Chapter 528: Test Flight Successful!

The J-20's nose lifted slowly, its wings slicing the airflow with a faint whine; as lift steadily increased, the fuselage, like an eagle breaking free of its bonds, surged skyward, shooting straight into the clouds.

In an instant, the jet broke through the low-altitude dust layer, its body reflecting a cold, brilliant sheen in the sunlight, while the airflow on either side of the wings was cleaved into clear streaks.

Zhang Qiang gently adjusted the control stick, the aircraft's attitude growing ever more stable as it flew toward the designated airspace, while the command center's data reports streamed continuously into his headset, each 'normal' making him feel more at ease.

"The aircraft is airborne! Altitude continues to rise, speed stable!"

"Avionics communications are normal, data transmission has no delay!"

"Fire control system is tracking in sync, radar detection range normal!"

Report after report came in, and the tense atmosphere in the command center finally eased somewhat.

Several young researchers couldn't help clenching their fists, eyes full of excitement and pride; one instinctively muttered 'Well done,' only to be gently pulled back by a nearby colleague, realizing his lapse, he quickly covered his mouth and continued to stare intently at the screen.

Lin Shengli's tense lips finally twitched slightly; he raised a hand to rub his sore eye sockets, fingertips brushing the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, gazing at the shrinking blip of the aircraft on the display, his heart filled with mixed emotions——

Years of painstaking effort, countless days and nights of overcoming obstacles—from the lines on blueprints to the jet soaring before us—had endured too many setbacks and challenges; now all that effort promised reward, this was not just a jet's takeoff but the starting point for Daxia's aviation industry to reach new heights.

"Dad, the fire control system has completed its initial airborne calibration; all parameters are within normal ranges, ready to execute the preset test items at any time."

Lin Zhengpeng's voice remained steady, yet a hint of relief could be detected upon close listening.

He had just monitored the fire control data throughout the jet's ascent, from radar power‑on to signal stabilization, from pre‑activation of target tracking to parameter synchronization; he personally oversaw each step, and each steady reading eased his anxiety a little.

He lifted his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and as his fingertips brushed the control panel he could clearly feel the warm trace left by his tension on the metal surface.

Lin Shengli gave a slight nod and issued the order over the intercom: "Zhang Qiang, carry out the preset test items, maintain the aircraft's attitude, and report flight status at any time."

"Received! Entering the first test item, low‑altitude pass!" Zhang Qiang's voice came through the headset, accompanied by the clear sound of airflow.

On the display, the aircraft's blip swiftly adjusted its heading, diving toward the test field like an arrow released from a bow.

Moments later, a silver‑gray silhouette shot across the runway with a sharp whistle, flying so low it seemed it could skim the command center's roof; the airflow beneath the wings kicked up vast clouds of dust, forming a brief sand wave on the runway.

Everyone in the command center instinctively moved closer to the glass curtain wall, eyes locked on the jet's silhouette; the piercing whine of the wings slicing the air made their eardrums tingle, yet no one dared look away.

Ground crew on the field halted their tasks, looked up at the sky, eyes filled with shock and pride; watching the aircraft—born of everyone's effort—so agile and stable, many were moved to tears.

"Low‑altitude pass completed, aircraft attitude stable, no abnormal vibration!" Zhang Qiang's report came through promptly.

Lin Zhengpeng swiftly manipulated the control panel to pull up all operational data of the fire control system in the low‑altitude complex airflow environment—including radar detection range, target lock‑on response speed, and signal‑jamming resistance—and compared each item against the preset standards.

His gaze flicked rapidly between the screen and the parameter sheet at hand, his fingertips occasionally tapping the keyboard to call up more detailed data‑analysis curves.

"Report to Chief Commander: the fire control system operates normally in the low‑altitude complex airflow environment; radar lock‑on accuracy is unaffected, signal‑jamming resistance meets standards, and all indicators exceed the preset standards!"

As he reported, his voice gained confidence—this was the assurance born of his team's R&D achievements, and also an acknowledgment of the aircraft's performance.

Lin Shengli nodded, scanned the parameter windows of each system, confirmed all data were stable, then issued a solemn order:

"Proceed to the second test item, supersonic cruise test!"

After the order was given, he turned to the assistant engineer beside him and said, "Re‑check the preset parameters and emergency plan for the supersonic cruise phase, making sure everything is flawless."

The assistant engineer immediately acknowledged, turned, and dove into the tense verification work.

At this moment, the J‑20 pulled up again, breaking through ten‑thousand‑meter altitude, its engine roar intensifying, a deep, powerful sound.

The speed readout on the display kept jumping—from subsonic to near‑sonic, then breaking the sound barrier, with the Mach number finally stabilizing at 1.5.

At this moment, the airflow around the aircraft, due to breaking the sound barrier, formed a faint vapor cone; in the sunlight it resembled a transient, half‑transparent mother‑of‑pearl, fleeting yet breathtakingly beautiful.

"Supersonic cruise stable, power output even, airframe structure shows no stress anomalies!" the Power Group Leader's voice rang with excitement.

Lin Zhengpeng stared intently at the screen; the fire control system's radar was scanning the surrounding airspace in real time at maximum range, its multi‑target tracking function remaining active, with multiple virtual target blips on the display locked precisely, without the slightest deviation.

He lightly tapped the control panel with his fingertips, fine‑tuning the fire control system's sensitivity to ensure it would respond instantly to commands in supersonic flight.

He knew the upcoming tests would be even more demanding—including high‑difficulty maneuver trials and simulated weapon launches—each placing extremely high demands on the fire control system and the aircraft's overall performance.

But seeing the steady data before him, feeling the united spirit in the command center, and thinking of his family's hopes far away, his conviction grew stronger—this aircraft, forged from the team's effort, would surely fulfill its mission and write a new glorious chapter for Daxia's aviation industry.

The wind at the test field still howled, kicking up sand that rolled across the runway, yet it could not drown out the jet's engine roar nor the focused atmosphere inside the command center.

At this moment, the wind's wail seemed to merge with the jet's roar, sounding the overture to Daxia aviation's breakthrough.

Inside the command center, lights illuminated every focused face; their gazes followed the silver‑gray aircraft soaring through the sky, eyes brimming with anticipation and pride.

Lin Shengli once again looked at the aircraft's blip on the display, silently making a wish: may this test flight be a complete success, and may Daxia's jets soar through broader skies, safeguarding homeland peace.

Lin Zhengpeng continued to monitor the fire control data, his fingertips steady on the control panel, ready at any moment to respond to the upcoming test items and meet new challenges.