On that sunny day on July 1, 2004, the atmosphere at a certain aircraft test airport of the Chengdu Air Force was tense and solemn. People gathered in front of the tower next to the runway take-off line to witness a historic moment - the test flight of the prototype of the "Thunder Dragon" fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan. The pilot who undertook this important task was Colonel Liang Wanjun, an experienced and highly skilled Air Force special-grade pilot.
In the applause of everyone, Liang Wanjun stepped on the No. 01 new machine. He rigorously inspected the various equipment of the fighter to make sure that everything was ready. Under the command of the tower, he smoothly completed the maneuvers of gliding out, accelerating and taking off. The new fighter plane pierced the sky like a flame and soared into the sky. Today, Liang Wanjun's test flight subject is the engine afterburner boundary test. When the plane climbed to an altitude of 12,000 meters and made a left turn, an unexpected situation occurred. The fuel in the tank suddenly leaked, and the engine stalled! The plane fell from a great height! In the face of this sudden danger, Liang Wanjun showed calmness and determination.
He immediately reported the situation to the ground commander, and with his extensive experience and knowledge of the aircraft's performance, he judged that there was a problem with the fuel system. At the last moment, Liang Wanjun decisively turned off the afterburner and carefully adjusted the attitude of the fighter to reduce fuel consumption. Time seemed to stand still, and the people at the airport held their breath and watched the thrilling scene with all their attention. Liang Wanjun responded to the crisis calmly with his excellent mental quality and superb flying skills. His every move was precise and unmistakable, demonstrating the professionalism and extraordinary courage of the Air Force Special Pilot. However, even in such a moment of crisis, Liang Wanjun did not give up his efforts to save the aircraft. He calmly controlled the fighter plane, trying to find the best angle and way to land. He knows that as long as there is a glimmer of life, he will give it his all.
The ground commander stared at the radar screen and kept an eye on Liang Wanjun's movements. They kept issuing instructions to guide Liang Wanjun to stay calm while ensuring the safety of the ground. The atmosphere on the tower was tense to the extreme, but everyone stuck to their posts and silently prayed for Liang Wanjun's successful return. In the expectation and prayer of everyone, the fighter plane piloted by Liang Wanjun finally landed smoothly on the runway. The entire airport was ablaze with cheers and hugs to celebrate this historic moment. And Liang Wanjun calmly stepped out of the fighter plane and waved to the people present. His face was filled with a smile of victory, showing the bravery and fearlessness of the Chinese Air Force special pilot. In the warm applause of the people, the brave and fearless pilot, Liang Wanjun, calmly walked out of the cockpit. His every move was in the spotlight, because at that critical moment, the gauge signal light showed only 700 litres of fuel left. Liang Wanjun quickly calculated in his mind that 700 liters of oil would last at least 15 minutes, which would theoretically be enough for him to return to the airport. The ground commander also immediately ordered him to return. However, the situation changed dramatically in an instant. In 3 seconds, the amount of oil plummets to 550 liters!
This sudden turn of events made everyone feel nervous and worried. With his extraordinary calmness and judgment, Liang Wanjun immediately realized that the fighter plane was likely to be leaking oil. He knows that time is of the essence and every second counts. Senior Colonel Qian Xuelin, the commander of the ground tower, once again urged him to return to the scene as soon as possible. However, over time, the amount of fuel dropped rapidly, and in just 2 minutes, the amount of fuel for the fighter decreased sharply. The engine stopped, the fault light on the dashboard came on, and the cacophony of sirens echoed through the cabin. At this time, the plane was located 22 kilometers from the airport at an altitude of 4700 meters. In the face of such a dangerous situation, Liang Wanjun showed extraordinary calmness and determination. According to the regulations, he can choose to skydive to escape, and the current altitude is indeed suitable for skydiving. But this will lead to the crash of the newly developed fighter and the burning of valuable flight data. These data are the brainchild of scientists and will be crucial for the improvement of new machines in the future. Without too much hesitation, Liang Wanjun resolutely decided to sacrifice his life to protect the fighter plane's forced landing. The ground commander offered to skydive, but he chose to stay. Despite the dangers ahead, he held out a glimmer of hope and was determined to bring the precious fighter back to the airport safely. He knows that every decision is related to the efforts and expectations of countless people. The design and performance of this fighter is unique, with short wings and a special structure, which means that it can glide with limited distance and susceptibility to turbulent disturbances, which can lead to loss of control.
The danger of such a situation is extremely high, and even in the vast history of aviation, it is extremely rare to have a successful forced landing of a fighter plane. However, Liang Wanjun did not back down. With superb flying skills and extraordinary courage, he piloted the unpowered fighter plane and began the difficult process of forced landing. Ground commanders and support personnel watched nervously and fully cooperated with his actions. In the end, with the joint efforts of everyone, Liang Wanjun successfully forced the fighter to land on the airport runway! The entire airport was boiling, and people cheered and applauded the heroic pilot. And Liang Wanjun calmly stepped out of the cockpit and waved to everyone. At this moment, his bravery and determination became an eternal legend.
At a time full of challenges and risks, Liang Wanjun, a brave and fearless pilot, successfully forced the fighter to land safely with calm judgment and exquisite skills. He accurately calculated the return route, knowing that the route was full of unknown dangers, but he remained firm in his belief that it was possible for the fighter plane to glide to the airport. At this moment, Liang Wanjun showed his excellent driving skills. He carefully steered the fighter plane, and every movement was precise. Time seemed to slow down, and he searched for the delicate balance between altitude and speed, constantly adjusting the attitude of the plane, correcting for small deviations in speed and altitude. This is a difficult task because it is extremely dangerous for the plane to land too slowly or too fast when it is not properly controlled. Finally, at 13:43, the fighter was at an altitude of 1100 meters from the airfield, 3 kilometers at the end of the runway, ready to land. The fighter plane piloted by Liang Wanjun fell rapidly like a swallow skimming water, and he immediately controlled the direction and took the necessary landing measures. However, due to the rapid taxiing speed of the fighter, he had to apply emergency braking. The two main tires rubbed against the ground in a very short period of time, and the flames splashed at the moment of the puncture. The intense friction between the wheels and the runway created dazzling sparks, and long wheel tracks streaked across the runway. Finally, the fighter stopped 300 meters before the end of the runway. The crowd around the tower instantly erupted in warm applause and cheers. This forced landing not only created a miracle in the history of world aviation, but also successfully protected hundreds of millions of new aircraft, and brought back valuable data resources for the entire new aircraft project. His heroic deeds were highly praised and he was awarded the Order of Merit of the 1st Class and the "Gold Medal of Honor for Meritorious Pilots of the Air Force".
And behind this success, there is also a shocking fact: the failure of the fighter's fuel pipeline has led to a fuel leak. If the problem is discovered a few seconds later, the consequences will be dire. Liang Wanjun's deeds have become a legend, and his bravery, wisdom and determination are forever etched in aviation history. He is not only a skilled pilot, but also a hero who dares to face challenges head-on. His story will inspire future generations and become a source of strength to forge ahead despite the odds. His story is an invisible force that inspires each and every one of us. When life throws us with difficulties, he teaches us how to move forward with courage and determination. His wisdom and courage not only wrote a legendary chapter in his life, but also became a guide for us to move forward. Let's take his experience as an example. In the face of life's challenges, he never chose to back down. In the midst of a difficult situation, he found a way to break through with his wisdom. Falling down again and again, standing up again and again, his tenacity and perseverance became the driving force for him to move forward. Every effort he made showed us the power of courage. His story teaches us that when faced with adversity, we need to rise to the challenge. Only by going on with determination can we write our own legendary chapter. No matter where we are or what we face, his story will inspire us to keep moving forward.