Gaidar used wood as the main external material for the wing, mainly because the Soviet Union was relatively tight in the supply of important metal resources during the war, and everyone did not have much expectations for this extraordinary design, obviously could not use precious aluminum alloy, and the design and manufacture of wood was also a last resort. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

The flying wing, which Lin Jun named "Ghost", is not only a little helpless in other parts, but also the landing gear is ready-made and removed from scrapped aircraft, and the landing gear hatch cover is the masterpiece of two carpenters, made by pure hands.

The surface treatment of the fuselage is not improvised, although it is handmade, but the carpenters and painters assigned by the Gorky Institute are obviously highly skilled, and the entire surface of the aircraft is polished very smooth to reduce air resistance and the risk of being torn by strong winds.

The painters applied it a fine coat of aeronautical paint, opting for a dark grey because there were not enough other paints. There are really not many exposed metal parts on the "Ghost" fuselage, and there are almost no exposed metal parts on the belly, only a little bit of wingtips.

The combination of several coincidences makes the "ghost" very numb to the radar waves emitted from the ground, and its unusual shape acts as a scattering part of the radar waves, not to mention that the ability of wood to reflect radar waves is much lower than that of metal - because of this, it disappeared from the radar screen before it could fly far!

Several radar operators could see two points of light, which were reflected signals from two MiG-1s - knowing that the top-secret plane was at most a few hundred meters away from the MiG, but they just couldn't see it!

It's useless to turn on all the radars in the vicinity and align them in the direction!

However, the radar operators soon continued to work calmly, because their designers came: today the Soviet radar designer Alexander Andreevich Raspretin, who coordinated the work in Zhukov, was also invited to watch the test flight of the "Phantom". After learning from the tower that the radar had lost its target, he rushed to the reported radar station by car with the officer in charge of security.

In the end, it was concluded that it was not the radar he designed that went wrong, but the plane itself!

In fact, this is not the first time that radar operators have encountered such a situation, and sometimes they are helpless against the small Po-2s: once they fly a little lower, the signal is not only annihilated by ground clutter, but the wood structure of most of the Po-2's body reflects little radar waves, and the radar often loses its target.

Lin Jun is not surprised, the appearance of the "ghost" is too unique, and with the wooden shell, the radar reflection area is not large, and it is normal. But I'm still very happy, a number of stealth functions are always a good thing: plus it is a high-altitude aircraft, even at night, the German infrared detection device will be powerless because of the flight altitude - DP-1-2 is definitely a big heat emitter, but at an altitude of more than 10,000 meters, it is difficult to detect this bit of heat!

Ilyushchenko was flying the plane to the south, and after flying a few tens of kilometers, he made an arc turn and continued to climb. Because of the limited number of test flights, its specific performance has not yet been mastered, and the chief test pilot of the Central Aircraft Design Bureau has taken a conservative approach: climb slowly, so that the two MiG-1s on the flanks can still closely follow and observe.

"The tower, currently at a height of 10,000, everything is working fine, the engine is running smoothly. The two observers in the back were almost unable to keep up, and I would continue to climb altitude. ”

"I'm the tower, agree to keep climbing. observer, keep the observation at an altitude of 11,000 meters. ”

"The observer understands that 11,000 meters maintains altitude, course."

The communication frequency of the three aircraft is the same, and although the MiG-1 can fly higher, at that altitude it can no longer keep up with the climbing speed of the "Phantom".

The tower will only know about the situation through the reports of Ilyushchenko and the two observers, because nothing can be seen, and even the radar station has become a blind monkey.

"12,000 kilometers, turn again, course 270."

When Ilyushchenko turned again a moment later, people on the ground could see two pulls of smoke in the distance.

"I'm going to do a level flight high-speed test and ask for approval."

Arkhipov looked at Lin Jun, Borikarpov and Gaidar, and Lin Jun nodded.

"I'm the tower and I've agreed to do a level flight speed test. Repeat, agree to conduct a level flight high speed test. ”

Now everyone's hearts are raised again - the high-speed test, according to the recommendations of the engine research department, can be carried out at an altitude of 11,000 to 12,000 meters. But theory is always theory, and it has not yet been practiced.

“820！ 840！ 860！ ”

As Ilyushchenko's words kept coming, everyone's hearts became tighter and tighter, and their hearts became more and more excited - Ilyushchenko is constantly making history!

“920！ 940！ 950！ The engine thrust has reached its maximum, and the plane is still accelerating! ”

“960！ 965！ 970！ 975！ 977！ A few seconds later, all the hanging hearts heard Ilyushenko's report again: "Stay in the 978 position, the engines are running normally, the plane shows no signs of continuing to accelerate, I'm going to reduce the throttle!" ”

Lin Jun's expression was serious, and he could feel from Ilyushchenko's words that the test pilot was trying to keep his composure, but anyone could hear the excitement!

There were already people in the tower shaking hands with each other, and several young designers were hugging each other! But no one cheered loudly, as if fearing that would disturb the test pilots high in the sky.

The maximum speed at 12,000 meters at an altitude of 978 kilometers per hour is simply a miracle, a miracle that only the "Ghost" can now create! This would have made even Polikarpov very excited, he knew that it was the special aerodynamic shape of the "Phantom" that reduced the flight resistance, otherwise with the propulsion of two DP-1-2s, it would not have been possible to achieve such high speed with the fighter he was developing!

"It's a pity that it can't be used as a fighter jet." There was a trace of regret in the designer's heart.

"Tower, the speed is approaching 820, everything is normal. Sufficient fuel, please approve the test flight limit performance. ”

Ilyushchenko wants to include all two maximum indicators in his pocket at a time, and this is also the dream of every pilot -- he now understands that the plane he will fly will also surprise him, and the maximum ceiling of such a large speed and an aircraft composed entirely of "wings" must be very amazing!

"Let him do it." Lin Jun said calmly: This is a very dangerous subject, "Don't be reluctant, safety first." ”

At high altitude, Ilyushchenko checked the special pressurized flight suit on his body, and also specially tried the emergency oxygen switch equipped with the pressurized suit - the last guarantee in case of danger at high altitude, and the parachute is connected to the pressurized suit: if you need to parachute in case of an accident, you must first open the spare emergency oxygen valve and then get out of the cabin, otherwise it will be free fall to the height of the parachute, and the time and air pressure will kill the pilot!

But this is a flying wing, in case you want to parachute, how to jump?! Ilyushchenko will probably have to turn the plane upside down, or it will depend on his luck in a state of unbalanced.

"Start climbing, altitude 12500."

The climb speed is not fast, 13000 meters, 13500 meters, 14000 meters, 14500 meters, 15000 meters! Every 1,500 meters of climb is followed by a level flight. Ilyushchenko continued to make history, and when he finally changed his flight for the third time, he reported an altitude of 16,050 meters!

"Tower, the maximum flight altitude is 16,050 meters, I'm about to descend altitude, there has been a reflection of insufficient lift, request to return to the airport."

"I'm the tower, asking for permission. Repeat, approval for return to the airport. ”

At this time, everyone cheered, and even Lin Jundu shook hands with everyone in the tower to congratulate - the maximum level flight speed is 978 kilometers per hour, and the maximum flight altitude is 16,050 meters! In 1941, this data was nothing short of miracles, and Soviet aviation people turned the impossible into a possibility!

"It will be a plane that will be difficult to shoot down, a miracle of the USSR! Long live the Soviets! ”……

Excited people continue to express their uncontrollable excitement with loud slogans, Lin Jun can understand why they are like this, in this meeting, Ilyushchenko's record is too amazing, amazing to the point that it will make people crazy!

After a long test flight, the "Ghost" finally appeared in the view of the tower again, and the radar station picked up that small point of light again only a few minutes ago - this is the result of the designer Raspretin's own battle.

The landing speed is faster than that of the general propeller aircraft, landing smoothly, running at high speed, and stopping after a long-distance run of more than 800 meters. Ilyushchenko turned off all the switches in the plane, and he let out a long breath.

The crowd flocked to the plane, and Ilyushchenko, who opened the cabin and straddled the wings, was carried down by the staff without touching his feet, and the excited crowd threw him up and down several times!

The sound of "Ula" rang out!

"Here comes the marshal." Everyone automatically made way for Lin Jun, and then Ilyushenko's feet fell to the ground.

The staff didn't let the ecstasy completely get carried away, and Lin Jun saw that someone was already checking the plane.

The test pilot saluted Lin Jun, and Lin Jun shook Ilyushchenko's hand tightly after returning the salute: "Well done!" ”

(Early in the morning, a chapter.) (To be continued.) )