Chapter 138

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 138: Just Keep Spitting It Out, and You’ll Get Used to It!

After lunch, a camouflaged K-8 (KJ-8) training aircraft stood ready on the runway. This was a basic trainer model provided by China during military aid, featuring side air intakes, a low wing, conventional tail, and a three-point landing gear arrangement. Powered by a Garrett TFE731-2A engine from the U.S., it was designed by Hongdu Group and manufactured by Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company, accounting for over 70% of the global export trade. It was a mature trainer model.

The other three training groups had already completed their test flights with the K-8, and Lin Mo’s group was the last. It was essential for instructors to understand each pilot’s habits, and if anything didn’t align with the FC-20 operations, they would immediately correct it. Not every type of aircraft could support the same operations, and mishandling could easily cause in-flight disintegration or stall.

“Grafido, you go first with me. Nolaf, put on your headset and listen on the ground. You’ll be up in half an hour!”

“Got it!”

Grafido and Nolaf replied in unison, showing no disagreement with Lin Mo’s decision.

Lieutenant Grafido climbed into the front seat first, while Lin Mo supported the aircraft’s structure, applying force with his feet to leap into the back cockpit. His agile move earned applause from the onlookers.

Major Huang De, Major Han Ringuang, and Captain Zou Han were nearby, observing their students in the area around the runway.

The K-8 jet trainer marked HX07 quickly ascended to 2,000 meters. From the back seat, Lin Mo did nothing, focusing solely on Grafido as he completed all steps from self-check to takeoff. Despite maintenance and technical issues, the flight training time for the Zambian Air Force was nowhere near that of the Chinese Air Force. However, Grafido’s fundamentals were solid, proving him to be an excellent choice from Lusaka Air Force Base.

Lin Mo nodded and said, “Great, let’s start with some maneuvers. I’ll call out, and you do!”

“Okay, Lin!” Grafido aimed to impress, performing exceptionally well.

“First maneuver, ‘Break Turn’ followed by ‘High Yo-Yo!’” Lin Mo commanded, placing his hands on the control stick, ready for a potential catch. He never imagined he would one day be teaching others.

The K-8 training aircraft tilted to the side, pulling into a large arc before climbing sharply upward, nearly vertical. At 5,000 meters, it leveled off for two seconds and then dove down. Grafido put in great effort, his body tensed as he endured the G-force pressure.

“Excellent, excellent! Steady now, be mindful of the throttle. If you lose feedback, level out instantly and increase power output to counteract the sudden change,” Lin Mo’s voice remained calm, as if he wasn’t experiencing high G-forces at all.

The K-8 was not a supersonic fighter, with a maximum speed of only 800 kilometers per hour. It primarily trained combat skills and could carry cannons and aerial bombs.

“Next, we’ll perform the ‘Immelman Turn,’ followed by ‘Quick Barrel Roll,’ and finally a ‘Scissors’ maneuver. This forms a combo move called ‘Vertical Rolling Scissors.’ Take a deep breath and get ready!” Lin Mo called out another tactical maneuver, a challenging chain move known for its difficulty, also referred to as the rising barrel roll scissors maneuver.

Through the headset, Lin Mo could hear Grafido’s heavy breathing. Suddenly, the K-8 roared to full power, filling the cockpit with loud noise. The strong G-force pressed down on them.

The K-8’s speed surged almost a third faster, climbing at a steep angle while rolling clockwise. Amidst the roar, it nearly reached its design speed, and the altimeter quickly climbed to 8,000 meters.

Not just the ground observers found it dazzling; looking outside from the K-8’s cockpit felt dizzying. Ordinary people could not withstand such maneuvers; they could even get injured. Only professional pilots dared to perform such moves.

Lin Mo’s expression was serious as he rapidly shifted control, pulling back the stick and instantly switching operation modes. He took over control from Grafido. The K-8 training aircraft surged upward again as if rejuvenated, executing barrel rolls and scissors movements, performing unbelievable actions as if under a magical influence, appearing like an elusive spirit in the sky.

Lin Mo was familiar with this combo maneuver, somewhat similar to the “Hunting Sparrow Path” of the wind element Giant Dragon, which combined different aircraft postures to execute high-speed defensive maneuvers, effectively switching between offense and defense.

“Oh God, oh God!” Grafido felt dizzy as control was taken from him.

Grafido could handle some of the individual maneuvers Lin Mo had mentioned, but combining them overwhelmed his ability. Determined to perform well in front of Lin Mo, he didn’t dare admit defeat, fearing the loss of face. He struggled to execute the flight according to his past training in memory.

However, during such high maneuvering, not only did the aircraft endure extreme G-forces, but Grafido’s body faced immense pressure too. After making the “Immelman Turn,” he could no longer maintain the planned “Quick Barrel Roll,” struggling to continue the subsequent maneuvers. After trading speed for altitude, the aircraft approached a state of losing control. At that moment, Lin Mo decisively switched operational control back to himself, reclaiming command of the aircraft.

This was merely a training aircraft. If it were a fighter jet, Grafido could hardly imagine how difficult it would be. He had flown the K-8 before; he was a qualified pilot for the MiG-21, yet never expected that just a few continuous tactical maneuvers could exhaust most of his energy. Was this what true air combat elites were like? Were Chinese pilots truly this impressive?

At that moment, Grafido genuinely respected the skills of Chinese pilots.

Sitting in the cockpit, Grafido gasped for air, trying to calm his racing heart. He could still hear Lin Mo’s calm voice as he piloted the K-8, instructing him, “Lieutenant Grafido, watch my moves closely. Don’t apply too much force; feel each tremble of the aircraft through your body and let the wings sense the air outside. Pay attention to the airflow, especially in the clouds; they will tell you the state of the upper-air currents. Listen to the engine and keep it at reasonable high output; don’t worry about damaging it; it’s tougher than a tank.”

Lin Mo shared his experienced techniques through this unified state of man and machine. Such miraculous flying skills couldn’t be captured in ordinary training textbooks. Each individual expressed the same maneuver in completely different ways due to varying talent and comprehension.

This guy, this guy!

Lin Mo’s voice remained steady, completely unaffected by the high-G maneuvers. Through the radio, his calm instructions reached the tower and ground instructor groups, where students initially didn’t notice anything amiss. Finally, they realized something was off, their expressions froze, eyes wide and mouths agape, faces reflecting disbelief. Was Lin Mo not at the controls? His calm voice stood in stark contrast to Grafido’s heavy breathing.

Unfortunately, Grafido couldn’t last the full thirty minutes and after just 12 minutes, the K-8 with Lin Mo and him landed on the runway, slowing down and taxiing into the exit area.

Ground personnel quickly brought over a boarding ladder to the cockpit. Lin Mo, just as he had boarded, supported himself against the cockpit sides and leaped down from the aircraft. Grafido, however, needed assistance from the ground crew to climb down. His already dark skin appeared drained of color, looking pale.

Suddenly, Grafido stumbled to the side into the grass and knelt, vomiting, coughing, with tears and snot flowing freely.

Having finally released the turmoil in his stomach, Grafido gasped, realizing how embarrassing it was for a pilot to vomit mid-flight.

“Here, wipe this!” Several tissues were handed to Grafido.

When he looked up, he saw Lin Mo, feeling his face flush, realizing it was hard to hide his embarrassment. “Thank you!”

He took the tissues, taking a while to compose himself.

“How are you, Grafido?” Nolaf rushed over, patting Grafido on the back, concern etched on his face for his comrade.

“Much better, much better! I’m okay!”

Grafido nodded but was too shy to meet others’ gazes.

“So scary! Difficult to imagine.”

“Does the FC-20 really require that level of training? It’s incredible!”

“Chinese pilots are truly strong; no one would outperform Grafido!”

“Is this the strength of the Chinese Air Force? Amazing!”

What?! Grafido was astonished. The whispered comments weren’t mockery, but a relieved acknowledgment.

He saw other pilots, like Captain Leo and Major Bampin, giving him a thumbs-up, as if celebrating his survival from a near disaster.

“Are you feeling better?” Lin Mo noticed Grafido’s color had improved.

“Thank you, Lin!” Grafido gasped for air, standing upright. It was immensely stimulating; this wasn’t something one could endure purely by will. He realized he still had a lot to learn.

Even at this moment, Grafido felt his legs trembling slightly.