Soaring into the sky! 58 years ago today, my country's J-7 fighter jet successfully completed its first test flight

On January 17, 1966, the J-7 fighter jet independently developed by my country successfully completed its first test flight. The J-7 fighter jet is my country's first fighter jet with twice the speed of sound. It has more than 20,000 parts and components, and more than 200 new processes, technologies and materials. It is the most complex aviation system engineering since the J-6 in New China, and it marks that my country has the ability to independently produce the world's most advanced second-generation aircraft at that time.

J-7 fighter

The most complex aviation system engineering since the founding of New China

The J-7 fighter, also known as the Type 62 aircraft, is a lightweight, 2x supersonic daytime frontline fighter aircraft that was trial-produced by my country's Shenyang Aircraft Corporation based on the Soviet Union's MiG-21Φ-13 aircraft. The aircraft has more than 20,000 parts and components, and more than 200 new processes, technologies and materials. It is the most complex aviation system engineering since the J-6 in New China. Its appearance not only demonstrated the technical level of my country's fighter aircraft manufacturing at that time, but also marked that my country had the ability to independently produce the world's advanced second-generation aircraft at that time.

The J-7 fighter jet has been improved and enhanced to varying degrees compared to the first-generation J-6 aircraft in terms of flight performance, flight quality, life-saving system, weapon system, onboard electronic equipment and engine power. The aircraft has always occupied a very important position in the Chinese Navy and Air Force fighter equipment system due to its own technical characteristics such as good flight performance, light weight, flexibility, low cost, high efficiency and simple use and maintenance. The J-7 fighter jet has been in service for more than 50 years and has always performed stably and reliably. It is a fighter jet model that my country has carried out more international cooperation with. It has been exported to many countries and has become a powerful tool for defending the airspace of these countries, and has been widely praised.

Over the past few decades, the J-7 has developed more than 20 models. It has become one of the main combat equipment of our Air Force since the 1970s, and has continued to be used until the beginning of the 21st century, and has been exported to many countries.

Chief test pilot Ge Wenyong test-flies the J-7 fighter jet

Overcoming all difficulties and building China's own fighter jet

In 1961, the country "introduced" the MiG-21 aircraft. In August of that year, all the technical data of the MiG-21 aircraft arrived one after another, with a total weight of about 13 tons. It is conceivable how difficult it is to understand and learn such a vast amount of technical data, and then develop and produce it. The state-owned Songling Machinery Factory (now Aviation Industry Shenfei) immediately organized translators and technicians to engage in the huge translation and copying work. At that time, due to three consecutive years of natural disasters, many employees in the factory were malnourished and even suffered from various diseases. The number of edema reached more than 2,000. However, the employees were not intimidated by the difficulties and insisted on being busy in various preparations related to the imitation of the J-7 aircraft.

On October 23, 1962, Luo Ruiqing, then Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, officially approved the imitation and named it the Type 62. Later, when the national unified aircraft model was renamed, it was changed to the J-7. The factory then conducted a large amount of technical research on the MiG-21 aircraft, digested and understood a total of 48,000 standard pages of technical data, and made technical preparations for the imitation of the MiG-21.

The tricky part was that the first batch of trial-produced loose parts and components of the MiG-21 aircraft shipped from the Soviet Union were roughly packed and soaked in water, causing some finished products and parts to become moldy and rusty, and the skins to be severely scratched. Not only did some finished products lack part certificates, but 80% of them were approaching the inventory storage period. In response to this situation, the factory overcame many difficulties and inspected the loose parts, finished products, and accessories that arrived at the factory one by one, and carried out heating, baking, rust removal, oil sealing and other treatments according to the damage.

At the same time, the factory prepared for a rainy day and started to solve the problem of the test runway for the J-7 aircraft. The employees worked together with 1,952 officers and soldiers sent by the Air Force 217th Unit, braved the hardships, and worked in the severe cold season of -30℃ to expand the airport runway, with a total construction area of ​​146,818 square meters. During this period, scenes of military and civilian cooperation and hand in hand were staged on the test runway.

In the process of trial-producing the domestically produced J-7 fighter, Shenfei Company adhered to the principle of "self-reliance, hard work and domestic base", fully absorbed the experience of the J-6 fighter, and made improvements and innovations on the basis of respecting science and fully understanding technology: in November 1964, the production of parts for four J-7 fighters was fully launched; in July 1965, the task of manufacturing parts for the entire aircraft was basically completed; in September 1965, the assembly of aircraft No. 0001 began; in November 1965, the static test of the entire aircraft was carried out in an orderly manner; in November 1965, the assembly process of test aircraft No. 0002 was completed...

J-7 Prototype No. 0002

The J-7 aircraft has won numerous military exploits

On January 17, 1966, the first domestically-made fighter jet, the J-7, made its maiden flight by test pilot Ge Wenyong. After completing the performance test, the J-7 flew over the Bohai Sea and conducted air-launch tests including cannons and rockets.

After that, Shenfei Company continued its efforts and completed various test flight subjects including high-altitude performance. It finally completed the trial production task assigned by the state 14 months ahead of schedule and delivered it to the troops for use on November 30, 1966.

At that time, the US Air Force often sent reconnaissance aircraft to spy on us and even harassed our border areas. After the J-7 aircraft was equipped with troops, it won many military exploits. From January 1966 to 1971, our Air Force pilots flew J-7 aircraft and shot down 6 US-made unmanned high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and 7 fighter jets that invaded our airspace. They also shot down more than 300 high-altitude reconnaissance balloons flying in our airspace, effectively defending the security of our country's airspace.

The J-7 fighter jet, which has repeatedly made great achievements in battle and terrified the enemy, has also developed many improved models and became the main combat equipment of the Chinese Air Force in the 1970s.

The J-7 series fighters are widely exported to Asia and Africa

On October 1, 1984, at the military parade celebrating the 35th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, an aerial formation of 35 J-7 fighter jets majestically flew over Tiananmen Square in a fingertip formation of five fighter jets each. At the ceremonies celebrating the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the National Day in 1999 and 2009, J-7 fighter jets also flew over Tiananmen Square as an aerial formation to be reviewed by the leaders of the Party and the country.

Today, the J-7 fighter has gradually faded out of people's sight, but Chinese aviation personnel have always adhered to the character of concentrating on forging sharp swords and silently keeping loyalty. In the great journey of "serving the country through aviation", they continue to compose the triumphant song of the era of soaring war eagles with their youth, wisdom and sweat.