Chapter 856

Chapter 856: The Trainees Have No Rights

Altitude!

Keep climbing higher!

We need an even greater altitude!

A small silver dot erupted with a roar that belied its size, charging toward the bright blue sky.

Major Lei Hua piloted the J-10B fighter jet, executing a standard tactical maneuver to change direction before beginning a steep, high-angle climb.

He needed to gain enough altitude before the opponent could react, using it as his winning card.

The energy maneuver theory of Major John Boyd, a legendary pilot of the U.S. Air Force, has a huge following around the world.

Exchanging altitude for speed and maneuverability allows pilots to gain performance beyond the original design parameters of their aircraft without any cost. This tactical philosophy, more advanced than the four elements of air combat, has attracted many pilots.

The development of frontline fighters seems to embody the Olympic spirit: Faster, Higher, Stronger.

After glancing at the altimeter showing 11,000 meters, he thought, No, this is still not enough! Far from enough!

Continuous high-angle climbing exerted great excessive force pressure on the pilot. The standard pressure suit clung tightly to his body, striving to balance the G-forces that coursed through the cockpit and harmed the human body. The advanced pressure suit could not completely offset all the G-forces; the pilot’s physical endurance was crucial.

The engine operated at full power, propelling the fighter jet to climb rapidly. After experiencing a brief blackout due to G-forces, Major Lei Hua was well aware of his limit for tolerating overload. He carefully maneuvered, dancing on the line between safety and danger.

A G-force tolerance of 7.6G is regarded as proficient for a mid-level pilot.

For an average person, a G-force of more than 5G would likely cause a blackout. Those with weaker physiques might black out with just 3G, their vision going completely dark, or even losing clarity of thought.

To a great extent, a pilot’s success depends on natural talent. Therefore, selecting pilots is a meticulous process; any carelessness could mean outright disaster.

Maintaining fuel flow to support the output of the AL-31FN vector engine, he gritted his teeth and endured the peak G-forces. After achieving acceleration, the blackout lasted only a short moment. As Major Lei Hua climbed to 18,000 meters, he leveled off and activated the active phased array radar in the nose of the aircraft to conduct a wide-area scan.

He needed to confirm the position of his opponent, ideally seizing the initiative in the attack.

Although Lei Hua doubted the capability of the younger Major Lin Mo, who held the same rank, to perform such a challenging supportive training task, he decided to go all out like a lion fighting a rabbit. After taking off, he suppressed all flamboyant tendencies and cautiously implemented standard reconnaissance operations.

The radar screen showed only two light dots.

Wait! Two light dots?

No, there should be three light dots, including himself. Why are there only two?

The IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) signals synchronized, and aside from himself, the other light dot was a neutral third party signal: that of Colonel Cao Yueyang.

He did not see Major Lin Mo’s signal. Where is he?

A shadow loomed over Lei Hua. Before he could react, the cockpit erupted with a piercing alarm sound.

Beeep!

The TWS threat alert system emitted its distinctive tone, indicating that Lei Hua’s fighter jet was being illuminated and locked onto by the enemy’s fire control radar.

“Announcing the first round: Major Lei Hua has been shot down!”

As the third-party referee, Colonel Cao Yueyang’s voice resonated through the cockpits of the other two J-10 fighter jets and the ground loudspeakers.

The ground erupted into chaos; how long had the fight lasted? Thirty seconds? Forty seconds?

Was this a quick kill or outright slaughter? The result left everyone stunned, unable to process what had just happened.

A 42-inch plasma television on the Parking Area received video signals from Colonel Cao Yueyang’s aircraft, yet it only displayed the shadow of Major Lei Hua’s fighter jet, while the other fighter jet was nowhere to be seen.

The trainees, like Major Lei Hua, were utterly perplexed by how Colonel Cao Yueyang decided that Lei Hua lost the first round.

"How is that possible? How could I have been shot down?"

The alarming sounds continued to blare in the cockpit. Lei Hua felt as if a thunderclap detonated in his mind, unable to believe it was real. He hadn’t even seen a trace of the enemy, yet he had lost.

Just as he voiced his frustration, a silver shadow surged upward from near the wingtip, shooting straight into the sky.

It nearly grazed Lei Hua’s fighter jet.

The J-10 fighter jet could climb at a rate of 235 meters per second, equivalent to 0.69 Mach, and could quickly ascend vertically. With a theoretical maximum G-force of 9G, it posed no challenge to a Dragon Knight, as a robust physique could withstand the immense forces without issue.

What was that?

Lei Hua clearly saw the side of a J-10B pass by at an alarmingly close distance. He could see not only the rivets on the aircraft’s surface but also everything inside the cockpit, including the opposing pilot’s clenched fist and raised middle finger.

Simply arrogant!

A chill, a bone-deep chill, erupted from deep within his heart, seizing his spirit and momentarily stopping his heartbeat.

The fighter jet suddenly jolted violently. The tremendous airflow generated by the high-speed pass of the other aircraft disrupted Lei Hua’s dynamic balance, and the unstable aerodynamic design worsened the situation. The nose of the aircraft tilted, causing the cockpit to spin uncontrollably as if the fighter jet had lost power, spiraling downward.

A sudden stall! Many pilots on the ground watched in shock.

“Major Lei Hua, your aircraft has stalled! Pull up!”

Colonel Cao Yueyang’s timely voice reminded the still dazed Lei Hua.

China, being one of the earliest countries to master stall recovery and spin techniques, regarded a stall as a minor issue for its pilots. Cao Yueyang’s tone reflected this understanding.

“Ah! Yes, yes! I will recover immediately!”

Mastering recovery techniques was a fundamental lesson for every J-10 pilot. Major Lei Hua quickly responded, decisively adjusting the engine power output and initiating recovery procedures. The J-10B’s control system activated the recovery functional modules, assisting the pilot in adjusting the aerodynamic properties.

Dropping from 18,000 meters to 15,000 meters felt like falling from the sky. Lei Hua disregarded his earlier frustration and focused entirely on stabilizing the aircraft, inching back from the tipping point of loss of control.

Just then, a silver shadow darted out from beneath him.

“Number one, you…”

Was this a move to take advantage of his misfortune? Lei Hua, furious and ready to shout, felt the aircraft shake violently as the other craft created a vortex, stabilizing his uncontrollable body just in time for him to recover from the stall.

What just happened?

Even a fool would notice something unusual about that second close pass. The first time, he lost control and stalled; the second time, it was as if a blind cat had stumbled upon a rat, perfectly aiding his recovery without even needing to deploy the spin parachute.

“Was I not just dreaming?”

On the Parking Area, Jin Hongbao huddled with the other trainees, his eyes glued to the 42-inch plasma TV, utterly stunned.

“How did that just happen?”

“It’s so strange, like magic.”

“It’s incredible! We need to replay that!”

The trainees clearly saw the two swift passes that nearly grazed Lei Hua’s fighter jet. Though the speed was intense, the distinct features at that moment allowed everyone to recognize it—another identical J-10B fighter jet.

“Number one,” Major Lin Mo!

Like a ghost, he appeared and vanished from everyone’s view in an instant. Even Colonel Cao Yueyang, as a third-party referee, struggled to catch a glimpse of him.

At that moment, none of the trainees understood what had happened.

From completing the lock to causing a spin stall, and then seemingly by coincidence aiding in his recovery, the trainees found it hard to comprehend how Lin Mo had achieved this.

“A master of aerodynamics!”

Those words flashed in Colonel Cao Yueyang’s mind like lightning, firmly occupying his thoughts. As an outsider, he clearly saw how the two close encounters disrupted and repaired Major Lei Hua’s fighter jet’s aerodynamic status.

This ability to manipulate aerodynamic properties with such skill and imagination was something he had never seen or even heard of before. In previous simulation matches, he had never witnessed Lin Mo displaying such capabilities.

Moreover, the tactic of seizing visual and radar blind spots was extraordinary. If he hadn’t swept by, it would have been difficult to pinpoint Lin Mo’s true location, showing that he had calculated the entire battlefield and the aircraft’s performance to the finest detail.

How many more surprises did Major Lin Mo have up his sleeve? Colonel Cao Yueyang felt he had underestimated the young major.

“What just happened?”

After stabilizing the aircraft post-recovery, Lei Hua finally came to his senses, breathing heavily. He heard Lin Mo’s voice: “Are we going to continue? Then let’s start the second phase, Major Lei Hua! I’m going to begin the Yangguan San Die Variations! Here we go!”

“No, no, I’m not ready… dammit! Don’t!”

Lei Hua shouted in panic, but Lin Mo was not going to give him a chance, launching another attack without hesitation.

At this point, calling for a ceasefire was pointless.

“Are you a coward? The enemy won’t give you a break! Come on, face the challenge like a man.”

The communication channel filled with Lei Hua’s exasperated cries—trainees had no rights.

The trainees on the ground went pale; this “Number One” instructor was simply relentless.