The South China Sea was a body of water in the Western Pacific, located south of the Eastern Great Nation. It was one of the world's largest, most resource-rich, and busiest sea areas, stretching for thousands of kilometers and containing more than 460 islands and reefs.
These islands and reefs possessed abundant natural resources, including oil, natural gas, and fisheries, while also serving as vital strategic locations.
To protect the interests of the nation and its people, the People's Navy routinely patrolled these waters. Of course, many matters were handled by the Coast Guard. As long as they took down the tricolor plastic sheeting, the other side would wisely flee. There were also disobedient troublemakers, and the Navy's big guns would only step in when the other side refused to listen or when the Coast Guard could not handle the situation.
It was a clear morning. On the deck of Carrier Number One, carrier-based aircraft were preparing for ski-jump takeoffs. Flight crew worked with the pilots to inspect the aircraft's condition and began their daily routine training—repeatedly launching and landing carrier-based aircraft, with landings being the highest priority.
Inside the carrier captain's office, the captain, a Senior Colonel, opened the folder in his hands and flipped through its documents.
Inside were profile cards for each trainee. These trainees were Naval Aviation students who would undergo Carrier Qualification Certification aboard Ship Number 001 several days later. Every one of them was an elite who had survived fierce competition and successive rounds of elimination.
Pages rustled as they were turned one after another. Suddenly, Captain Zhang Jun's gaze stopped on one trainee's profile. The trainee's record and training results caught him off guard, then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Interesting kid."
At the same time, inside the changing room of a certain Naval Aviation University.
Click! Click! After fastening the buckles of his anti-G suit, Liu Jun ran a hand over his shoulder patch, picked up his helmet, and walked out of the changing room. He followed the corridor to the airfield outside, then headed toward the hangar.
Inside the hangar, a domestically produced Mountain Eagle advanced trainer was undergoing its final preflight inspection. The aircraft's versatility stood out. As a trainer, it had wide-ranging applications, excellent training efficiency, high safety and reliability, and outstanding medium- and low-altitude subsonic and transonic maneuverability. It could carry out intermediate, advanced, introductory combat, and tactical confrontation training missions, as well as proficiency training for operational-unit pilots.
Ground crew inspected the aircraft's outer skin and landing gear, removed the covers from the intake and engine exhaust nozzle, and positioned boarding ladders at the front and rear cockpits, waiting for the trainee and instructor to board.
"Instructor Wang."
Liu Jun walked up beside the Mountain Eagle. Instructor Wang Yong, already changed into his anti-G suit, looked at his trainee and nodded, signaling for him to board.
"Get in."
"Yes!"
After climbing into the cockpit via the boarding ladder, fastening his seat belt, and putting on his helmet, Liu Jun's first task was to inspect the instruments and check for foreign objects in the cockpit, ensuring that every item was secured. Once he confirmed everything was in order, he looked down at Wang Yong, who was handing over with the ground crew below.
After completing the handover, Wang Yong climbed the boarding ladder and settled into the rear seat. He put on his helmet, adjusted it slightly, and said softly, "Today is your last training session. Just perform as you normally would."
"Understood."
Liu Jun gave the ground crew a hand signal. They quickly stepped forward, removed the composite rubber wheel chocks, and hurried to the safety zone.
The engine started. The compressor drew air into the engine, high-quality aviation fuel was injected into the combustion chamber and ignited, and the resulting high-temperature gases drove the blades into rotation, continuously sustaining the process. The engine began to shriek as hot exhaust blasted from the nozzle.
Liu Jun gently pushed the throttle forward and released the brakes. The Mountain Eagle slowly taxied out of the hangar and followed the road toward the main runway. From afar, it looked like a somewhat oddly shaped luxury tricycle—except this tricycle cost rather more.
"You'll be taking the Daytime Carrier Qualification Certification tomorrow. You won't have any problems, so don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just perform as usual."
As they taxied, Wang Yong began chatting with Liu Jun. As an instructor, he knew every trainee he had trained well. Becoming a carrier-based aircraft pilot was no simple matter.
On the C chart, uncorrected distance vision in both eyes had to be no lower than 0.6, with no color blindness, color weakness, or strabismus. That requirement alone eliminated plenty of people, followed by nearly two hundred medical examinations.
Dozens of psychological tests!
A first-tier undergraduate admission score!
Those only qualified someone for preliminary selection. After that, they had to enter Naval Aviation University to study piloting for four years, with continuous eliminations throughout!
The five basic fitness events, spiral stairs, rolling wheels, and more. Failing to meet the standards in any of them could mean elimination!
From theoretical studies and joint physical-fitness exams to flight training units, their aviation careers had only just begun!
From basic trainers to advanced trainers, they had to earn passing scores in every stage. After transferring to carrier-based fighter flight training and meeting the required standards, they had to achieve all-excellent marks before undergoing Carrier Qualification Certification.
Even after meeting all those requirements, they were merely promising candidates. To truly become a carrier-based aircraft pilot, they still had to undergo constant training aboard a carrier.
"Why did you want to get certified on Carrier Number One?"
That was what puzzled Wang Yong. Of the three carriers currently in service, Carrier Number Three was still undergoing sea trials and had not entered service. The facilities aboard Carrier Number Two were the best of the two carriers, after all. Ceres had absorbed Carrier Number One's technology and built it independently, making it more suitable for the Eastern Great Nation. Carrier Number One still had combat capability, but its foundations limited its potential. Refitting the entire ship would cost more than building a new one.
Carrier Number One's primary role was also training carrier-based aircraft pilots, but it carried half as many aircraft as Carrier Number Two. Since trainees would remain aboard whichever carrier they chose for certification for quite a long time, most chose Carrier Number Two.
"Instructor, with half as many carrier-based aircraft, that means I can get twice as much training." Liu Jun spoke with utter seriousness.
Wang Yong was amused by his trainee's reverse logic. It was true that, because of its carrier-based aircraft situation, Carrier Number One had relatively fewer pilots aboard.
"Come on, kid. You're trying to earn more stick-and-rudder pay, aren't you?" Wang Yong teased.
Though Liu Jun was still a trainee, he truly held the rank of Second Lieutenant. His benefits were the same as those of carrier-based aircraft pilots, except his flight hours and rank had not gone up yet, so his stick-and-rudder pay was a little lower. Still, it was not a small amount.
"Instructor, life's hard enough. Don't expose me." Liu Jun sighed.
At that moment, the Mountain Eagle taxied onto the main runway. Liu Jun lowered the flaps to the takeoff setting and locked the landing gear brakes.
"Control Tower, requesting takeoff."
Over the communications channel, Liu Jun requested takeoff clearance from the Control Tower. The reply came quickly: approved!
After receiving permission, Liu Jun pushed the throttle forward. The engine RPM rose, and a piercing shriek rang out. He released the brakes, and the poised Mountain Eagle shot down the runway like a wild horse breaking free of its reins, its speed rising steadily. Air swept over the wings and became downwash, generating lift for the aircraft.
Once it was fast enough, the Mountain Eagle's landing gear left the ground. Liu Jun sharply pulled positive Gs and pushed the throttle forward, sending the Mountain Eagle climbing toward the sky at its maximum angle of attack.
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