Chapter 616

Chapter 616: The Legacy of the Ace

John Boyd, the father of energy combat techniques, remained unbeatable at Nellis Air Force Base for six years, making all the pilots concede defeat. However, he was not a true aerial combat ace; he could only be considered a quasi-ace. His only achievement was damaging a MiG-15 on June 30, 1953, on Chinese territory north of the Yalu River during the Korean War, with no other combat records to boast of.

Colonel Jiang, an experienced ace pilot, understood just how challenging it was to shoot down five enemy aircraft to achieve ace status. If mere brawls could earn one the title, the United States, with its continuous meddling in wars around the world, would have turned out a plethora of ace pilots, rather than facing the current awkward situation of being neither here nor there.

Of course, American tradition dictated that after completing 100 combat missions, pilots could transfer to non-combat roles. This tradition was why many rookie American pilots failed to earn the ace title during the Vietnam War, while helping the Vietnamese establish sixteen aerial combat aces.

"Because I have talent, whether in the sky or on the ground, the proud ‘Dragon Knight’ can defeat all opponents," Lin Mo replied to Colonel Jiang’s curiosity while lounging in a bathtub filled with bubbling herbal soup, even hinting at a bit of cuteness. This saying was paraphrased from a famous quote by the royal Dragon Knight legion of the Su Lan Empire.

The aerospace training center maintained strict confidentiality, and given Colonel Jiang’s clearance level, Lin Mo felt free to leak some state secrets in this public place. The term "talent" could encompass many interpretations. Both Dragon Knights and pilots relied on talent as a means of livelihood, having been selected from countless human elites.

Lin Mo’s answer felt forced, and Colonel Jiang did not take it seriously. The title "Dragon Knight" was merely a flight code, while many regular pilots had to use numbers as their identifiers. Only the Americans could afford to name their flight codes after natural or non-natural objects.

"For instance, when I helped Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group train Zambian pilots in the use of J-10s, I casually took down two Su-30s… And then in Pakistan…"

Lin Mo lay lazily in the bathtub, the constant flow of water washing over him felt incredibly comfortable, almost lulling him to sleep. The air was filled with the faint aroma of his herbal concoction, valued as highly as Yunnan Baiyao.

However, Lin Mo’s combat experience was undeniable.

"Pakistan?! Goodness, you even went there!"

He did not need to mention taking down Su-30s without ammo; Colonel Jiang quickly grasped that even a few phrases about dispatching some "Mirages" made it clear that Lin Mo had safely returned, indicating he had advanced beyond rookie status.

It was exhilarating to be engaged in such battles. Over the past two years, India and Pakistan had been enjoying themselves with conflict, while the Chinese military was not idle. It would be unreasonable for China, one of the three countries in the tri-divided Kashmir region, to not make some moves. A major aerial battle had shocked the world, especially the bombing of Bangalore, which had become a classic case in the annals of many air forces.

Having engaged in real combat, aerial combat skills progressed rapidly. One hour of real combat training surpassed a year’s worth of flight training, making it unsurprising for pilots to earn ace status in such warfare.

Against the backdrop of curry bombs wielded by the Indians, the trained Chinese fighter pilots operated with solid combat efficiency.

If talent is exceptionally extraordinary, perhaps one could reach Lin Mo’s level. Colonel Jiang recognized that the pilots selected directly for Team 7759, flying J-10s, were elite—handpicked from across the nation. There was a significant difference between them and the inexperienced pilots flying J-7s, J-8s, or training aircraft following standard procedures.

While Lin Mo’s reply was strained, it could not be denied that the possibility existed. Just as Gan Luo became a minister at twelve, it illustrated that humanity allowed for prodigies, even if it made many feel that they had wasted their years.

"Where did you learn to manufacture fighter jets? Did you have a background in aerospace design?"

Colonel Jiang expressed his doubt about Lin Mo’s expertise in fighter jet design and manufacturing, given the vast leap in knowledge it implied. It felt like a joke, utterly unreal.

There had been pilots who excelled in both areas, like John Boyd, the formidable "Mad Major," but Colonel Jiang found it hard to believe such a talent existed in his Team 7759. It took years for such prodigies to emerge.

One question often led to more questions; he recognized many crucial confidential matters were involved, so he selected only the main points to pursue.

"I learned from a retired expert at 611 Institute. He took me on as a close disciple. I studied aircraft design with him, and now I occasionally collaborate on technology with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group."

Lin Mo briefly shared the story of how he encountered the retired expert in Zhuhai.

Colonel Jiang opened his mouth in surprise; what Lin Mo said was truly astonishing.

Transforming from a pilot to an aircraft design expert felt like a plot from an improbable novel.

Once a relatively outstanding pilot, Lin Mo now made many people look up to him.

Could it be that the higher-ups of Team 7759 overlooked a genius?

However, Colonel Jiang did not feel much regret. If Lin Mo had remained in Team 7759, without the combat experience and the encounter with the retired aviation expert, he might not have achieved what he has now.

Although Colonel Jiang received some answers, many questions remained unasked. He knew that even if he did ask, Lin Mo might not answer. The level of "Night" is two levels above Team 7759, and much of the information relates to state secrets; some matters could only be hinted at, not fully disclosed.

The two of them naturally shifted the conversation to discuss their tactics for the duels in the coming days.

Lin Mo sought out the fighter ace Colonel Jiang, who survived the "Abyss Nirvana," to ask for guidance on the subject.

Since Colonel Jiang agreed to help Lin Mo, he willingly and devotedly began to pass on his air combat skills, as well as many secrets and precautions regarding the "Abyss Nirvana."

These valuable experiences often provide significant survival opportunities in this cruel death match of combat.

In any industry or specialty, the best way to pass on knowledge is through real combat.

Colonel Jiang did not expect that Lin Mo would bring him to the aerospace training center in Jiuquan, where they could use the country’s most advanced aerospace simulator.

This completely exceeded Colonel Jiang’s expectations, as it was the best substitute for real combat. There was no need to worry about logistics, and he could transfer all his knowledge to Lin Mo in the shortest time possible.

Lin Mo’s performance also surpassed Colonel Jiang’s expectations. Lin Mo was a technical pilot; the better the fighter jet’s performance, the more combat power he could unleash. The various unprecedented air combat skills compelled Colonel Jiang to acknowledge in his heart that Lin Mo was already qualified to participate in the "Abyss Nirvana" international pilot death match.

…

Their duel—no, it should be called the transmission of air combat skills and expertise between ace pilots—was unknown to Lin Mo, yet this transfer of knowledge had already been recorded as a state secret.

In the simulator, engaging in their intense battles, Lin Mo significantly improved his air combat skills, especially in understanding the aerial knights’ combat methods and philosophies in this world.

The two large simulators were almost exclusively occupied by Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang.

Although each battle did not exceed 10 minutes, they engaged in 20 matches daily.

During these days of dueling, Lin Mo’s remarkable physical fitness and mental recovery allowed him to maintain prolonged combat, while Colonel Jiang fell short in physical fitness compared to Lin Mo.

On one hand, Colonel Jiang wasn’t a close-combat fighter, and his natural qualities were not on par with the Dragon Knights; on the other hand, time had taken its toll, and he had long passed his prime.

Had there not been a training center equipped with various methods to quickly recover physical strength and relax, Colonel Jiang would have needed extensive rest even if he were made of iron to continue fighting.

The aerospace training center had excellent medical and recovery facilities, ensuring that almost every astronaut received the most professional physical care after completing their training tasks.

When it comes to physical fitness and health, the only individuals stronger than pilots are astronauts.

Pilots are selected from among hundreds of thousands, while astronauts are chosen from millions. Even small countries with a foundational aviation industry but lacking a solid population base for astronaut selection would find it futile. Without excellent astronauts, they can only launch satellites and other unmanned devices into space.

Manned spaceflight is a privilege reserved for a select few countries, and this restriction is rarely related to technology or industrial foundation.

Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang, amid their battles, also enjoyed the benefits of professional massage and traditional Chinese medicine treatments, which quickly relieved their fatigue and restored their energy.

This was the special privilege the 5th Aerospace Training Center provided them, allowing them to enjoy high-standard service like other astronauts.

…

After Lin Mo used specialized air combat techniques to create spins, the large server supporting the two simulators began to show instability, significantly affecting Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang’s progress. Their daily combat time could only amount to one hour, with the rest spent using two aircraft models for tactical simulations.

To resolve the issues with the large servers, the center’s computer experts spent more time than initially estimated.