Chapter 164: What a Paint Job This Is

Four days after the notification of the new aircraft's maiden test flight, the Imperial Capital finally reached a conclusion regarding the new military standards, effectively legitimizing the Second Institute. By synthesizing the research results of the engine and comparing them against the new military standard specifications, the authorities in the capital finally put an end to the dispute over the direction of these standards.

The requirement was for the new military standards to be revised further in accordance with the Second Institute's proposed path. Simultaneously, the Military Standard Revision Office in the capital would participate in the development process. Although this meant halving the credit with the Revision Office, it was a satisfactory conclusion that resolved a major issue.

Three days ahead of schedule, Yang Hui arrived at the First Institute. It was only under the guidance of the institute's personnel that he was able to reach the aircraft factory, which also served as the airfield.

There, Yang Hui unveiled the mystery of the new aircraft. Upon seeing its "dashing" silhouette, he could not remain calm. He had previously assumed that after the experience with the model aircraft livery, the First Institute would have learned its lesson and opted for a more aesthetically pleasing design. Although the aircraft was still in the test flight phase, a striking livery could maximize public appeal; as it stood, however, the current appearance was somewhat lacking.

Setting the livery aside for a moment, he inspected the aircraft's configuration. It was equipped with a Turbojet-7 engine. During the test flight phase, it was unnecessary to install all the equipment, and the fuel load would be light; for this weight, the Turbojet-7 was sufficient.

A real aircraft is, after all, a real aircraft. Whether it be a full-scale wooden mockup or a computer simulation, nothing can compare to the reality and impact of the actual machine. Even though the metallic texture was masked by a layer of varnish, the sheer aura of the craft remained; one could sense its exquisite, ultimate beauty the moment they approached it.

The nose no longer featured the iconic intake and cone of the J-7; in their place was a massive, integrated radar dome. The pitot tube was no longer the long, protruding rod seen on the old J-7; it had been integrated into the very tip of the radar dome, with only a portion exposed to collect data.

The wings had been redesigned. A large-sweep delta wing was added in front of the original delta wing. Combined, these not only made the wings look much better but also provided a qualitative leap in performance.

In front of the wings were the newly designed air intakes. While they appeared somewhat abrupt, this very abruptness highlighted the aircraft's unique character. Behind the wings sat a slightly modified all-moving horizontal stabilizer, and beneath that were newly designed dual ventral fins—a major distinction from the single ventral fin of the old J-7.

Of course, the most notable visual difference was the cockpit design. As a heavily modified trainer, the height difference between the front and rear seats had been increased, causing the rear seat to be raised. This resulted in a prominent hump on the spine of the aircraft. This elevated rear section provided more internal space, which could be utilized for fuel or electronic equipment.

The only disappointing aspect was that the windshield remained a traditional three-piece design, which significantly compromised the pilot's field of vision.

The rivets covering the entire fuselage were also a major eyesore. The finish was not ideal, though it was not a critical issue; when the aircraft was officially delivered, a bit of polishing and a coat of paint would effectively cover them.

"Chief Designer Yu, is this new aircraft ready for its test flight? I assume there is still a lot of ballast installed inside, right?"

Yang Hui’s question did not surprise Chief Designer Yu at all. This was standard practice for the maiden flight of any new aircraft, and their base was no exception.

"That's correct. Much of it is currently ballast. We do have the finished radar units shipped from the UK, but there is no need to install them for this flight, and many other components are just dead weight as well."

Chief Designer Yu then addressed the control system, which was of concern to Yang Hui: "Regarding the control system, we are still using the old-fashioned hydraulic system. On one hand, it is more reliable for the initial test flight. On the other, the fly-by-wire system is still under development at the Northwestern Polytechnical University; they estimate it will take another three months."

Mentioning the university and the fly-by-wire system reminded Yang Hui of his classmate. He wondered if Yang Wei was involved in the project. A fly-by-wire system did not necessarily need to be installed for the first flight; in fact, many third-generation aircraft used the safer hydraulic system for their maiden flights, with fly-by-wire controls implemented gradually in subsequent tests.

These issues were within Yang Hui's expectations. What concerned him now was the livery. This test flight was of great importance; officials from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—who were known for their appreciation of stylish aesthetics—would be attending. The aircraft needed to look sharp and impressive.

"Chief Designer Yu, is it appropriate that the aircraft is currently just covered in varnish? With so many officials and foreign representatives attending the maiden flight, a lack of an attractive exterior will result in a significant loss of points during the evaluation."

At the mention of the livery, Chief Designer Yu laughed heartily and produced several concept renderings to show Yang Hui, knowing that Yang had demonstrated strong artistic talent during the model aircraft design phase.

As Yang Hui looked at the renderings, his expression grew increasingly strained. The designs were certainly interesting and representative—they undoubtedly showcased the typical artistic sensibilities of the "local" engineers.

He went through the drawings one by one, his expression growing stranger with each one. Chief Designer Yu understood his reaction without a word being spoken.

Institute Director Bai stepped in directly: "The livery issue is in your hands. We haven't been able to settle on one and have been waiting for you to make the final decision. You are the authority on this."

When the word "authority" was used, both Yang Hui and Chief Designer Yu laughed. This authority had been acquired quite simply and without dispute.

Since the design was now his responsibility, Yang Hui had to give it serious thought. At the very least, it could not look ugly.

This was only a test aircraft for the maiden flight, so he couldn't use a flashy, high-profile livery; it wouldn't fit the aircraft's status. As for the "Green Crescent" livery of the later Pakistani JF-17, he felt there was no need to reveal it so early; it would be more appropriate to use it when testing in Pakistan.

So, what should he use? Honestly, the "yellow primer" look of later years was barely acceptable for the test phase, but it appeared outdated compared to foreign experimental aircraft. He needed something new that wouldn't seem too pretentious.

Yang Hui recalled a factory livery for the F-35. New aircraft usually rolled out in yellow primer, but on the F-35, the frames and the edges of the removable panels were accented in green. This not only added a touch of color to the monotonous yellow but also clearly delineated the removable panels, making it both beautiful and practical.

Green and yellow—was it too "local"? Not at all. These colors were staples in industrial design worldwide. Using them would not seem out of place or unconventional.

He immediately proposed the idea to Chief Designer Yu, who recognized the benefits of the green accents at once and approved the plan.

With computer-aided design now available, Yang Hui worked with Yang Yue to process the new livery. The result was a clear improvement. The new design immediately won over Yang Yue, who, like any young woman who appreciated beauty, wanted the aircraft they had worked so hard to design to look as stylish and handsome as possible.