Fang Jun wrote an article recalling his trial, Born to Fly.
-the unknown story of the American reconnection plane that was shot down), which shows the beauty.
The record of this event by the parties. This newspaper features the collision process of military aircraft, the subsequent emergency treatment and the final safe landing.
After the reconnaissance plane landed, the story of the PLA boarding the plane and the crew being interrogated was published another day for readers.
The unexpected return of the J-8 fighter plane is puzzling.
I sat in the cabin, trying to take a nap, but I just couldn't sleep. So I picked up a bottle of mineral water and squeezed it.
I chatted with several members in charge of cryptography and electronic warfare along the aisle.
Everything went well in the flight of EP-3, and all the equipment in the engine room operated normally. Captain John comerford asked.
I promise, this task will be as standard as a textbook. I said, "I just haven't been intercepted yet. 」
I walked into the cockpit, and Captain Patrick Honek stood up and offered me the seat on the right. Wendy the mechanic
Westbrook also replaced Sergeant Major Nicholas Milos. I put on my headphones and checked the dashboard. I
Scientists are flying along the coast of the Asian continent, flying over the south-southeast of Hainan Island at a speed of 70 nautical miles per hour. Today is April.
April fool's day, 9: 55 am Okinawa time, ten minutes later, we are ready to return.
I glanced at the right window of the cockpit and suddenly saw two China Navy J-8 fighters about half a mile away.
Climb to our height. The PLA didn't forget us this morning. The two soldiers lined up in a vertical line.
Appearance, but the pilot obviously misjudged the relative speed and suddenly surpassed us by nearly a quarter of a mile. this
The pilot had to slow down sharply and the bullet nose was lifted high to the angle of attack. Fortunately, the distance is still far, and we
Don't worry. If you are in a military school, this bad driving skill will definitely be pawned by the instructor.
Remind team members again that all observers will be arranged by the window. At present, it seems that two China fighters and
There is no meaning of approaching. I used the autopilot to slowly steer away from the China fighter at a five-degree inclination. I know China.
The pilots will continue to monitor as usual, and they will not fly back until we turn around and fly back to Okinawa.
Hainan Island.
At this moment, something strange happened. The port observer reported that "there are two battles at seven o'clock."
Fighters are approaching. "The two fighters did not fly back to Hainan Island, but changed their positions and flew to our left.
, approaching from the rear.
I reassured the players: "They may just want to see us. Then we will fly back to our base, because we
I have to go, too. At this time, our fuselage is still slightly tilted under automatic driving. I watched the compass slow down.
Slowly turn to the northeast 70 degrees, which is the direction back to the base. Enemy fighters are on the side, and my hands are in control.
Get on the pole and take back control of the plane at any time if necessary. Patrick and Milos came to the flight module and stood beside me.
Behind him.
The Port Observer continued to report that special assessor Captain Mathea Sonon was crouching in Captain John comerford.
Next to her, staring at the China fighter and pilot from the small window above the port wing, she said, "He came at three o'clock."
Direction, his fighter plane is fully armed, missiles are hung under the wing, and he is wearing an oxygen mask. "Mathea's voice suddenly sounded.
But he became nervous: "He was so close, 50 feet, 40 feet. He is getting closer and closer, and now he can only leave us.
It's ten feet. He is gesturing, but I don't know what he wants. 」
I pushed the four power levers forward slightly, raising the airspeed to 190 knots. I don't want others to depend on us.
Our wings are so close. The landing speed of J-8 at sea level is only 156 knots, but China pilots can still do it.
It's amazing to follow us closely. Now we can only rely on the automatic driving system, although there is air conditioning in the carriage, but
Yes, I'm soaked to the skin.
seesaw battle
China intercepted the pick and rushed to the left.
Captain Jeffrey Wigner breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, he stepped back a little." Marcia also confirmed:
"Now he came back when we were at seven or eight o'clock. 」
This is really a weird and frightening experience. What does that China pilot want from us? We are in the international community
Airspace, about to fly out of China and return to base. He is so close that I can't control the huge reconnaissance plane stably.
Suddenly, I had a strange idea: "This mission report has something to write." China fighters stopped at close range.
My report will definitely set off an uproar in the command system.
But this interception is not over yet.
The observer reported, "Left rear, he's coming again. He's approaching all the time. Come on." "Patrick looked out of the window.
Exclaimed, "Oh, my God, he almost hit us. I just felt adrenaline filling my body and asked, "What? "
Meaning? 」
Patrick said nothing and pointed out the window. The fuselage of the J-8 is under our wing, but the pilots of the two planes
The cabins are parallel. I saw the nose of the J-8 coming in and out under our high-speed rotating left wing span.
The number one engine propeller is only a few feet. At this time, the China pilot took off his mask, our eyes looked at each other, and his mouth.
Muttered curses, raised a hand, as if to wave us away.
I was scared. In this case, how can he fly the plane with one hand? 歼 8 pilots are manipulating
You must hold the throttle in one hand and the joystick in the other. The pilot obviously didn't control the plane well,
Because his nose is constantly shaking up and down, each time the amplitude is about three to five feet. He clung to our wings.
Fang, flying so unsteadily again, I can do nothing.
The J-8 plane suddenly approached and left. I breathed a sigh of relief and thought, this time, I will accept my fate.
Business reports are really endless.
In a flash, Patrick growled, "He's coming again, approaching quickly. \ Ⅷ 8 \ and then from our left.
When approaching the rear, the speed is too fast for the pilot to control. He didn't lower his head, but passed under our left wing.
Instead, lift the nose and try to turn to offset the approaching power. At this time, the fuselage of the J-8 is also at a steep angle.
Tilt upward and rush to the propeller of 1 engine.
Heaven and earth are shaking.
The engine was smashed and screeched.
Patrick shouted, "Oh, my God! After saying his word, there was a loud noise from the left wing. Our fuselage is fierce.
Trembling is like driving on a bumpy country road. I saw a big piece of smoke and debris burning.
Terrible chopping sounds came from time to time, which sounded like a huge chain saw cutting metal hard. My hands are tight.
Grasp the joystick and feel every impact.
The players screamed in panic. Fragments of J-8 flew from the left, and the chainsaw stopped, but it was thick and dark.
The colorful fragments rushed to the cockpit, which was the nose of the J-8. At this moment, I realized that the propeller of 1 engine had hit.
The joint between the vertical stabilizer and the fuselage of the Zhong -J-8 suddenly cut the whole fighter into two parts.
The impact was as powerful as a missile explosion, and another large piece of black debris churned up and flew over the windshield. That's me.
Our fiberglass nose cone. Everyone in the flight cabin screamed and huddled up. After the first impact,
The pressure chamber in front was pierced, and there was a sharp decompression sound and the rumble of the engine. 歼 8 Another fuselage also
Below us, I almost hit the propeller of the right wing and the three or four engines, which made me break out in a cold sweat.
The flight cabin was in chaos and the crew kept screaming. Our nose was up, but the left wing suddenly fell. I am in the army.
I didn't learn this kind of flight at school. The propeller and nose of engine No.1 were seriously damaged, and the whole fuselage rattled.
, shaking violently, strong airflow channeling. I immediately thought that the plane was going to dive backwards. The EP-3 fuselage was very strong, but it couldn't stand the toss.
A near-death nightmare
The plane crashed rapidly and lived rationally.
I instinctively turned the joystick to the right and slammed the rudder pedal with my foot. The plane kept leaning to the left,
My nose fell off like a stone. I took a look at the gyroscope. Our tilt angle is over 90 degrees. Let's leave now.
Fly backwards. I feel sick, and death is imminent.
Although I tried to control it, it didn't help. I looked up and saw the blue Wang Yang in the South China Sea.
The first half of the fuselage flew past my eyes, emitting flames and black smoke, and a gray-white image that looked like a parachute slipped by.
In the sky, the scene is like a Vietnam War documentary. But this is reality, not a movie, and we also go straight to the sea like fighter planes.
Falling, can't fly at all.
This is the most terrible nightmare, but it is very real. I thought to myself, "This time, we are dead. We are in the sky and the plane is flying. "
It can't fly. It won't be long before it falls into the sea. The dive angle is steeper and steeper, the airspeed is soaring, and the sharp airflow sound penetrates the pressure chamber. The tilt angle exceeds 130 degrees, and the nose is 50 degrees lower than the horizontal plane. Don't try again.
Balance the fuselage, pull up the nose, and we will start to roll and never recover.
But I can't give up. I have a responsibility to save the lives of the 23 crew members on board. The navy trained me for years,
Is that I can handle the crisis, and I will fight to the end.
Reason gradually overcame the panic, and I reminded myself that the fuselage was seriously left-leaning and the nose was slipping all the way. Now I'm going to put the vise
The wing and rudder hit the left side with all their strength to prevent the plane from rolling when flying backwards.
The vertical speed index has reached the highest point of 6,000 feet per minute, which has exceeded the limit of fuselage design.
But the terrible descent also allows us to enter denser air, which is expected to increase the air buoyancy aileron, which makes me
Balance the wing, then pull back the joystick and get out of the descent process.
Very slowly, the blue ocean gradually slides to the right. I was thirsty and nervous, staring at the cockpit window.
Outside, I tried to recall and follow my flight training in the military academy. Although the speed of decline is getting faster and faster, the wings are always there.
Fifteen thousand feet, which means we dropped nearly eight thousand feet in thirty seconds. The damaged propeller is still spinning,
It may fall down and hit the fuselage at any time.
I turned to Jeffrey and shouted, "Radio for help." He immediately called with international emergency radio frequency:
"Help! Help! We're going to crash. I also switched the radar transponder from standby to 7700 and "emergency"
Let the ground radar station know our situation. The rate of decline is still increasing. If necessary, I hope my team members are ready to skydive.
But skydiving is extremely dangerous in this case.
Landing at sea is also a desperate choice. Under the high-speed impact, the water surface is like a cement wall, and the crew is almost
Might survive. But we still have to find a way to land I picked up the walkie-talkie and said to navigator Regin Kaufman:
"Reggie, take us to the nearest airport. I know it will be in Hainan Island, probably Lingshui Airport.
, the base of the J-8 fighter.
Command and conquer: red alert
Initiate emergency destruction and prepare for forced landing.
"The red light is flashing," Wendy suddenly announced, with a strong voice. I saw three overheated red lights on the engine instrument, police.
I feel that the engine has been running at full power for too long. If I don't slow down, I may burn out another engine. if
The left no.2 engine was burned, and the plane can no longer fly.
I called through the public address system, "Start the emergency destruction plan, prepare to land, and then call the side (co-pilot)."
Say, "Jeffrey, read me the landing schedule." Because there is already a big hole in the pressure bulkhead, it is unnecessary.
Decompress. Both airspeed indicators have failed, so how quickly the data is destroyed can only be guessed. Jeffrey (male name)
Most items read from the data destruction program table are not applicable, and only a few items are applicable, including appropriate items.
Set the time for the fifth case and prepare the crew for skydiving.
I can imagine that the people behind me are in chaos, and the operators and technicians are busy cleaning up their confidential information.
Then John (Captain comerford) collected them and put them in a secret box. John is also responsible for eliminating all secrets.
Information, and then he will follow the forced landing procedure and smash all computers with a fire axe. The last item in the schedule is the handle.
The secret data box and the smashed computer were thrown out of the upper right hatch. We have flown to the high seas, and after the secret box was thrown away,
Will sink to the bottom of the sea, and all the confidential information written will dissolve quickly.
When the plane crashes quickly after a collision, our flight speed may exceed 400 knots, and the gravity we bear is certain.
It has exceeded the design limit of this aircraft, and it is likely that its structure has been seriously damaged. Maybe it's a front-wheel steering device
The hydraulic pipeline will break, resulting in the complete loss of all hydraulic oil, thus making it equivalent to the steering wheel hydraulic booster.
Fault. Now, I will be unable to control the strong pull on the left wing, leading to stall; If this happens.
Healthy, I'd better let the crew get out early and crash myself.
At this time, I can't abandon the plane. The navy never teaches pilots to give up easily. I will try to stabilize the crew's mood, and if possible,
Try to fly the plane in this situation. But I know that the only hope of survival is to find an airport to land. Emergency damage
The destruction plan has begun, but we are not at war. If we can save the plane and its crew, why waste it?
Go to hell.
Sail for Lingshui
Discard confidential information and stabilize the crew.
I used the public address system to call, "Regina, give me a seat. I need a position where I can land immediately. "
」。
Regin replied, "About 2900".
Our direction after falling and recovering is about 270 degrees to the west. Turn our nose 20 degrees.
It is heading for Lingshui military airport in Hainan Island.
"Lingshui, Lingshui", I used the international emergency frequency to call "KR9 19 for emergency help. This is a serious plane.
The damaged plane is about 70 nautical miles southeast of Hainan Island, please allow an emergency landing. "In the roar of the engine.
And the noise caused by strong airflow, I can't hear the answer. I called again, but I still couldn't hear the answer.
According to John's description afterwards, when our plane collided with China's J-8 military aircraft, the plane dropped rapidly.
Although he regained stability, his nose was still down, and then he heard me order through the public address system, "Prepare to jump."
So John went to the back cabin to supervise the distribution of parachutes. Parachutes and umbrellas pass by according to a person's figure.
Adjustment, so everyone must have their own parachute. The process went smoothly and no one panicked.
John put on his parachute, helmet and gloves, sat down in the jumping seat next to the main door, and then put on his helmet.
My microphone contacted me through the intercom system. "Cockpit, we're going to jump off the plane," but I can't hear the answer.
Answer. The crew has lined up, grabbed the pull ring on their heads and personally checked their skydiving equipment.
Just then, John heard me calling through the public address system: "Start the emergency destruction plan and prepare for the forced landing."
The crew immediately let go of the pull ring and personally handed over their confidential information to John, who then put it away.
Go to the black box and smash the keyboards of all laptops with a fire axe. After making sure there was nothing missing, he went.
Below the right hatch, prepare to open the hatch and complete the emergency destruction procedure.
Technical test
Acceleration, deceleration, difficult control.
When the back cabin was in a mess, I shouted "You are in charge" to Jeffrey, and then I got up to put on my parachute.
Equipment, and then John suddenly appeared behind me and helped me put on my parachute. In fact, I know that when the crew jumped off the plane,
It was too late for me to jump off the plane in the back cabin, but I have ordered everyone to get ready to jump off the plane. If I don't wear a parachute myself, it will affect the psychology of the crew.
John shouted to me, "I'm going to open the hatch." I nodded and shouted, "What should I do?"
I don't care when you open the hatch, we will fly to Lingshui.
Jeffrey and I switched places. Looking out of the left window, we can clearly see the damage of the engine 1.
Although the blades are still spinning rapidly, two blades have been cut off by a foot. No wonder the plane vibrates so much. It's good.
It seems to be falling apart. We must land before the blades leave the engine and penetrate the fuselage.
I put on my headphones and took the joystick. Pat called Lingshui Airport directly through emergency frequency. I think
The pressure in the fuselage kept changing until John opened the right hatch and discarded the confidential information.
The altimeter of the plane failed, and the pointer shook up and down at an altitude of 8 thousand feet, although the horizon and other instruments
Which means the plane has stabilized. I'm not very worried because the radar altimeter is still working, and when the plane arrives at five o'clock.
Accurate readings will be displayed at a height of thousands of feet.
Grope in the fog
The hovering runway appeared over the coast.
There is a mountain in the center of Hainan Island, which should be visible at this height and distance, but the fog is too thick and the visibility is poor.
Insufficient; I asked loudly, "Regin, where is the airport?" Regin replied, "Keep 290 degrees and fly straight.
Until you see the airport. "
Then I decided to lower my altitude. The aircraft engine is still close to the maximum power. I put the power rods of three engines.
Grasp it with the right hand and the power lever of the faulty engine 1 with the left hand, and then reduce the horsepower by about 100 shaft. plane
The level suddenly tilted, the left wing and the nose dropped sharply, and the height suddenly dropped sharply, which surprised me. I move it.
Push the joystick forward again and feel the speed increase to stop the descent. I had to slow down the high-speed plane.
Health, in order to keep the plane from getting out of control.
John later explained what happened at the end. He was caught in the roaring airflow and grabbed the outer frame of the cabin in one hand.
Grab the broken computer with your other hand. He wants to throw the computer where the wind can't walk and push his upper body away.
The hatch cover that has been lifted. However, the deafening explosion of the third engine will probably suck him out of the plane.
He shouted to the two crew members behind him, "Grab my parachute." They immediately grabbed his tie and put him.
Pull back. Then, he threw the black tablets into the wind one by one, and they were blown away like dead leaves.
All the items on the "emergency destruction" list have now been disposed of. John picked up the hatch cover and locked it on the shelf.
I informed Patrick, "Enter the fifth situation. We are ready to land. "
Patrick pressed the button to convey the command: "Situation 5". I pulled the power lever back slightly until I wanted to fly.
The linear speed is reduced to the landing speed. My arm is sore and weak, so Patrick and I take turns driving. everybody
After three or four minutes, everything is under control.
When we descend into the denser and wetter air about 5000 feet high, we find that we can be careful.
Turn the joystick from the vertical angle to the left to about 75 degrees, which makes it easier for us to drive, but because of the machine
The fuselage continues to vibrate, and it still takes a lot of effort to control the plane.
Finally, the blue ridge of Hainan Island appeared in the dense fog ahead. At that time, I was in charge of flying, Patrick
Play the radio. He said it twice in a slow and clear voice: "Lingshui. KR-9 19 requires emergency landing. We are one.
A badly damaged plane is located about five miles south of Hainan. We have to crash landing. 」
The other party didn't answer.
When flying to the coast, we can see the flash from a small city on the island from the clouds ahead. According to the regulations,
Navy pilots are not allowed to fly damaged planes over the city. I added some power to make the fuselage fly off the island to the right.
We have to hover for a while to find the location of Lingshui airport. It's a pity that we didn't carry the details of the airport.
Approach map, otherwise it should be possible to find out the landing direction, runway length, tower communication frequency and its flight AIDS. We usually take the arrival map of the major airports in this area. However, no one expected that we should.
China will try to land a damaged plane at a military airport in China.
When we slowly hover and descend to an altitude of 2000 feet, Regine will use her precise navigation equipment.
Tell me the landing direction. I said, "Regina, can you show me the way?" She said cautiously, "You should see it.
A city. Then there is a river. The airport is on the left. 」
After completing the 360-degree rotation, I leaned forward and saw two blue mountains in the west and a place in the northeast of the city.
The view of the winding beach is very similar to Caniohei Bay on Oahu. The brown concrete runway is on the first mountain.
Appear behind the ridge.
I shouted, "Lingshui. I see the airport. When we flew over the beach at 1000 feet.
In the bay, I pulled the elevator, but it stopped. I was shocked: the tail was damaged and I couldn't push hard.
Slap.
Prepare for landing
Useless empirical judgment of emergency manual
Before that, Sergeant Milos kept an eye on Pat and me, checking every instrument to make sure it was still there.
The intact engine is still running smoothly. The three of us in the cockpit are all absorbed in our upcoming landing.
Work.
When we approached Hainan, the master sergeant was busy reading the emergency manual and looking for the landing problem we were facing.
Solution. However, it is obvious that the speed indicator we are facing is out of order, and the nose is knocked off. We can't
The problem of rotating drooping wings always adds up, and the answer can't be found in the manual.
When we flew over palm trees and brown dry rice fields on the ground at an altitude of 1000 feet, the instrument showed that
The ground speed is 220 knots. We can only refer to this figure. The master sergeant shouted, "Zone 143.
It is the landing speed of our drooping wings. However, because I can't judge our correct speed, we have to
It can be accelerated in the final stage of entry. I said, "increase 30 knots at this rate. 」
I pushed the power lever forward an inch to accelerate. The shiny runway unfolded before us.
This route is vertical. I want to fly over the airport from this angle. At 800 feet, I can check the airport.
. However, after flying over the airport, I had to lean 30 degrees to the left to avoid hitting the hillside. Normally, I don't think so.
You can finish this action if you like. But today, the malfunctioning joystick should be pulled to the right angle, but it cannot be exceeded.
However, it makes me feel doubly hard.
We flew over the airport at an altitude of about 700 feet. There are no planes or vehicles on the runway. I caught a glimpse of a row of dew on the right.
Skyfighter, there is a J-8 fighter in every castle. However, now is not the time for sightseeing.
Fear relief
Landing gear not damaged, landing safely.
I held my breath and let the plane lean to the left to avoid hitting the hillside. I told Pat, "Put down the landing gear. Check landing steps
Suddenly. "Pat's hands fumbled on both sides of the seat. He asked anxiously, "Where is the list? Therefore, the inspection list
It was lost with confidential information. I said, "Pat, we've had the fifth situation before. The drooping wings stay up.
. Lower the landing gear. "Pat grabbed the landing gear handle in the shape of a tire and pulled it down.
The three of us held our breath and watched the landing gear position indicator on the right side of the dashboard change from "up" to "down". because
The nose is gone, and the landing gear is lowered louder than usual. It seems that the landing gear is not damaged.
From the moment the plane crashed, the fear that had been in my heart was finally lifted. I know we can
To survive.
I shouted, "Now, three of us are down and locked." "Yes," he said, even in the air.
In the noise, his voice obviously also contains a sense of relief.
I turned at an altitude of about 500 feet, then turned north and flew back to land. Because I can't talk to the tower,
I don't know the wind speed. There are no signs on both sides of the runway showing the length of the runway. However, since it is the base of the eighth fighter,
We should have enough time to descend. Anyway, the time is not long enough, because we have to land.
I said to Pat, "Report the ground speed until we land. As the plane was damaged, I couldn't.
Landing in a normal head-up way, that is, the main landing gear lands first, and the front landing gear lands later. today
I want to land on the deck of the aircraft carrier like a Tomcat fighter. At least, I don't have to be a man.
The cat pilot tried to hook the cable.
I turned at an altitude of about 500 feet, then turned north and flew back to land. Because I can't talk to the tower,
I don't know.
Risk reduction Lingshui has been tossed several times.
I gently stepped on the brakes to slow down the plane; The runway is very bumpy, and grass emerges from the cracks in the square cement block;
On the left front, two green military trucks full of soldiers drove past the musty black tower.
I said to Patrick and Milos, "It seems that they are already waiting for us. 」
Patrick said, "They probably detected our distress signal. 」
Obviously, the other party knew we were coming. Jeffrey once saw another fighter plane not fall parallel to us for several minutes.
Later, I flew to the northwest and to Hainan Island.
As we approached the end of the runway, a thin man in short sleeves and sandals came over and waved us to slide.
. He waved his right arm desperately and let us slide to the tarmac on the left. At this time, the truck has been driven to the front, and the soldiers have come.
Jump down. About one third carry AK-47 submachine guns. I obeyed that man's orders.
Although the engine is still rotating from the damaged pressure chamber, there is no high-speed airflow coming at me now, and there is also a walkie-talkie
Communication is much clearer.
Unfinished. . Baidu can't write it down