..."

Qin Miao stood at the side of the meeting room's presidium, at the designated speaking podium: "Leaders, I have some immature ideas about improving the J-7; I hope you will criticize and correct them."

Old Tu widened his eyes: "This youngster actually wants to improve the J-7? How would that be done?"

"First, change the nose intake to a rib intake, freeing up the nose to install a large-diameter radar..."

"Wait! What is a rib intake?"

"It means moving the layout of the two side intakes downward by fifteen degrees; viewed from the front of the nose, that would be the cheeks on both sides."

This is absolutely a stroke of genius!

What Qin Miao is saying now is, of course, the Super Seven project of the 1980s; back then Old Ba and Factory 132 hit it off immediately, wanting to modify the J-7, and this modification was no small change: the nose intake was changed to side intakes, the engine was swapped, lifespan increased, and Western avionics were installed...

At the time, Western avionics and engines were to be used, so Old Ba also approached Grumman; the aircraft experts there waved a hand and moved the intake duct downward!

The drawback of side intakes is that during high‑maneuver turns, one side's intake can be blocked by the fuselage; in severe cases this can cause engine stall or even flameout. The drawback of belly intakes is the high demand on the runway; if debris is sucked in and damages the engine, that's it—game over.

This rib intake combines the advantages of both: it is lower than side intakes, so it won't be blocked by the fuselage during turns, and higher than belly intakes, greatly reducing the chance of sucking in debris.

The Super Seven project progressed slowly; after 1989 Old Ba gave up, but Old Tu persisted, and since the U. S. didn't support it, he turned to the old Maoists (i. e., Russia), swapping the engine for their RD33; eventually it came to fruition and was given a resounding name: the JF-17 Thunder!

Looking back at this project, it's sigh‑inducing—twenty years to forge a sword!

As for the fruits of the Super Seven project, most were transferred to Guizhou Aviation's Mountain Eagle trainer, featuring rib intake and double delta wing...

Since I've come here and gotten involved, of course I must push this project forward!

Having said that, Qin Miao stopped, because he saw everyone below wearing thoughtful expressions; a few minutes later.

Slap!

"Excellent!"

"Old Liu, slap your own thigh!"

Laughter broke out in the meeting room, but Old Tu's gaze remained complex.

"The J-7 used a delta wing to pursue high‑altitude, high‑speed performance, but times have changed and dogfighting ability is now more important, so the wing also needs to be replaced, and at low cost. I think we can keep the inner wing unchanged, reduce the sweep of the outer section, thus creating a double‑delta wing structure, and pair it with leading‑edge maneuvering flaps to increase agility."

This double‑delta wing was researched by Professor Sabernan of Northwestern Polytechnical University; after equipping the J-7 with it, its maneuverability jumped significantly, and it was even selected by the August 1st Aerobatic Team, giving splendid performances at various air shows.

Everyone fell into thought again.

After a while, Qin Miao heard a sigh.

"Old Tu, what's wrong?"

"Comrade Qin Miao, I understand your ideas: freeing the nose is to install advanced radar and avionics, changing the wing is to boost maneuverability. Without even mentioning whether Factory 132 has the capability, just these modifications would increase drag; if we lack an engine with sufficient thrust, it would all be for nothing."

No matter how the Eastern aviation industry develops, it will always face the difficulty of aircraft engines! There's no shortcut! Look at the WS-10 turbofan on the later J-10—that took twenty years to hone; as for now… the domestic reserve of advanced engine technology is essentially zero!

"Moreover, we domestically lack advanced airborne radar; freeing up the nose is useless if we still have to purchase radar abroad, which is another huge expense…"

Now undertaking a Marconi avionics project—just a radar rangefinder—already consumes huge funds; if we free up the nose but later lack airborne radar, wouldn't that be wasted effort?

"Old Tu, we just said we should emancipate our thinking—when problems arise, we find ways to solve them—but you're scared of wolves ahead and tigers behind; can you really accomplish great things?" Lao Lin chimed in from the side.

Old Tu gave Lao Lin a complex look: "How much funding is the Air Force providing for this improvement project?"

Lao Lin instantly shut his mouth.

Director Zhang, meanwhile, calmly looked at Qin Miao: "Comrade Qin Miao, don't keep us in suspense; since you can propose this project, you must have already worked out the investment and customers, right?"

Qin Miao nodded: "Once this promotion succeeds, Factory 132 will recover… cough cough, it will be able to escape its current predicament, make a tidy sum, and then we can go abroad to seek sponsorship and partners—this project will then get off the ground."