Chapter 179: Tug One, Move the Whole Body

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They waited for representatives from the 0611 Base and Hongqi Aircraft Factory to arrive in the Imperial Capital. After several days of negotiations, they reached a conclusion: a non-afterburning H-6 powered by four WS-9 turbofans was entirely feasible, and would make the fullest possible use of the development experience accumulated during the original H-6I project.

“We have good news to announce. After abandoning the JH-7 project, the new H-6 tanker program has received approval in principle from the Military Commission. They require us to submit a feasibility plan. If the proposal proves viable, the project may proceed through the normal process.”

Yang Hui, seated below, finally relaxed when he heard the two senior commanders of the air force and navy issue their joint declaration. Even the Military Commission’s chief designer had approved the project. At this point, it was eighty percent certain to be formally established.

Launching the tanker project would bring numerous benefits. It could keep Hongqi Aircraft Factory and the Xianyang Design Institute in operation and might even preserve the technical team from the large-aircraft project in Shanghai, which was soon to be canceled.

Most of the technical staff on the Shanghai large-aircraft project had originally been transferred from the Xianyang Design Institute and the Bingcheng Aircraft Factory. The chief designer of the large aircraft had himself once been responsible for the H-6.

As for Chief Designer Ma, he had begun his career as a technician at the Bingcheng Aircraft Factory, where he took part in the domestic production of the H-6. During a visit to the Kazan Aircraft Factory in the Soviet Union, he studied the Tu-16 and recorded the only systematic written technical material available: the Notes of Ma Fengshan. That notebook became the most important reference for China’s subsequent domestication of the H-6. Even decades later, whenever modifications were made to the H-6, the notebook would still be brought out for consultation.

A single notebook belonging to the old master had such importance, to say nothing of the depth of his own expertise. After relations between China and the Soviet Union deteriorated, production of the H-6 was transferred from the Bingcheng Aircraft Factory to a joint effort between the Xianyang Aircraft Factory and the Xianyang Design Institute.

At that time, the old master Ma was a senior technical leader at the design institute, responsible for the H-6’s domestic production. Before long, however, he was transferred away from Xianyang to Shanghai to work on passenger aircraft. Now, in 1984, the large passenger-aircraft project was facing cancellation.

Yang Hui could not say much about the reasons behind the project’s cancellation. He only knew that it was about to be scrapped, and he could do his utmost to preserve the original H-6 personnel. After considering the matter from every angle, he felt that bringing them back to Xianyang was the best option.

With that thought, Yang Hui patted Chief Designer Chen of Xianyang, who was seated in front of him.

“Chief Designer Chen, to accelerate development, I personally suggest that you take this opportunity to bring back the designers who were transferred to Shanghai back then. They still possess considerable expertise.”

The chief designer had been worrying about how to produce a sound four-engine H-6 design both quickly and efficiently. Yang Hui and the others had analyzed the dangers of delaying the schedule in detail over the previous few days, leaving him deeply torn over how best to arrange everything and speed up progress.

Hearing the suggestion from the secretary of the 0611 Base behind him, his mind suddenly cleared.

“Leaders, our H-6 tanker has no serious technical problems. However, catching up with the Super-7 schedule will be difficult. Although the old H-6 can be used for the tanker’s initial testing, we believe that the sooner we proceed, the better. For that reason, we need additional technical personnel.”

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Bringing back the technical personnel who had been transferred to Shanghai would require some method. It would be better to begin with the military and have it coordinate the effort.

The military was naturally very attentive to Xianyang’s request. All sides had shown unprecedented enthusiasm for the tanker program; the military had never before seen everyone so determined not to let a project fall behind schedule. In the past, delays had been all too common, though they were not always so obvious.

But now Xianyang was asking for technical personnel, and that seemed to lie outside the military’s authority. The aviation industry had already been placed entirely under the civilian government, and when it came to personnel matters in particular, the military had no grounds to intervene.

Commander Zhang was the first to consider this point.

“As for the personnel issue, there is little we can do. We would like to help, but we no longer have authority over them. Our intentions may be sincere, yet our hands are tied.”

Chief Designer Chen had expected the military to say exactly that. He had never intended for the military to find technical personnel for him directly. His purpose in asking the military to intervene was merely to provide the Xianyang institute with a pretext.

“No, no. We are not asking the military to find personnel for us directly. We intend to bring back those technical experts who were transferred to Shanghai in the past. They have considerable experience with large aircraft powered by four engines, and we need their support.”

After all that discussion, it turned out that the Xianyang side wanted to reclaim its former technical personnel. That seemed at least somewhat possible. The military knew the situation in Shanghai, and it was naturally paying close attention to such a large aircraft.

Commander Zhang, seated on the platform, nudged Commander Liu with his elbow. After a brief exchange of glances, they reached a decision, and Zhang would announce it.

“The military naturally supports your reasonable request. We can mediate on your behalf immediately. Of course, the main effort must come from you. You will need to work with the various ministries and commissions, as well as persuade the technical personnel in Shanghai. Your success or failure will depend primarily on your own efforts. The military can only provide the greatest assistance within its capabilities.”

The military was deeply reluctant to see such a large aircraft canceled, but there was nothing it could do. It did not have the funds to take over the project itself. If there was now a way to preserve the scientific personnel, the military would certainly support it. As things stood, everyone stood to benefit.

With the military’s endorsement, the Xianyang institute finally felt reassured. Its confidence in bringing back the former technical staff grew considerably, and an even bolder idea began to take shape:

Could they swallow the entire Shanghai project team?

If they succeeded, the Xianyang Design Institute would unquestionably become the strongest large-aircraft design institute in the country. Developing a four-engine H-6 would then be a matter of only three or four years, and catching up with the tanker’s schedule would be entirely possible.

After the meeting, Chief Designer Chen was eager to act. This was a major undertaking and had to be handled carefully. Among the people accompanying him, he selected two veteran technicians from the old days and sent them to Shanghai to make connections and speak with the technical staff there.

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“You two must do a thorough job in Shanghai. We need those people to return. The four-engine H-6 requires experienced technical personnel like them. Make every effort to strengthen your ties with them. We are located in the northwest, and compared with Shanghai, we are still at a considerable disadvantage.”

After arranging the personnel who would travel to Shanghai, Chief Designer Chen decided that once the four-engine H-6 was officially approved, he would personally go to the capital to deal with the various ministries and commissions.

The next meeting was much simpler. Although the 0611 Base had lost the J-7III project, it had gained the Super-7 program instead. That project involved more advanced technology and would provide a better foundation for the future Project 10. Naturally, they were delighted.

Hongqi Aircraft Factory was even more excited. No one had expected the WS-9 program to be restarted less than two years after its cancellation. It was astonishing news. Even Elder Wu, who had attended the meeting, intended to return to Hongqi and continue working on the unfinished project. Its failure remained one of his lifelong regrets.

“Perhaps it would be best not to, Elder Wu. You need not take the lead on the WS-9 this time. You are no longer young, and this work should be left to the younger generation. You should remain in the capital. There is no harm in organizing and consolidating the technical materials.”

Seeing everyone urging him to stay, and reflecting on his own age, Elder Wu felt that perhaps they were right. Remaining in the capital would be fine. Keeping abreast of developments there was important, and an engine project without anyone maintaining contact with the capital would be at a disadvantage.

“Very well. I will not force myself this time. The younger generation must carry the burden from now on. It is time for me to let go.”

After saying this, Elder Wu finally abandoned his plan to return and lead the domestic production of the Spey.

Research had confirmed that the non-afterburning version of the Spey was technically viable. The Super-7’s two development paths had been allocated, and the four-engine H-6 had rekindled the hopes of the air force, navy, and the Xianyang factory and institute. The aerial refueling system was the central link connecting all these projects, and everything had originated from the chief designer’s determination to develop a tanker.

This truly achieved several objectives at once. Pulling one thread had set the whole web in motion. Before these projects were completed, however, the air force and navy could forget about launching any other aircraft programs. The financial burden had squeezed them completely dry.

To be continued.

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