Chapter 527

Inside the command center, the brightly lit space had not a single extraneous sound.

On the huge electronic display, real-time jumping showed the fighter's various core parameters, green indicator lights joined together like a confidence lit for this tough battle.

Lin Shengli still stood directly in front of the display, hands behind his back, spine ramrod straight, only the tense blue veins at his temples leaked his inner pressure.

His gaze swept over every data window, from the power system's thrust curve to the avionics system's communication link, then to the real-time changes in meteorological data, refusing to miss any detail.

"Power Group, re-check the engine idle condition once more, ensure thrust output is flawless." Lin Shengli's voice was low and clear, transmitted via microphone to the Power Group station.

"Received! Re-checking now!" the Power Group Leader's voice responded immediately, fingertips rapidly operating the console, engine data on the screen rolling and refreshing.

A few seconds later, he reported again: "Report to Chief Commander, engine idle is stable, thrust output error is zero, status normal!"

Lin Shengli gave a slight nod, his gaze turning toward the fire control system console.

Lin Zhengpeng was bent over, fingertips rapidly tapping the dense keys, performing the final closed-loop verification of the fire control system. On the auxiliary screen before him, the radar simulation targeting interface repeatedly rehearsed lock procedures for different airspace environments, the red targeting box precisely enclosing the virtual target without any deviation.

"Brother Peng, the fire control system and radar linkage show no abnormality, data synchronization delay is under 0.001 seconds, fully meeting the test flight standard."

Beside him, the young researcher Xiao Wang lowered his voice to report, his notebook already filled with dense data, each set double-checked.

Lin Zhengpeng didn't lift his head, merely grunted "uh," fingertips still continuously operating the keys.

He knew that any minor fault during the test flight could trigger deadly danger, especially the fire control system, as the fighter's "core combat power," must be flawless.

The deliberately slowed speech from his earlier report still echoed in his ears, his father's trusting gaze vivid before him; he took a deep breath, dismissed all distractions, and locked his eyes firmly on the data stream on the screen.

Not far away, veteran engineer Li Gong wore reading glasses, holding a paper parameter sheet, comparing each item with the avionics data on the screen.

His pen lightly tapped the paper, occasionally pausing to annotate a few notes, his expression focused as if treating a rare treasure.

Nearby, the young engineers each performed their duties—some stared at meteorological data, some monitored the communication link—everyone's nerves stretched to the limit.

"Five minutes until boarding!" the timer's voice broke the brief silence, making the command center's atmosphere tense again.

Zhang Qiang had already walked to the fighter's cockpit; ground crew quickly checked the canopy seal for him, confirmed it was correct, then helped adjust his helmet, signaling he could board.

Zhang Qiang bent to enter the cockpit, his motion smooth and practiced, quickly completing the initial cockpit setup, then raised his hand toward the command center in a "ready" gesture.

Lin Zhengpeng's gaze moved from the screen, through the glass curtain wall toward that silver-gray fighter.

At this moment, the J-20 was like a poised eagle, silently resting on the runway, yet already exuding an aura of overlooking the heavens.

He recalled Su Qing's gentle reminder before departure, thought of family perhaps praying for them now; a warmth rose in his chest, his originally tense nerves eased slightly, but his gaze grew firmer.

Lin Shengli seemed to sense his son's gaze, turned his head and glanced at him.

Father and son said nothing, merely exchanged a look.

In that look lay the father's trust in his son, the son's admiration for his father, and both shared confidence in the test flight's success.

No words needed; each understood the responsibility and mission on their shoulders.

"One minute left until boarding! All systems maintain alert status, data synchronized in real time!" Lin Shengli's voice rang out again, his tone gaining decisiveness.

Inside the command center, everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the display.

The fighter's auxiliary power hum gradually steadied, the canopy slowly closed, isolating the test pilot from the outside world, and also launching a new chapter for Daxia's aviation endeavor.

The ten-minute countdown was about to end, the J-20's engines had begun preheating, the low rumble gradually becoming deep and powerful.

A heart-stirring test flight was about to officially commence on this Gobi desert.

Wind and sand still ravaged the test field, yet could not disperse the belief and hope gathered here.

Lin Zhengpeng redirected his gaze to the screen, lightly placed his fingertips on the control stick, ready for full‑duration monitoring.

Lin Shengli tightly stared at the core data on the display, silently chanting in his heart: "For the country, for the team, and even more for the family far away who worry, this must succeed!"

"All stations, note the test flight countdown: ten, nine, eight…" Inside the command center, the timer's voice was clear and urgent, each number striking like a hammer on everyone's hearts.

The console lights illuminated each tense face, even breathing deliberately softened, fearful of disturbing this critical moment.

Lin Shengli stood at the very front, hands behind his back, knuckles whitening from exertion.

He deliberately slowed his breathing, his gaze like a hawk's locked onto the jumping power‑parameter curve on the display, his mind flashing through years of R&D—from initial blueprint design to component tuning, from countless simulation tests to solving each technical hurdle, every step arduous yet resolute.

Test pilot Zhang Qiang sat in the J-20 cockpit, both hands firmly gripping the control stick, fingertips contacting the cold metal surface, conveying a familiar feel.

He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, cleared all distractions, then opened his eyes to find his gaze sharp as a knife, looking through the side window toward the far end of the runway.

The Gobi wind bearing sand battered the canopy, leaving fine traces, yet it in no way affected his focus.

Lin Shengli's steady command came through the headset, like a calming pill, and he replied in a low voice:

"Received, throttle valve pushed to takeoff position, requesting takeoff!"

At the moment of response, he exerted slight pressure with his fingertips, feeling the subtle feedback from the control stick, his body already prepared for any sudden contingency.

"Cleared for takeoff!" Lin Shengli's voice had no hesitation, his eyes locked on the power‑parameter curve on the display.

The instant the order was given, the J-20's engine erupted with a deafening roar, the previously low rumble suddenly soaring like thunder rolling over the Gobi, or like a tiger's roar, highly penetrating.

The silver‑gray fuselage shuddered slightly, the tail spewing dazzling orange‑red flames, their edges tinged with faint blue halos; the hot airflow swept up runway sand instantly, forming two swirling sand veils like yellow dragons tightly trailing the fighter.

The fighter began to taxi forward slowly, speed gradually increasing, tire‑runway friction emitting a piercing sound that intertwined with the engine's roar, echoing endlessly across the open test field.

Inside the command center, everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the display and the fighter beyond the glass curtain wall.

The huge electronic screen was split into multiple windows, clearly showing the fighter's taxi speed, engine thrust, aircraft attitude and other core parameters; the green numbers kept jumping, tugging at everyone's heartstrings.

Lin Zhengpeng was bent over, eyes locked on the fire control system's dedicated display, fingertips hovering above the console, slightly tensed, ready to respond to any anomaly.

Sweat beads at his temples slid down his cheeks, dropping onto his chest uniform, spreading a small damp patch, yet he was oblivious.

Beside him, young researcher Xiao Wang gripped his notebook tightly, pen tip hovering above the page, eyes locked on the screen, even blinking becoming extra cautious, fearing to miss any critical datum.

Not far off, veteran engineer Li Gong wore reading glasses, one hand holding a paper parameter comparison sheet, the other using a pen to quickly mark it, each datum needing double verification to ensure no deviation.

"Speed on target, lift normal!" the Aviation Electronics Group Leader's voice carried a barely perceptible excitement.

Zhang Qiang clearly felt the fighter's lift growing stronger, the nose beginning to rise slightly; he hesitated not, decisively pulling back the control stick.