Chapter 225: China’s research level leads the way!
Since the test environment is artificially created using aircraft this time, there is no need to go through the long and luck-based "finding ice" process like before. Instead, you can fly directly to the preset test airspace.
So not long after, Colombo could already see the H-6AIT in low-speed level flight on the left front through the porthole.
I must admit that as an Italian, this is a very novel experience.
He knew that when the experiment started, he would no longer be able to see anything through the porthole. After a moment of confusion, he decided that at least he could not fish the whole time, so he and Valette moved behind Lorenzo's seat. .
From their position, the laptop screen was also visible.
The screen is divided equally into six parts.
After a brief identification, Colombo recognized that the top two images showed the ice thickness scales on the leading edges of the left and right center and outer wings, and the two middle images were of the main wings on both sides. The whole picture, and the bottom two images show the situation of the horizontal tail leading edge de-icing sleeve and the horizontal tail leading edge wingtip.
Obviously, a total of 6 cameras are installed outside the aircraft, aiming at the 6 most important positions.
“Are they so confident in their predictions?”
Colombo thought to himself as he looked at the high-definition surveillance footage for this era.
Since he finally chose to board the plane, it shows that he still has confidence in the anti-icing system designed by Chang Haonan.
But the level of the anti-icing system is one thing, and it is another thing to accurately calculate the location and even the shape of the ice.
If you have to make an analogy, the former is equivalent to using a machete to remove bones. Although the difficulty is not small, it is still within the acceptable range of ordinary people.
The latter is equivalent to carving radish flowers with the Qinglong Yanyue Sword, which is a completely otherworldly skill.
Therefore, Colombo's original expectation was that the Chinese would play some visual tricks. Anyway, during the icing test, there was no way to see outside directly through the side windows. As long as the camera was blurred a little and the angle was a little different, it would be enough. The visual effects are disruptive.
Anyway, as long as the plane goes through the whole process, it’s hard for them to say anything.
As a former project dog, Colombo himself has never painted a pie, so he can understand this kind of behavior of adding a little water.
Moreover, cooperation with China is the foundation of his career in Finmeccanica Group. He even thought about how to avoid the important and trivial in the report last night, and finally gave the reason why he should agree to sign the cooperation agreement. in conclusion.
But look at the current situation...
It seems that they are not planning to do any fancy things, but want to do it for real?
......
Colombo's mind is a little confused. On the one hand, the contents of the report that he didn't sleep for half the night last night and thought up in advance may be invalid. On the other hand, he is also a little worried about these Chinese people. Can people be overconfident?
If such a clear picture were to slip out of the picture, he alone would not be able to save it with his Chunqiu brushwork.
Colombo, who was thinking wildly, raised his head and tried to distract himself by looking left and right.
And this action made him coincidentally collide with Valette's eyes next to him.
The latter has never tested natural freezing before, and his expression showed some nervousness.
Several Chinese engineers are conducting final inspections before the icing test. They have rehearsed countless times in the past few days, and they move quickly and cooperate with each other tacitly.
For a while, apart from the buzzing sound of the propeller outside, there was only a brief Chinese password in the cabin.
“The cloud droplet spectrum probe, the two-dimensional cloud particle probe, and the two-dimensional precipitation particle probe are working normally!”
"The atmospheric temperature probe, speed sensor, and external image monitoring system are in normal condition!"
"The AIT aircraft reported that it is ready for fogging operations!"
"..."
Colombo couldn't understand Chinese, and due to the problem of the aircraft's capacity, there was no translator to follow him on this trip, but the calm voices of these people alleviated a lot of his worries.
Suddenly, the cabin radio sounded simultaneously with the ongoing radio conversation in the cockpit.
The difference from before is that this time it is in English.
The engineers who were walking around just now also returned to their seats as quickly as possible and fastened their seat belts.
"Prepare to enter the artificial supercooled water mist environment!"
"Countdown 3...2...1..."
Before Colombo can mentally build up, the entire The plane flew straight into the white clouds and mist!
According to a rough estimate, for every 100 meters of altitude increase, the temperature will drop by 0.6°C.
At an altitude of 4,500 meters in February, the temperature is -30°C!
At such low temperatures, the water droplets broken up by the high-pressure gas at the nozzle enter a supercooled state almost as soon as they enter the atmosphere.
Supercooled water is still a liquid, but it is in a metastable state. When it is subject to certain external disturbances, it will freeze rapidly.
Just like a wing impact at medium speed.
"The average diameter of water droplets is 404.5 microns, the temperature is -31.7°C, and the airspeed is 110 meters per second, which meets the SLD test conditions!"
The Chinese engineer in front specially reported the situation in English.
The data can also be clearly seen on the screen of another computer in front of him.
Real SLD conditions indeed!
I don’t know if it was due to psychological effects, but Colombo even heard the rattling sound of ice forming on the surface of the plane’s skin.
The cabin glass was covered with a thin layer of ice at an almost unprecedented speed, blocking everyone's view.
He had to turn his attention back to the laptop screen in the front row.
Suddenly, the Italian felt his right hand being grabbed. It was Valette sitting next to him.
At this time, she closed her eyes tightly and pursed her red lips, obviously feeling nervous because of the overly stimulating effect of the show.
"Ha... woman."
Colombo shook his head, but did not shake him off.
At this moment, a French sentence from the front broke the strange and warm atmosphere.
“Ice started to accumulate so soon?”
Colombo was awakened and quickly concentrated, only to realize that in the ten seconds he had just been distracted, the leading edge of the main wing had already appeared. About 10mm of ice!
"No wonder the two planes had accidents before they had almost no time to react..."
Lorenzo, who was sitting in the front, muttered to himself as he looked at the thickness of the ice layer that was growing almost at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Although the investigation results of American Eagle Airlines have come out, the impact of the cold words on the paper is not at the same level as the shocking pictures before our eyes.
Colombo hurriedly used his free left hand to take out the schematic diagram of simulated icing conditions given to them by Chang Haonan the other day from the inner pocket of his coat.
Although the black and white printed image is not particularly clear, the edges of the ice shape can still be identified through the difference in grayscale.
Lorenzo also raised his share of results to the computer.
As time passes, not only the leading edge of the wing, but also the upper and lower surfaces of the wing gradually begin to appear bright ice -
An irregular shape that is harmful to flight safety. Larger ice type.
The icing position is indeed further aft, and is more evenly distributed on the upper and lower airfoils.
But judging from the outline, it is quite different from the simulation results on paper.
"Huh..."
Lorenzo and Colombo breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
I don’t mean to take pleasure in others’ misfortune.
But the result of only partially predicting it is more in line with the reality.
Of course, even this is quite impressive, and the simulation results can directly guide the specific design of the deicing system.
"No wonder the Chinese people are so courageous..."
Colombo thought this while preparing to fold the paper again.
"Wait..."
Lorenzo's eyes suddenly widened.
I saw loose, white and opaque frost ice appearing on the surface of the original clear ice.
This change made Colombo, who was already relieved, have to hold himself back.
Because these new frosts seem to be growing in a shape similar to the simulation results.
"No way..."
He raised the piece of paper again and shook Valette's arm beside him:
"Annie, Anne? Look ahead!”
The latter was already pale at this time, but he slowly opened his eyes after hearing someone calling his name.
Then I saw Colombo and Lorenzo who were stunned.
"Is it really the same?"
"C`estincroyable...Rocambolesque!"
At this time, the pilot's voice also sounded in the cabin:
< br>
"The icing time is 500 seconds. The lift of the aircraft has dropped by more than 20%. Turn on the de-icing system!"
......
When a group of people got off the plane, Chang Haonan noticed that Colombo and Watts Wright's hands actually held each other.
But it’s normal to think about it. When people are afraid, their heartbeat will speed up and more adrenaline will be secreted.
If there is someone of the opposite sex next to you at this time, it is easy for your own consciousness to mistake it for the feeling of heartbeat.
This is why young couples like to watch horror movies together.
The icing experiment just now was much more exciting than a horror movie.
Besides, an Italian and a Frenchman, haha.
Reasonable, very reasonable.
Lorenzo, who was following them, had a completely different style of painting. He was holding a notebook and pen in his hand, recording something quickly.
While writing this down, I excitedly said to myself:
“It’s too strong... This is really too strong!”
(End of this chapter)