Chapter 944 The Last Strategic Bomber (Counting Yesterday)
Almost at the same time these two things happened.
Ermao, Kiev Oblast, Priluki Air Force Base.
A Tu-154M passenger plane with the five-star red flag painted on the vertical tail is slowing down and taxiing with the thrust reverser turned on.
Due to years of disrepair, the runway has become slightly uneven, and some fragile places have even cracked.
Fortunately, for a passenger aircraft that was originally designed with tactical use in mind, all this is not a problem.
As the speed of the aircraft continues to slow down, the two pilots can gradually devote some energy to observing both sides of the runway to find the location of the taxiway——
Under normal circumstances, this It should be what the tower informed them.
However, the tower commander at Preluki Air Force Base obviously had little experience, and coupled with his gross English accent, there were a lot of troubles just in the process of directing the plane to land.
Fortunately, the airspace near here is extremely clean and there are no other aircraft.
So there won't be any safety issues.
It’s just that the passengers in the cargo (passenger) cabin are about to be squeezed into canned meat.
"Say, Lao Zheng, the air traffic control at Ermao base...why does it feel so unreliable?"
On the seats in the front section of the cabin, the cooperation with Eastern European countries accompanying this visit Qin Han, the special representative for affairs, rubbed his head, which was slightly dizzy due to the violent shaking, and asked an officer in an air force uniform next to him.
“No way.”
Zheng Xiashen, who was in charge of the entire airport pick-up task, shook his head helplessly while picking up the big-brimmed hat that had just fallen to the ground. He freed his hand and pointed to the outside of the porthole:
"Look at the environment around the runway."
“I conservatively estimate that this airport has not seen many frequent landings and takeoffs for five or six years.”
Preluki Air Force Base is located in a somewhat remote area near Kiev. store place.
During the Cold War, this was the home of the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, which existed as the most important force to deter NATO.
But now, with the 184th Regiment itself facing disbandment, naturally not many planes will visit here.
The equipment of the 184th Regiment itself only takes off every very long time.
The purpose of taking off is not for training or mission execution, but to ensure the basic operation of these aircraft and use it as a bargaining chip with other countries.
So, the person sitting in the tower now may not have directed 10 aircraft takeoffs and landings in his entire career.
Of course I don’t have any experience.
While the two were talking, Tu 154M had entered the taxiway to the right and was slowly driving towards the apron not far away.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Qin Han probed his head slightly and looked at the two dozen strategic bombers lined up on the tarmac.
The closest ones are several Figure 95s with four propellers.
A little further away, their ultimate goal of coming this time -
Figure 160.
Although he was not a soldier, he still had some relevant knowledge before participating in this mission and was able to recognize these models that were famous back then.
"Such a good airplane, just left here to rust, is really..."
For a moment, Qin Han didn't even know how to describe his feeling at this time.
Finally, he still choked out a few words:
"What a pity..."
"Yes..."
Zheng Xiashen sighed softly:
"Who would have thought that one person can build 70,000 nuclear bombs? , a country that had been at tit-for-tat with the Americans for nearly half a century, suddenly fell apart..."
As a soldier, although he gave an affirmative answer, his tone was more emotional.
When facing an enemy from within, no matter how powerful the army is, it will be difficult to play any role.
Qin Han realized that it was not easy to continue this topic, so he changed the subject and swallowed what he had just said:
"However, it is not entirely a pity. "
"After all, it is precisely because of this that we have the opportunity to stand here today..."
"Actually... Representative Qin doesn't know something."
Zheng Xiashen smiled slightly:
"It should be...about six years ago. I also led a team here, but it was not as desolate as it is now. Occasionally, I can still see a few planes taking off. "
Hearing this, Qin Han's eyes widened slightly:
"Have you been here before?"
"Yes, and I am also sitting on this plane. 154…”
"Is it also for those planes?"
Qin Han reached out and gestured out the window.
At this time, the plane happened to be parked at the designated location on the apron.
The cabin announcement sounded that it was time to prepare to leave the plane.
“Yes, but it got messed up halfway.”
Zheng Xiashen stood up and tidied up his military appearance:
“At that time, I thought that the Chinese Air Force would never miss these precious guys.”
“I didn’t expect that it could still be done now. A second chance!”
His voice was trembling with excitement.
"It's also good luck that we caught up." Qin Han also followed Zheng Xiashen to the aisle, preparing to get off the plane.
The two of them are the leaders of this Chinese delegation, but one is simply responsible for picking up the people at the airport, and the other is also responsible for many subsequent written procedures.
After all, the delivery of these Tu-160s was completed as part of the Ermao denuclearization process.
This is something that cannot be taken lightly.
……
It wasn't until a few minutes after the plane came to a stop that a ramp truck hurried over and docked at the cabin door.
Immediately afterwards, the hatch opened.
A group of dozens of people, headed by Zheng Xiashen and Qin Han, filed down the gangway.
Not far from the plane, there were already several soldiers wearing various military uniforms, obviously from different countries, waiting for them.
Although ten years have passed since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the military uniforms of Da Mao and Er Mao are still relatively similar in shape.
Sometimes it's easier to tell the difference by accessories and color.
As for those wearing uniforms of a completely different style, it is not difficult to tell from the U.S. symbols on their collars that they are mid- to senior-level officers from the U.S. Army.
That’s right, although the transaction subject involved is an aircraft belonging to Ermao.
But the main trading countries do not include Ermao itself.
The other two countries naturally brought a delegation each, but their planes landed a few hours earlier than China, so the rest of the people had already gone to Kiev to stay.
Only a few key people are left waiting here.
"Hello, friends from China."
The first, a burly soldier with a tricolor flag embroidered on his left arm, walked up to Zheng Xiashen.
Both sides saluted at the same time:
“I am Anatoly Alexeevich Noevitchin, responsible for this arms transfer and destruction work.”
"Mark Linton."
Another U.S. military officer also came forward:
"Assistant to the U.S. Strategic Command, responsible for supervising this weapons transfer and destruction work "
Although he is called an "assistant", he actually carries three stars on his shoulders, and he is on the same level as Nogovitch and Zheng Xiashen.
In response, Zheng Xiashen and Qin Han also introduced their identities respectively.
"Okay, everyone, let's relax a little."
Jack Linton spoke first, trying to liven up the atmosphere:
"According to the agreement we reached before, the formal document will have to wait until next time. It won't be signed until next week, so during this period, we will mainly make final confirmation on the details of this mission."
"Er Mao has prepared a fleet of vehicles. We can go back to the city to rest for a while... ”
He had been waiting in the biting autumn wind for several hours. It was obvious that he couldn’t stay any longer and wanted to return to the warmth of the hotel room.
"Still not."
Zheng Xiashen raised his hand slightly and said that he had other plans:
"We still hope to learn about the situation of these weapons to be disposed of as soon as possible, especially the plan to repay them with debts The four Tu-160 bombers that were nominally delivered to our country will not go with you for the time being."
Although the Chinese side sent a small team here for confirmation about half a month ago. and maintain the condition of several aircraft, and also protect them from possible damage.
However, the matter was serious, and it was difficult for Zheng Xiashen to feel relieved until he personally confirmed that the plane was intact.
"Okay."
The other two people have no objections to this:
"In short, I wish you...wish us all the best."
……< br>
After being polite to the heads of delegations from the other two countries, Zheng Xiashen used the fastest speed to find Lieutenant Colonel Hang Lijun who was posted here in advance——
Strictly speaking, it was the latter who found him.
The other party had actually been notified long ago to pick up the plane, but there were senior foreign military leaders there just now, so it was inconvenient to rush over here.
"Welcome Deputy Commander Zheng..."
Hang Lijun stood at attention and saluted. He was originally going to say a few clichés, but as soon as he said the title, he was interrupted by Zheng Xiashen:
“Okay, let’s talk about the red tape later. What’s going on with those planes?”
It was too obvious that he didn't want to show off in front of foreign troops, but in fact, he had been coveting it for a long time.
Even before this trip, he seemed to have submitted an application to his superiors, asking if he could personally fly one of the Tu-160s back to China.
As a result, I was severely criticized.
I can only live with my eyes.
“Following the guidance of the ground crew here and several Tupolev technicians, we conducted a round of screening of the aircraft.”
Hang Lijun didn't waste any time, and immediately took Zheng Xiashen to the other side of the apron while reporting:
"Three of them are in a completely normal state and can fly normally. There is no problem with the core system of the other one. It's just that There is something wrong with the action part of the variable sweep wing, and the left wing sweep angle can only be maintained at the fully extended 20° state. "
"This aircraft can be repaired here by disassembling other aircraft parts. It’s better to fly back, but it may take about a month. You can also fly back like this first and think of a solution later.”
Zheng Xiashen said without hesitation:
“The night is long and the dream is many. , 20° is 20°. Anyway, we are just transitioning, and we are not engaging in supersonic penetration.”
"So, of course, fly back first!"
(End of this chapter)