Chapter 463

Chapter 463: The Gallic Rooster

The “Gregory” Flight Squadron, as a performing flight team, excelled in creating an impressive spectacle.

As they prepared to enter the landing sequence, Kameni Ivanov, nicknamed “Mayflower,” had his teammates perform a couple of low-difficulty maneuvers in succession, using this rare opportunity to earn some accolades for Sukhoi in the eyes of the spectators.

Everything was aimed at winning right from the starting line.

Barrel rolls, snake maneuvers, Immelmann turns, and dual-plane scissors attacks filled the air.

The roar of jet engines resonated over Bourget Airport, drawing countless eyes.

With each fighter jet maneuver, the ground visitors erupted into thunderous cheers, witnessing real fighter jets showcase their skills—what a thrilling spectacle, far more exciting than the scaled-down models.

You could even see the remote control model enthusiasts clapping vigorously for the Su-27, cheering for the Russian pilots. That was a true fighter jet, nothing like their miniature models.

Yet, nobody knew that among this group of Russian pilots was a Chinese pilot; if they did, it would have certainly caught everyone’s attention.

The sound of digital cameras clicking and flashes went on endlessly, as the Russian Su-27 “Guardian” fighters became the focal point of the entire airport. Many early arriving tourists felt lucky to have come at the right time; the international aerospace exhibition had not yet opened, but the excitement was still in full swing.

The impromptu performance of the Su-27 squadron heightened everyone’s anticipation for this year’s exhibition.

Low-altitude maneuvers unfolded one after another, and for the “Gregory” Flight Squadron, showcasing dynamic movements was as easy as eating and drinking.

As each Su-27 completed a series of maneuvers, it turned to lower its landing gear, aligning with the runway and gradually descending.

Amidst a trail of smoke, the jet slowed down, gliding along the runway at an inertial speed of 350 kilometers per hour, until most of its energy was spent.

“Number 7, you do one too, just something simple! Haha, show the audience what you can do!”

Having already taxiied from the runway to the parking area, Kameni Ivanov, the leader of the “Gregory” squadron, encouraged Lin Mo over the radio to show off a bit, considering he was a temporary partner in the team.

At that moment, the second Su-27 trailed behind, while the third Su-27 lined up on the runway.

“OK!”

After replying, Lin Mo suddenly pushed the control stick left and forward while stabilizing the aircraft’s balance to avoid excessive rolling. The flaps on both sides of the main wings instantly assumed opposite positions, and Number 07 Su-27 banked downwards.

Naturally, Number 07, following the “Gregory” squadron, was the last to execute a maneuver, completing its transition flight.

After finishing the communication, Kameni Ivanov no longer looked to the sky but instead guided his fighter into the parking position, waiting for ground staff to tow the aircraft. For him, the transition flight mission had concluded once they arrived at Bourget Airport.

While the members of the “Gregory” Flight Squadron focused on their aircraft as they successfully landed, they didn’t notice that a majority of the airport visitors had collectively opened their mouths involuntarily, their eyes wide in amazement as they watched the last Su-27.

A side turn and dive!

Could it be a super low-altitude turn? No, that isn’t right; the direction was wrong. It was heading straight towards the eight towering columns on the airport lawn, the flight path aligned perfectly with those columns.

Facing the rapidly approaching seven- or eight-story-high columns…

Left bank! Whoosh! It slipped past the first column, and almost the nose of the aircraft grazed the second one.

With agile maneuvering, adjusting the angle of attack, the dual-engine jet’s exhaust flames displayed varying strengths as they shot out.

Right bank to pull the nose back, skimming past yet another column. It was hard to imagine such a huge fighter jet could execute an instantaneous double flash maneuver so gracefully.

But it wasn’t over yet…

Inside the cockpit, Lin Mo’s hands flew over the controls, deftly manipulating the control stick, tail rudder, and throttle, even fully deploying the single-piece speed brakes on his back. The wings moved widely from side to side, expanding and contracting.

Like a fierce flying beetle, shaking its form, it performed dazzling maneuvers, weaving around the eight columns in a spectacularly intricate pattern.

That was… that was…

The spectators in the model aircraft performance area were left speechless, completely unable to react as the Su-27 Guardian glided through the eight aligned columns in an elegant S-shaped maneuver, nearly brushing against each one without a scratch.

The distance between these columns was only 60 meters, while the length of the Su-27 Guardian was 22 meters, leaving barely enough space for its body between any two columns.

Yet, within this seemingly impossible distance, the Su-27 numbered 07 passed through unscathed.

For a heavy jet fighter traveling at a speed of at least 400 kilometers per hour, even a 0.01-second deviation could lead to destruction and loss of life.

The almost perfectly smooth sensation of precision left everyone at a loss for words.

“Oh! Oh! Oh oh! Oh oh oh oh…”

Gilles Lebray, the live host from French TV Channel 4, and his guest Mardan de Polignac shared identical expressions and actions, pointing excitedly at the eight columns, rendered speechless by their emotions.

The indescribable feelings lingered in their throats, eventually exploding into a single syllable that bounced out monotonously, as if in that moment they both lost their ability to speak.

Their continuous “oh” sounds resembled two roosters crowing in unison.

Perhaps this was how the symbol of French culture, the Gallic Rooster, came to be.

Not only that, but it wasn’t merely the hosts in front of the camera who displayed an idiotically furious reaction that enraged the producers; behind the camera, the model airplane enthusiasts and visitors on the lawn mirrored their response.

Dumbfounded, with stiff bodies, they pointed to the sky, collectively mimicking the crowing of the Gallic Rooster, creating a stunning spectacle!

It was not just those in front of the camera; even the viewers at home watching the scene on television shared remarkably similar reactions.

The cameraman for Channel 4 was perhaps the only one fully aware of his surroundings, skillfully tracking every second and every maneuver of the Su-27 with his camera.

“Oh my God! That can’t be real!”

Hunter Smith, a seasoned model aircraft enthusiast from the United Kingdom, was oblivious to the fact that he had accidentally dropped his model airplane controller on the grass, his eyes still fixated on the Su-27 number 07, which was regaining altitude and beginning to execute its landing procedure.

Without multiple rehearsals and careful, precise control, such continuous maneuvering through columns could only be achieved by a hyper-realistic model airplane, yet it was accomplished by a massive real one.

“Damn! Can someone tell me what we just saw? What happened? What just took place?”

The model aircraft hobbyist, stunned by the reality-breaking event, voiced such bizarre exclamations, as their minds struggled to process everything they had just witnessed, still vibrating with the roar of the AL-41F jet engine.

The shock echoed in their minds like a Doppler effect, slowing their reactions as if they had suffered a momentary intellectual regression.

Gilles Lebray, the host from French TV Channel 4, stiffly held the microphone and exclaimed, “I say, Mr. de Polignac, didn’t you just say that a real fighter jet, especially a jet fighter, couldn’t maneuver around these columns? Is that right?”

His knuckles turned white as he unconsciously gripped the microphone, completely devoid of the spirited demeanor he had earlier displayed on camera, clearly shaken by the unfolding scene.

“I, uh! No, no, I never said that!”

Aviation enthusiast guest Mardan de Polignac shook his head vigorously like a rattle, adamantly denying his earlier words, while internally lamenting, where did this monstrous pilot come from? Can a Su-27 perform such maneuvers?

Oh no, my lifelong reputation is ruined! All of it, completely down the drain!

What a tragedy!

All of France, indeed the entire world, will know that Mardan de Polignac is just a braggart; shortly after his words left his mouth, he was publicly slapped in the face.

The Su-27’s swaying felt like a series of slaps, left, right, again and again—ten times in total.

What the hell? No man could withstand this.

He wished he could just run over and crash into one of those columns.

“Scalpel! Scalpel! Precise scalpel!”

“It’s a scalpel!”

“Scalpel!”

“Scalpel! Scalpel! Scalpel! Scalpel! Scalpel!”

As someone familiar with the history of the Su-27 Guardian shouted “scalpel!” it spread like wildfire, with many joining in the cry, filling Bourget with an organized and enthusiastic chorus, the air itself feeling nearly electrified.

On September 13, 1987, above the Barents Sea, the Su-27 first exposed itself to the eyes of other nations, and with a fearless strike, it entered history, establishing its formidable reputation.

Above the Barents Sea, the scalpel!

It precisely cut through the eight high columns, which were less than 60 meters apart, immediately conjuring images of a scalpel known for its precision. Yes, the Su-27 also shares the title of “scalpel” among fighters.