Chapter 482

Chapter 482: The "Sun" and "Tejas" in a Bind

“Captain, Captain! Kameni! Kameni! Are you alright?”

As the "Snowflake" followed the first Su-27 flown by Kameni Ivanov, known as "Mayflower," he heard a strange noise on the communication channel.

“Zeth! I’m fine, all good. Let’s head back.” Although Captain Kameni Ivanov, the pilot of "Mayflower," spoke with a calm tone, he couldn’t hide the tears in his voice.

“Don’t be sad, Captain! We’ve made so much progress compared to before. As long as we give it our all, there’s nothing to regret.”

On the radio, the voice of "Snowflake," a member of the "Gregory" flight team, came through. He realized that the noise he heard earlier was actually a stifled sob.

Filled with unwillingness and helplessness, but lacking anger, they accepted that their skills fell short, leading to the current situation. The aerial knights had a strict hierarchy; only pilots who shot down five aircraft or more could be regarded as aces. The difficult standard set for them by the top aces felt nearly impossible to achieve, and they didn’t even have the right to look up at that level.

As the captain with the best flying skills, Kameni Ivanov contemplated taking the risk to try maneuvering between the eight pillars, but the Sukhoi engineers stopped him. Such delicate operations not only required proficiency but also an ultimate mastery of aircraft performance, along with significant understanding of the aircraft’s structure. Only then could he manage the overload energy’s flow within the airframe without risking tearing apart or crashing.

According to urgent calculations from experts and technicians within Sukhoi, the maneuver performed two days ago was theoretically possible but practically unfeasible. Humans simply couldn’t control details with that kind of precision; even a minor cabin vibration could misalign the control stick, leading to unpredictable disastrous consequences.

The ultra-low altitude crossing maneuver, previously mastered by the Russian "Warriors" aerobatic team, was successfully performed today as the final act by the "Gregory" flight team.

The danger of this maneuver far exceeded that of the devil’s formation, requiring not only exceptional flying skills but also significant mental resilience.

Due to its high risk, the "Gregory" team had not fully mastered the maneuver; chance played a significant role in its success. They hadn’t intended to use it in this exhibition, but circumstances forced them to showcase it as the grand finale.

In the past, this would have earned fervent cheers and applause from the audience, but now, they received nothing.

Using the ultra-low altitude crossing maneuver as a last resort couldn’t relieve the audience’s immense disappointment. They couldn’t invite Lin Mo to help again; National Defense Star’s demands were beyond just Sukhoi, and even the Russian military couldn’t agree.

The most crucial element of the entire fighter jet was the engine. A good engine could directly enhance aircraft performance. Even in standard authorized production, engine technology and materials were strictly guarded by designers. There was no way it would be leaked.

The "Gregory" flight team faced an inevitable crushing defeat, met with an overwhelming silence—no applause, no flowers, no cheers. It was hard to comprehend how they ended up facing such cold treatment; their feelings of resentment could scarcely be articulated.

After the flight ended, as Captain Kameni Ivanov managed to safely land the aircraft, he could no longer hold back his tears. He gripped the control stick to keep the plane steady, allowing tears to blur his vision.

“Let’s return, Captain. You performed wonderfully today.”

“Yes, don’t be sad. We have more opportunities. With more training, we can definitely surpass that guy.”

“Captain, you’ve done your best and accomplished your mission excellently.”

Rather than offering comfort to his team, the teammates ended up comforting the captain.

As the "Gregory" flight team departed, the "Sun" flight display team from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited took to the skies, flying four aircraft together.

The "Sun" flight display team flew the LCA "Tejas" fighter jet, which Hindustan Aeronautics had invested heavily in developing. The jet featured a delta wing design without horizontal tailplane, a layout aimed at reducing control surfaces and easing demands on the pilots.

However, compared to the J-14 "Eagle Falcon," the LCA "Tejas" seemed like a toy; even India’s best pilots wouldn’t meet the qualifications to climb into a J-14.

The 14 aerodynamic control surfaces on the J-14 could confuse even an average pilot, making it difficult for those who had only flown the J-10. Only an exceptional talent like Lin Mo could handle such an artifact from the start.

“It’s the LCA ‘Tejas’; it looks a lot like our Mirage-2000, with that familiar delta wing. I almost want to shout ‘Long Live the Mirage-2000!’ The Indians aren’t copying our Mirage, are they? I have my doubts. Recently, during the India-Pakistan conflict, I heard rumors that the Hindustan Aeronautics factory in Bangalore was bombed by the Pakistani Air Force, destroying a large part of it. I find it hard to imagine how Hindustan Aeronautics could fulfill orders if they can’t even meet their domestic needs for production. Fighter jets aren’t like cars; they can’t be mass-produced on automated assembly lines.”

Guest Mardan de Polignac, well-versed in both professional knowledge and international aerospace manufacturers, struck a nerve with the Indian representatives at the Hindustan exhibit, leaving them grumbling in frustration. Why was he prying into their wounds?

Regardless, Mardan de Polignac couldn’t hear their complaints, his humor inducing knowing smiles among industry experts, while ordinary audience members chuckled at his teasing tone, realizing that Hindustan Aeronautics was merely there to make appearances and had no production capacity. What were they doing out here?

Even if they received orders, they wouldn’t be able to reach into his pocket to fund it.

Mardan de Polignac’s blunt remark dispelled the hopes of smaller nations wanting to negotiate fighter purchases; unable to afford an F-16, let alone a J-10 or Su-27, they aimed to snag some relatively cheaper options from India, only to find that their factory had been destroyed by the Pakistanis. Trying to negotiate would have been futile.

Fighter jets were not like noodles that could be quickly plucked from boiling water; the production cycle took at least six months. Waiting for ready-made jets was nearly impossible. Otherwise, jet fighters would be as common as street cars by now.

One had to admit that the Indians possessed a unique talent for practice, turning their drills into a form of acrobatics with synchronized barrel rolls and tail-slide maneuvers. Although not as thrilling as the previous Sukhoi "Gregory" team’s daring acts, they offered a visual delight all their own.

“I must say, the ‘Sun’ pilots perform their stunts beautifully. Let’s once again thank Hindustan Aeronautics for their presentation. Hmm, Sun, Tejas—de Polignac, don’t you think these two names complement each other nicely?” The French 4 Television host Gilles Lebray, unable to witness any more wondrous maneuvers, seemed uninterested, casually stating that he, like the audience, craved excitement, thrill, and shock.

“Indeed, I share your sentiments!” Mardan de Polignac echoed, also lacking enthusiasm. If the routines continued to be so dull and uninspiring, he might fall asleep.

Suddenly, one of the LCA "Tejas" fighter jets broke away from the formation.

“Huh?” Host Gilles Lebray paused, observing that the departing LCA "Tejas" made a small arc and charged towards the exhibition area’s eight pillars.

Gilles Lebray suddenly shouted, pointing at the Indian “Sun” display team’s aircraft, “Ah! What are they doing? That LCA, what does it want to do? Could it be…?”

“…Oh God, it wants to pull off that maneuver! No, it can’t be!” Mardan de Polignac exclaimed, joining in the shock. The audience erupted; many couldn’t contain themselves, standing and gasping, causing even the camera’s filtering equipment to overload.

One LCA "Tejas" fighter jet broke away from the formation, leaving the other three jets baffled and halting their descent as they scrambled to follow along.

“Oh Lord Vishnu, if the Russians can do it, I, Malathika, can do it as well! I am the best pilot India has ever seen! By the noble Brahmin blood that flows in my veins, I will succeed, or I would rather return to Shiva’s embrace…”

The stunning maneuvers of the Su-27 two days ago deeply inspired Malathika, a top pilot in the "Sun" flight display team. Pumping himself up, he readied his LCA "Tejas," aligning it with the eight pillars.

In the past two days, aside from eating and sleeping, he had repeatedly watched the video of that day and explored the maneuvers during training. He believed he possessed exceptional talent and had fully mastered the stunt. He intended to replicate it and surprise the world.

Indeed, performing that maneuver in front of a global audience during the official exhibition would be far more valuable than the pre-opening video. Hindustan Aeronautics would undoubtedly benefit, and perhaps he could establish himself as a significant contributor, riding the wave of success to new heights.