Chapter 855

Chapter 855: Turning the Tables on the Instructor

Standing in the middle of the line, Jin Hongbao, Feiliqi, and Ding Yi exchanged silent glances, each reading surprise and confusion on the others’ faces.

They did not see the scene they had imagined of Lin Mo being scolded; instead, he exchanged salutes with the newly arrived instructors, confirming his identity.

The whole truth was revealed!

Lin Mo was an instructor?!

Then it completely made sense why he stood calmly outside the line—there was no need for an instructor to join the formation.

A cold sweat broke out on Feiliqi’s back.

He had just casually joked around with an instructor, openly discussing the gossip and inside information!

It was truly astonishing; a mouse had snuck into the cat’s bowl, and now he was facing the consequences of his folly—completely tragic!

If he could turn back time, he would definitely have sewn his own mouth shut without hesitation.

Seeing Feiliqi, who looked as if he were regretting everything, Ding Yi felt a wave of unease wash over him as well. This instructor was far too young and entirely unexpected; it was impossible to associate him with the role of an instructor. All three of them had misjudged the situation.

Jin Hongbao cursed himself in his heart. He had originally thought that Lin Mo was just another trainee like himself, but he had just missed a great opportunity to earn special treatment.

His past experience in the astronaut selection process had clouded his judgment; it was truly the danger of relying on past experiences as they were clearly not starting from the same point. He had failed to recognize cues, and it was no wonder he had been eliminated from the beginning.

The three of them were a microcosm of the confusion among the trainees in the lineup.

At the Quzhou Air Force Base, Commander Tang, who was in charge of the fighter division stationed at the airport, encouraged all the pilots participating in the training and briefly introduced the three instructors before officially announcing the start of the training course.

The trainees were then divided into groups, with each instructor responsible for leading a portion of the trainees.

This grouping was established during the instructors’ preparation period at the airport to focus their guidance, share management responsibilities, and concentrate on mentoring the most exceptional talents.

History has proven that the fewer students a teacher has, the more profound the learning experience will be; large class sizes cannot nurture true ACEs.

While grouping made it easier for the three instructors to manage, the teaching process was unified. It wouldn’t work to have all three instructors trying to teach at once; to avoid overlapping authority and disorder, they needed to have clear divisions of labor.

Major Chen Jun was responsible for theoretical teaching, while the experienced Colonel Cao Yueyang provided feedback to trainees, addressing and rectifying their shortcomings to ensure no drastic disparities in performance due to the instructors’ abilities.

Lin Mo had a comparatively larger workload, acting as a practice partner for the trainees, simulating real combat scenarios to provide coaching. He was the youngest and most physically capable instructor fit for this role.

The youngest instructor, Lin Mo, sparked curiosity among many trainees. Some held the rank of Major, and the proud prodigies naturally found it hard to believe that someone with a lower rank could effectively teach them.

Despite Commander Tang mentioning during his introduction that Lin Mo had combat experience across land, sea, and air, many trainees remained unconvinced.

He was just a few years older; how much combat experience could he possibly have? Perhaps he was freshly graduated from flight school, merely gilding his resume?

Out of respect for the authority of the instructors and the strict ranks of the military, many trainees buried these doubts in their hearts, sharing them only in private glances.

This division of labor among the instructors provided those trainees who were skeptical of Major Lin Mo with an opportunity to assess his abilities and strength.

The military is a place where strength matters; the one with the strongest fist holds the power, and only by obeying the strong can one have a greater chance of survival in battle.

As long as they could make their opponent kneel and surrender, any questions and doubts would vanish without a trace.

The instructors skillfully guided the trainees’ reactions based on their extensive teaching experience.

Even Lin Mo, the youngest instructor who was even younger than most of the trainees, boasted two successful teaching experiences and had a knack for handling any dissent.

One must be strong to forge iron; being able to instruct these highly promising pilot candidates naturally required some skill.

During unarmed confrontational drills with three J-10B fighter jets to test tactics, both Major Chen Jun and Colonel Cao Yueyang acknowledged Lin Mo’s abilities.

Clear and concise, eerie yet fierce, there were almost no flaws, leaving no opportunity for the opponent. As soon as one lost the initiative, they would face overwhelming attacks, unable to fight back.

There was not a trace of academic pilots’ influence, yet the tactical experience surpassed that of seasoned fighters who relied solely on combat. The strategies were often wildly creative, catching others off guard unexpectedly.

No one knew where the superhuman had come from, but it felt as if he were a warrior who had grown up in the battlefield. On the ground, his killing intent was hidden with no trace, almost possessing a unique aura that only seasoned fighters would have.

After engaging in actual combat, only then did Major Chen Jun and Colonel Cao Yueyang discover the terrifying beast hidden beneath this deceptively youthful exterior.

They still did not know that the aerodynamic properties and overload tolerance of the J-10B could not compare to the "monstrous" variable wings fighter jet. Limited by the third-and-a-half generation airframe, Lin Mo could only exert about ten percent of his true capabilities. If he had deployed the “monstrous” variable wings fighter jet, they would likely not have seen Lin Mo’s shadow before being shot down.

This was also why the higher-ups and the other two instructors confidently entrusted Lin Mo with the challenging exercise, which required solid combat experience.

Connecting theory to practice, along with the experienced Colonel Cao Yueyang patching up any gaps, would surely allow the trainees to quickly grasp the latest air combat techniques and real combat experiences, boosting China’s overall combat capability in aerial warfare.

This top-down legacy model is the main approach currently adopted by the Chinese Air Force to break through air combat techniques.

The first week belonged entirely to Major Chen Jun.

On the Parking Area, under the vast sky, he set up several large whiteboards and numerous fighter jet models. Through verbal explanations and model simulations, combined with the tactical mathematical models written in water-based markers on the whiteboards, he taught the thick air combat technique manual in the most easily understandable way to every single trainee.

All the trainees listened attentively, taking notes, as the electromagnetic pulse shield was activated. The open environment of the Parking Area transformed into a relatively secretive large classroom.

The course included the most valuable steps for operating a fighter jet, analyzing the right timing for action, and defensive postures to be used afterward. The content that Major Chen Jun explained was meticulously refined based on the performance of the J-10B fighter jet by him and the other two instructors.

Lin Mo’s familiarity with the J-10 fighter jet greatly enhanced the military value of this lecture, subtly revealing shadows of more powerful exclusive air combat secrets hidden within the transmitted air combat techniques.

Among them were five tactics specifically developed for the J-10 fighter jet, nearing secret techniques in nature.

If the other two instructors had not confirmed that Lin Mo was not a Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group member but was entirely a part of the Air Force, they might still have believed he was a member of the J-10 fighter jet design expert group. This secretive technology could only be deduced by true fighter jet design specialists.

Owning a J-10 fighter jet, coupled with guidance from Professor Yan Guoqiang and the bold self-assembly, disassembly, and modification he engaged in, made Lin Mo’s understanding of the J-10 fighter jet far exceed that of almost all pilots. The accumulation of knowledge and skills allowed him to thrive in this intensive training course focused on the J-10B, as if he were a fish in water.

Feeding tactics to the trainees is a task that requires instructors to have abundant combat experience; though filled with uncertainties, the benefits to the trainees were clearly evident, even immediate.

When entering the tactical exercise phase, all the trainees were eager to take on the challenge from the youngest instructor, Major Lin Mo.

“Number one! I want to defeat you!”

Hearing the shout from a trainee through his aviation helmet, Lin Mo smiled slightly and, from the cockpit, raised a provocative middle finger towards another J-10B not far away.

This old nickname from the astronaut selection spread quickly among the trainees, many of whom had already gotten used to calling Lin Mo by this name, representing their determination to surpass this young instructor.

“The instructor is so arrogant!”

“Lei Hua! Defeat him! Go for it!”

“Major Lei Hua, go! Defeat the instructor! I believe you!”

On the ground, a group of rowdy trainees completely forgot their military identities, shouting excitedly.

Turning the tables on the instructor during a match and pinning him to the ground felt exhilarating, a truly refreshing experience.

The two J-10B fighter jets slid down the runway and roared into the sky.

Like a duel between knights, they initially distanced themselves from each other, flying in opposite directions.

Colonel Cao Yueyang piloted a third J-10B, following at a higher altitude, acting as a neutral third party and observing this simulated combat exercise.

“Distance 25 kilometers! Simulation match begins! Number one, use the tactics from the manual to greet this young friend nicely.”

Colonel Cao Yueyang’s voice echoed in the helmets of the two pilots.

His words were like pouring oil on fire, instantly igniting the fighting spirit of trainee Major Lei Hua. He pulled the control stick back hard, causing the front canards to deflect fully down, performing a high Ayman roll while gaining height.

Before witnessing the Dragon Knight’s enormous fists, people often remember only the taste of failure, but seldom the moments of pain.