Chapter 127: Tujida

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After listening to Yanghui, who spoke with the calm patience of a man in no hurry, Liujun pointed to the notes Yanghui had written behind the data analysis and said he was unclear about several points in them.

“Your points A and B agree with our domestic standards,” he said. “But what do those two extra points mean? This one — ‘The pressure rakes, measuring instruments, and other devices on the aerodynamic interface do not affect performance measurements’ — I can understand. That one is certainly worth noting.”

He then asked the question that bothered him most. “But this one, ‘The aerodynamic interface should be set on the engine side, at the leading edge of the front strut plate and the row of working blades’ — I don’t understand what you mean. Is there some special reason for it?”

Hearing that, Yanghui laughed. In fact, these four provisions were not originally ours; they come from U.S. national standards. He had first seen this arrangement during the period when he worked with Grumman on Project 0132. The then Super-7 project carried an F-20 Tigershark nose, and the intake was completely redesigned. When 0132 personnel in the United States later tested that redesign in the wind tunnel, their reaction was exactly the same as Liujun’s now, though Grumman at the time, naturally enough, never explained why.

Only after 1989, when Project 0132 returned and began work in China, did people discover the logic behind it through actual comparisons. Many test data were needed before it became clear. Now Yanghui has no way to present that full body of data; he can only give the rough reasons. Once later operating data arrive, the details will become obvious.

“This isn’t something I can explain fully on the spot,” he said. “The last time I was in France on business, I read a very detailed discussion of this in an international aeronautics journal. For now I can only give the general idea: the engine and the inlet are two different systems. The inlet exists for the engine, so when defining the interface it should be located as close to the engine as practical. If we get more chances later, we can gather additional data for verification.”

Liujun listened and admitted that though there was no direct experimental proof, it sounded plausible. He would mention it to his mentor. If this line is true, then it makes for a fine research topic for him, a useful side study.

Those around them, who had come merely to watch and talk, found Yanghui’s explanation at least logically acceptable; then they drifted off in different directions, each lost in his own thoughts.

The data summary moved on to further trials. The wind tunnel ran again and again, its thunderous roar flooding the site; yet if one listened closely, it almost sounded like a strange and magnificent symphony.

…

After several days of testing, everyone had settled into a rhythm and put in their best effort. The graduate students, likely, gained the most from this round, but Yanghui believed the base itself would gain the greater reward—both in people and in technology—and that, he felt, was no idle dream.

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Within only a few days, Yanghui’s solid professional ability had become glaringly obvious. At least Professor Zhu and his students at Beihang University would not truly treat Yanghui as an ordinary undergraduate. While praising him, they also became more cautious toward their peers at Northwestern Polytechnic Institute; Yanghui’s performance was so bright it made them remember his alma mater.

But such pleasant days could not last long. A negotiating team from British Marconi had arrived, and it looked like a test of strength was ahead. Yanghui thought that a Saudi delegation would attend, and he felt the matter could not be dragged out; if they grew impatient, the loss would be real and costly.

“Professor Zhu, you’ll have to lead the next stage of the project here. I never expected to be pulled from this to attend the Marconi negotiations. These last few days the wind in the tunnel has been good enough, and outside it feels no better at all.”

The same wind could pass through any tunnel, but when Yanghui said it then, it carried a different meaning. At least Professor Zhu was pleased. He was delighted not only for Yanghui but for himself as well: he had chosen well. This Yanghui had a future.

“Fine, then. Go on. I’ll handle this side; don’t worry. Among the people left at the base now, most are still straightforward. Especially that Cuia—he’s been very eager to learn lately.”

Now Yanghui had come to regard Cuia as the most receptive of the group from the base in recent days, and he seemed to have real talent as well. These young men from the earlier generation have really improved.

After making preparations, Yanghui returned once more to the guesthouse, which had not hosted them in a long time but now had become the base’s forward headquarters. Not only people from the base were staying there anymore; representatives from Project 0132 were there as well, said to be for convenience of coordination.

Yanghui reported to Chief Engineer Yu. Director Bai and other institute and factory heads were no longer present. They were no longer needed for the Marconi talks. They now had to return quickly to lead the development of support projects for the new aircraft, especially the engine development under Institute No. 2, which was most urgent.

Speaking of engine development inevitably brought up Director Liu of Liyang. While still in the capital, Liu had been running around making contacts in hopes of transferring out. After hearing that restructuring was coming, he knew too well where his problems lay and did not dare to stay.

Back at the base he hurriedly completed the paperwork and transferred to the Northeast, where he returned to work at Limin Factory. Though his rank had been greatly reduced, he was content in bustling Fengtian.

Liyang Works had been left without a clear head. Seizing the opportunity, they directly merged Liyang Works with Institute No. 2 of the base. So Director Bai took office immediately and also assumed the concurrent position of director of Liyang Works, now busy untangling relations—especially with several Liyang deputy directors who were not ready to submit quietly.

What happened in that distant base was beyond Yanghui’s knowledge. What he did know was this: Project 0132 now attached serious weight to the new trainer. Even Tu Jida, one of 0132’s pillars, was sent out, and not for anything else but to secure the large avionics subsystem contract.

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By then, 0132’s export of the J-7M to Jordan was almost complete. The next project, no one knew where it would be.

Tu Jida was then in Dalian conducting flight tests and served as the overall designer for project development. Since he was relatively close to the capital, he was naturally dispatched from there to join the negotiations.

When Yanghui saw Tu Jida again, he was startled. Tu was still thin, only a little over fifty kilograms, and at 1.78 meters that made him seem almost gaunt. His hair had begun to recede in patches when he was thirty, so Yanghui still saw him with the same bareheaded look, a pair of thick-framed spectacles resting on his high, sharp nose.

Looking at him, Yanghui felt there was little change at all from the older Tu he imagined seeing in the years ahead—same build, same air. One might almost say Tu did not look old, or that he had already learned early on to wear old-age composure.

“Hello, Chief Tu. I am Yanghui from Base 0011, now working on the aerodynamic design of the new aircraft. I never expected you to come in person.”

Tu Jida had already been at the guesthouse for half a day and had learned much of the project’s specifics. Of the new aircraft design he could offer only one judgment: conservative but not backward, advanced but not reckless.

That single line captured the essence of the design and fully affirmed it.

“Oh, hello. I am Tu Jida. I have already spoken with Chief Engineer Yu and got a general understanding of your new aircraft, especially your aerodynamic design. It is genuinely good. It fits our country’s current technical level very well, and the technical risk control is just right. Your aerodynamic foundation is not what one would expect for your age. Very good.”

When Tu spoke of age, Yanghui quickly shifted the topic.

“Heh—thank you, Chief Tu. Let us speak instead about the specific avionics project. For the British side, it should be you taking the lead. You are the one who knows this field best, and so is Marconi’s group.”