I am an industrial worker during the War of Resistance

Chapter 87 The fledgling eagles preparing to leave the nest

"Students, I think you all know by now what happened in North China last night."

This was something we expected.

There's no way to reason with those devils, the Japanese devils.

The so-called League of Nations is nothing but a joke; it's just a bunch of wolves and tigers in tuxedos, devouring the world's food.

In this jungle world, the only one who can save us is ourselves.

Only when we become truly strong will those bloodthirsty beasts put on their hypocritical masks and speak to us as equals.

Dignity cannot be begged for.

Peace cannot be begged for.

If we want dignity and peace, we can only fight with the weapons in our hands.

We'll exchange it with our blood and lives.

This is the rule of this world.

There is no other way.

Therefore, students, we need to speed up our work.

We must come up with the fighter jet that is currently the most suitable for us in the shortest possible time to ensure the safety of our airspace and our comrades.

The pilot selection and training process at headquarters began on the very day our aviation team was established.

It has been going on for ten months now.

However, they still haven't seen our own planes appear.

Right now, they can only conduct simulation training and physical training on the ground under the guidance of our limited number of veteran pilots.

Although they never said anything to us, I knew they were very anxious.

They wanted to get our own planes into the battlefield as quickly as possible to eliminate those Japanese devils and all our enemies.

We now have no way out.

We must fight this battle with our backs against the wall, and get the planes we've been preparing for so long flying within a month.

Students, do you have confidence?

Chen Changzai didn't sleep a wink last night; his eyes were bloodshot.

However, he is currently in a state of extreme excitement.

During the pre-battle mobilization for this decisive battle against the new aircraft.

His serious voice was hoarse yet extremely penetrating.

After he uttered the last word, it landed on the ground.

The twenty-eight members of the aerospace laboratory standing in front of him answered in unison: "Yes, yes, yes, we'll fight to the death, we'll fight to the death."

Looking at the twenty-eight people in front of me, their faces filled with anger and determination.

Chen Changzai said, "Okay, let's get started."

Su Zhihong.

"Here!" Su Zhihong stepped forward, stood at attention, and shouted back.

"Su Zhihong, you and your engine team will work with me for the next fifteen days to complete the final testing of the V8 engine we are currently developing."

"Yes, mission accomplished." Su Zhihong saluted Chen Changzai before returning to his unit.

"Hongshan," Chen Changzai continued.

A young man in his twenties stepped forward from the front of the line.

"Hongshan, your fuselage structure group needs to expedite communication with the aluminum plant, machinery plant, and woodworking plant."

Final inspection of the aluminum-magnesium alloy I-beams of the fuselage, and machining of the aluminum-magnesium alloy propeller.
Final adjustments to the three-point landing gear and tire matching.

There are also woodworking factories, phenolic resin pressed board production and processing, and manufacturing of main wings, horizontal tail, vertical tail and tail rudder.

I'll only give you fifteen days for these three things.

Do you have any questions?

“No problem, I guarantee I’ll complete the mission,” Hong Shan replied firmly.

"Okay, back to the team," Chen Changzai said.

"Yes!" Hongshan stood at attention, saluted, and then took a step back to rejoin his unit.

Chen Changzai then called out "Yang Weijun".

Yang Weijun stepped forward, saying "Here."

"Can your firearms team complete the final modification work on the 7.92mm general-purpose machine gun within fifteen days?"

Could you get the arsenal to produce a qualified aircraft machine gun within fifteen days?

"Get me to understand the aircraft machine gun feeding system and stabilization system, which I've been working on for almost two months now. Can you reduce the failure rate?"

"Yes, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Yang Weijun shouted loudly, his face flushed red.

Xue Yaozong

"Here!" Xue Yaozong stepped forward and stepped out of the line.

“Xue Yaozong, I’ll give you fifteen days. During these fifteen days, you’ll stay with the electrical group.”

Their joint development with the headquarters radio factory of a 10-kilometer wireless telegraph machine was very close to success. (Our army established a radio maintenance team after 1927.)

Later, it gradually grew and established a radio factory in 1938, which was able to produce a small number of radios.

(Due to the issue of the main player, both the timeline and production capacity were brought forward.)
In these fifteen days, I must see a wireless communication system that can be installed on the plane.

Can you do it?

"Yes, I guarantee I'll complete the mission," Xue Yaozong replied, standing at attention and saluting.

After assigning tasks, Chen Changzai glanced at the soldiers standing in front of him.

He said, "Fifteen days. This is the last amount of time I can give you."

Twenty days from now, we must get this plane into the sky.

Thirty days from now, it must be able to play an initial role in protecting our airspace.

A full-scale war has begun, and we no longer have much time.

Comrades, let's keep going!

After speaking, Chen Changzai also saluted his students.

After returning the greetings, the students rushed off to their jobs.

Engine laboratory workshop.

Chen Changzai observed that, starting in late May, he and his students had been working together on the newly developed V-type engine.

If you do the math, it's been exactly a month and a half since today.

The results of his work over the past month and a half are currently displayed on his workbench.

This is an aluminum-magnesium alloy cylinder block and cylinder head, chromium-molybdenum alloy cast iron cylinder liners, aluminum-silicon cemented carbide pistons, and chrome-plated piston rings.

V8 type, 120 mm bore, 120 mm stroke, mechanical multi-point fuel injection, dual electronic spark plug ignition, supercharged, aviation gasoline engine.

This engine is almost finished.

We are now preparing to enter the final testing phase.

According to the theoretical data calculated by Chen Changzai.

This engine has a maximum power output of 596KW, which is approximately 800 horsepower.

The power of this engine throughout World War II could only be described as that of a small to medium-sized aircraft engine.

It's not that Chen Changzai couldn't design one, or that he didn't want to use a more powerful engine.

Rather, it was the pressure from the 500-ton forging press that limited the engine's power.

If Chen Changzai were to increase the number of cylinders in this engine by two or four.

The cylinder diameter could be increased further, or the stroke could be lengthened further.

Therefore, the crankshaft on this engine, forged by a 500-ton free forging press, will not be able to withstand such high power and torque. If the engine crankshaft breaks while the plane is still in the air, that would be a serious problem.

Although Chen Changzai's aircraft design was effective even without power.

It can also automatically return to center using its large-area rudder.

Its two large horizontal tail fins and twin wings also allow the aircraft to glide and land on its own.

But in combat, that would be certain death.

Therefore, Chen Changzai preferred to reduce the engine's power output in order to ensure its safety.

As for its relatively low power, whether its use on an aircraft can bring better results, Chen Changzai can only work on reducing the weight of the aircraft.

"Zhihong, this is the only way this engine can work right now."

I plan to add some cooling fins and a fan cover to the cylinder head and cylinder block of the next engine.

In addition, an adjustable air inlet is opened at the nose of the fuselage, and two adjustable exhaust vents are opened on both sides behind the engine compartment of the fuselage.

When the aircraft is in normal flight, the air intake and exhaust vents are closed.

If the engine's liquid cooling system malfunctions, or if it is damaged in combat.

So as long as the air intake and exhaust vents are opened, the engine can be cooled by the strong airflow from the engine head.

In this state, wind resistance will have some impact on the flight of the aircraft.

However, it can still provide the engine with at least fifteen to twenty minutes of running time.

My original plan was to integrate air cooling and liquid cooling for the next engine.

That would give the engine at least an hour of safe time.

However, if you want to fully enhance air cooling, relying solely on the airflow from the front of the unit is not enough; you will also need a forced-air fan.

But this would increase the weight of the entire aircraft.

So I think that relying solely on the wind generated by the propeller at the nose is not as effective as a forced-air fan.

However, as long as the engine can keep running for another fifteen to twenty minutes, that will be enough time for it to leave the battlefield.

This way, the engine's weight increase is minimal, but it creates a greater chance of survival for the pilot.

Su Zhihong looked at the engine in front of him, thought for a moment, and nodded, saying, "The teacher is right."

Ten minutes or so is enough time for the plane to leave the battlefield.

This provides an extra layer of protection.

"Alright, those are all things to consider for the next engine. We can start testing this engine now."

We're preparing to test the machine and try to find and fix all its problems within three to five days.

Complete all testing within fifteen days.

"Yes, teacher, we'll begin right away."

Time stands still in the laboratory.

Just as Chen Changzai was working day and night in the laboratory to complete the final engine test and keep up with the progress of his students in other areas.

Large-scale troop movements were also carried out in northern Shaanxi.

The headquarters made two military deployments: eastward and northward.

The eastern route, in coordination with Yan Xishan's troops, blocked the Japanese troops advancing westward from North China.

The troops heading north were to cooperate with General Fu in defending Suiyuan.

They blocked the Japanese troops advancing westward from the north.

All of them had only one strategic intention: to defend Shanxi.

Shanxi and Shaanxi are closely interdependent.

If Shanxi were to fall completely into the hands of the Japanese, Shaanxi would also become extremely dangerous.

The Third Independent Reinforced Regiment, which had been stationed at Wujiabao, was sent to the north to cooperate with General Fu in attacking the Japanese troops that might come from the north.

Wujiabao now holds a position of almost equal importance to the headquarters.

This is the only heavy industrial base in northern Shaanxi, and it is absolutely essential that we do not lose it.

Therefore, headquarters directly transferred a guard regiment responsible for the defense of headquarters to this location, along with the local militia, to jointly carry out the defense.

Meanwhile, the internal security personnel reinforced their presence here once again, scrutinizing the area like a sieve.

They are screening everyone here.

Chen Changzai completely ignored these things.

On the battlefield, there are commanders and soldiers at the front lines.

The strategic planning from the rear is overseen by the leadership at headquarters.

And Chen Chang's current battlefield is right here in the Wujiabao Industrial Base, right here in the aviation laboratory.

He must win this crucial battle within the planned timeframe.

Starting from the tenth day after that rally.

Then good news came.

First, the modified aircraft machine gun, after final testing, has fully met Chen Changzai's original requirements.

The problems that had plagued the gun factory for quite some time—the arrangement and transport of 500-round ammunition belts, as well as the issues of spent casings ejection and vibration—have all been resolved.

In its earliest design, this general-purpose machine gun was designed using a disintegrating ammunition belt.

However, during actual testing, due to cost and the issue of installing bullets in the field, it was changed back to metal ammunition belts.

Due to weight issues, it was changed again to a metal spring clip with a canvas flexible connection for the spring chain.

At this point, the general-purpose machine gun ammunition belt used by the army was considered finalized.

However, using this type of ammunition belt is not very suitable for fighter jets.

Especially since the space on an airplane is cramped.

During combat, the accumulation of empty ammunition belts can easily cause obstructed ammunition transport, thus affecting the supply of ammunition.

This is especially true for long ammunition belts with 500 rounds.

So they changed the ammunition belts used on the aircraft to disintegrating ammunition belts.

When an aircraft machine gun fires, the spent cartridge cases and the loose ammunition belts are all ejected from the aircraft through the ejection ports under the fuselage and wings.

Although this may result in some waste, it is worthwhile for the safety of the aircraft.

Besides the machine guns, in the following days, the aircraft's aluminum-magnesium alloy main beam, main wings made of phenolic resin laminate, horizontal tail, vertical tail and tail rudder, as well as fuselage supports and fuselage panels were also repaired.

Self-sealing fuel tanks, landing gear, aircraft tires, propellers, radios, instruments, lead-acid batteries, cabin canopy frames, and double-layered laminated tempered glass for aircraft.

Crew seats, control levers, and six-millimeter-thick nickel-chromium alloy armor plates for the cockpit.

All of these components are now in place.

Chen Chang's engine testing here also completed its final test on the fourteenth day.

Now we just wait to assemble all these things, turning these seemingly disparate parts into a mighty eagle that can fly, train, and fight in the sky.

Chen Changzai believed that once the plane took to the sky...

In this sky, the Japanese planes could no longer reign supreme.

The model of this aircraft underwent three wind tunnel tests, based on Chen Changzai's calculations.

Although this plane was not flying the highest, nor the fastest.

However, its dogfighting ability is absolutely outstanding at low altitudes of 200 to 5,000 meters.

Although he couldn't say that the aircraft's low-altitude dogfighting capability was the best in the world.

However, he felt that this plane should still be in the top three at this point.

The eaglets are already preparing to leave the nest.

The world has gained another new aircraft that can compete with the world's leading aircraft in the aviation industry.

(End of this chapter)