Chapter 165: Battle in the Blue Skies Once More

The design of the livery was complete, and the next step was the application of paint. This was a task that had to be carried out inside the hangar, and since there was no time during the day, Yang Hui had to wait until nightfall to begin painting the new aircraft.

Originally, the aircraft had left the assembly line in its raw, silver aluminum alloy state. Compared to modern foreign aircraft, this looked somewhat outdated. Foreign aluminum skins were typically sealed with a potassium dichromate solution, resulting in a yellow, corrosion-resistant anodized finish. As the new aircraft’s skin had not been treated, it appeared technologically behind the times. For an export-oriented model, image was important, and since the raw skin lacked that professional yellow hue, the easiest solution was to simply apply a yellow paint scheme.

The process involved painting the entire aircraft yellow first, then adding green accents in necessary areas. While the workload was substantial, it was just barely manageable before the scheduled test flight.

From the moment he took over the aircraft in the evening until he handed it over to the engineers for final inspection at dawn, Yang Hui remained on-site. Because the new paint was not yet fully dry, he stayed to prevent any accidents. Fortunately, Yang Hui had worked with such meticulous care that the other engineers, upon seeing the striking new livery, were careful to temper their movements. No incidents occurred before the paint had completely set, which was a great relief to Yang Hui.

After the painting was finished, Chief Designer Yu came to inspect the aircraft. He was exceptionally satisfied with the new look, even suggesting that such a design could be promoted nationwide; it was both aesthetically pleasing and practical—there was no reason it wouldn’t become a hit.

"Excellent, this livery is truly excellent. Why haven't our previous designs ever looked this good? It’s been a real loss. From now on, all new aircraft at the base will use this livery. We have the authority to decide that here at the base."

A new look naturally called for a new attitude. The test pilot needed to acclimate to the livery in advance so that he wouldn't experience any emotional volatility upon seeing the aircraft for the first time. Test flying is a high-risk profession; it demands not only the right aircraft and weather conditions but also a high level of psychological stability from the pilot on the day of the flight.

Theoretically, a pilot should remain calm, like still water, during a test flight. However, this is nearly impossible to achieve perfectly. Even with the utmost focus, it is inevitable for a test pilot to experience some emotional fluctuations; the goal is simply to keep them within a manageable range. Minimizing any potential triggers for such fluctuations is essential, and letting the pilot see the new livery beforehand was a necessary precaution.

When Chief Designer Yu brought the test pilot over, Yang Hui felt he recognized him. A moment’s thought confirmed it: this was the same pilot who had performed an emergency landing of a new J-7 a year ago, just when Yang Hui had first arrived at the base. It was remarkable to see him ready to return to the skies so soon; one had to acknowledge the pilot’s ironclad nerves.

Upon entering the hangar, the pilot was visibly stirred. This was the perfect livery for the new machine; only such a beautiful and striking design could do justice to the "beauty's" face and form.

Excited, he circled the aircraft several times before slowly and carefully observing the details of the paintwork, moving from the nose to the tail, the main wings to the ailerons, and finally the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. To inspect the underside, he didn't hesitate to lie flat on the ground, studying it intently.

After a long while, having fully etched the design into his memory, he tentatively reached out as if to touch the beauty in her new clothes, but stopped mid-air, turning to Yang Hui for permission.

Yang Hui nodded affirmatively. "It’s perfectly fine. The paint is dry, so go ahead. You can rest assured that we won't let the livery fail during the test flight in three days."

With Yang Hui’s confirmation, the pilot eagerly placed his hand on the aircraft, finally touching the "beauty" in her new attire. After a lingering moment, he promised with genuine feeling, "Chief Designer Yu, and Secretary-General Yang, who designed the aerodynamics and this livery, rest assured. With this new look, I feel even more motivated. This test flight will go even more smoothly. I won't let a single thing go wrong with this beauty. As long as I am here, the aircraft will be safe."

"As long as I am here, the aircraft will be safe"—this was a tradition held by the Republic’s Air Force since its founding. While generally discouraged in high-risk test flying out of concern for the pilot's safety, if a pilot could successfully land a malfunctioning aircraft, it provided invaluable clues for troubleshooting.

Yang Hui didn't mention safety or the risks; doing so would have been disrespectful to the pilot. True respect lay in handling every small detail on the ground, ensuring that no aircraft with technical flaws would ever take to the sky.

"We will take care of every minor detail on the ground to ensure the aircraft is in the safest possible state," Yang Hui replied. "Our remote-controlled model has been test-flown for many hours now without a single issue."

Speaking of model testing, one had to mention a new invention at the institute: creating scale-model versions of the aircraft for flight testing. These models were superior to full-scale wind tunnel testing, as flying in the complex atmosphere was far more realistic than a controlled wind tunnel environment.

The base now had a new product in its inventory: a super J-7 model. It was an unexpected bonus, one that even surprised Yang Hui, the founder of these jet-powered models. One could say this was a case of civilian technology providing support for military applications.

As they spoke, a model aircraft flew past the hangar, its engine sound quite impressive. Yang Hui wondered if they should restrict the flight altitude of these models; flying so low was a bit inappropriate, as aircraft noise is a universal nuisance.

The entire base was anxiously awaiting the new aircraft’s debut. It was the key to the base’s future; if this project failed, the base would likely sink into obscurity. Their very survival depended on this single project.

Given this, the base invited various leaders and dignitaries to witness the maiden flight. As expected, most of the officials arrived, and representatives from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were also present. The base’s guesthouse had never been so lively, nor had it ever hosted such high-ranking guests.

May 1st was a special day—not only a holiday for the working class but also the chosen date for the aircraft’s maiden flight. The slogan was loud and clear: "A tribute to the working people, a tribute to the glory of labor."

The day was bright and clear. On the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the clouds were thin and visibility was excellent—perfect for a maiden flight. Early in the morning, Yang Hui and the delegation arrived at the airfield, waiting in silence for the flight. It was a moment of excitement for which Yang Hui had waited nearly a year.

Test flying is a high-risk endeavor. A pilot needs not only courage but also extensive knowledge of aeronautical engineering. Without it, a minor anomaly in flight could quickly spiral into tragedy. This factory prototype was intended to test whether the aircraft could fly and if there were any major design flaws. In short, this factory test flight was to evaluate the aircraft’s basic performance. Other data, such as mission capability and the performance of combat avionics, would be addressed in future phases.