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With the monsoon winds from the Pacific blowing softly on the west coast, the skies are clear and cloudless, and Northrop is sitting here for a day of great significance.

The pride of the company, the light fighter of the future sky, the F-20, will make its maiden flight today.

Historically, the F-20 fighter did not build its first prototype until May 1982, when it made its first flight, and now, four months ahead of schedule.

There is no other reason, but orders from the Middle East have accelerated their pace.

The F-20 was originally based on the F-5, and the rear fuselage was redesigned so that it was changed from two engines to one, and the corresponding air intake tract was also re-changed, while the other An/APG-67 radar, which was mainly improved, was still being tested, so the first prototype of the first flight was only trimmed with a lead block.

The pointed nose, the rectangular air intake at the rear of the cockpit, the smooth fuselage, the enlarged rear hanging tail, and the new communication antenna installed in it, although the appearance is similar to the F-5, however, the F404 engine of General Dynamics with a thrust of 76 kN behind the fuselage provides strong power to this aircraft, maintaining a thrust-to-weight ratio of more than 1 for the whole aircraft, coupled with a lighter fuselage, this fighter has excellent melee fighting ability.

Although it is light, however, after the radar is installed, and then combined with the medium-range Sparrow missile, even in the face of the Tomcat, there is a great chance.

The entire plane was painted desert yellow, only under the wings, there were two shining red stars, representing friendship with desert countries.

The first flight of a fighter aircraft is very important, and whether the aircraft is manufactured and whether the various design performance can be fully reflected has to be flown to know that it is a mule or a horse, and it has to be pulled out and yo-yo.

In the future, when China was researching fighter jets, before the first flight, it was only a ground sliding experiment, that is, turning on the engine, sliding, and stopping at the end of the runway. And the Chinese people are proud of the flying leopard, in the first flight, the whole plane shook violently, all the instruments on the dashboard were shaken off, even the rudder flew away, the test pilot was stunned with firm belief and superb technology, the plane was driven back.

However, the test flight of the F-20 will not be so difficult, because, although it has been given a new design, although it has undergone a new design, but in its bones, it still has everything from the prototype F-5.

Therefore, the senior engineers, directors, and deputy general managers of the entire company are full of confidence in this test flight.

Darrell E. Cornell stood in front of the plane in full anti-load suits. Northrop's newly designed anti-load clothing not only has a pressure device on the legs, but also in ****, except for the arms, it almost wraps the whole body.

In flight, when carrying out a large overload maneuver, the blood of the whole body will flow downward, resulting in cerebral ischemia, which will cause danger, so when the flight enters the jet age, such a thing as an anti-load suit was invented, using liquid pressure to squeeze the lower part and squeeze the blood back, so as to avoid black vision or even faintness caused by brain ischemia in the air.

However, the liquid anti-load suit has a delay, so the pilot's personal physique is also a very important factor.

Darrell is the chief test pilot of Northrop and has 6,500 hours of flying experience, and as a test pilot, not only a pilot, but also an engineer, needs to have a comprehensive understanding of the aircraft and be ready to deal with any danger that may arise

Therefore, at Northrop, the test pilot is already involved in the design of the entire aircraft in advance, especially as the pilot's working place: the cockpit, the shape of the operating sticks, and the placement of the instruments are all the results of the test pilot's personal experience.

Darel looked at the crowd of farewells on the tarmac, calmed down, and climbed the ladder onto the F-20 fighter.

As a test pilot, Darel flew many fighters, and in all fairness, the cockpit of the F-20 was not spacious, nor was it bubble-shaped, somewhat outdated, and compared to the F-14, it was simply the difference between a pigeon's nest and a villa.

However, the instrument cluster of the F-20 looks more comfortable, especially since Northrop's designers have placed a display screen on the left and right sides of the front, which looks significantly more comfortable than those large number of instruments.

Towed by a tractor, the plane came to the runway entrance.

The ground-based starter drove to the side of the F-20, and the pipe was connected to the engine at the rear, ready to start the engine.

In order to save the precious power of the aircraft, when starting, it is assisted by an external vehicle.

With a piercing roar, the engine behind erupted flames, and the engine started smoothly.

The ground crew drove away, and the ground crew checked the engine one last time and gave Darell a thumbs up.

Darrell replied with a thumbs up, then withdrew his gaze.

Darrell softly increased the throttle with his right hand, then released the brake.

The scenery on both sides of the cockpit is getting faster and faster, and the numbers displayed on the front display screen are also beating rapidly, like a light swallow, and before Darel has even pulled the steering stick, the plane already has the urge to leave the ground.

Tiger shark, show your sharp teeth! Darell pulled the lever into his arms.

Suddenly, the nose of the F-20 fighter was raised, piercing the blue sky.

"Okay, it's time to take off!" Suddenly, the audience below burst into thunderous applause.

Adnan is also standing on the tarmac, he has been here for a few months, and he has been listening to the designers about the strength of this fighter, but how powerful it is, Adnan does not know.

Now, when he finally saw it, Adnan was very surprised just by looking at the take-off.

Although it was also taken off with afterburner, this lightweight fighter had already left the runway after only sliding for less than 300 meters, and what surprised him even more was that after the F-20 took off, it actually had an angle of attack of more than 70 degrees and took off at a large angle of attack?

Taking off at a high angle of attack is of great tactical significance, as it can climb to a higher altitude faster, can have an altitude advantage, and can also quickly volley at high altitude.

The Mirage 2000 was achieved by reducing its weight, and its engine thrust was insufficient, while the F-20 was able to maintain a thrust-to-weight ratio of more than 1 even at normal take-off weight, and the vertical climb was not at all effortless, and it was not inferior to some twin-engine fighters. (To be continued.) )