The extra help the Soviets gave was a part of the Merlin 4-5 engine that was disassembled from the British Spitfire VB fighter on the Soviet battlefield. This 4-5 engine is the same as the 27-type engine used in the Hurricane 4.
The appearance and volume are roughly the same, but the power is slightly lower.
After replacing this engine, the maximum level flight speed of the aircraft dropped to 610 kilometers. The climb rate also dropped somewhat. However, the high-altitude combat capability was greatly increased. These 200 third-hand engines
, although Anti-Lian was not satisfied, he finally accepted it.
This Spitfire was not popular on the Soviet battlefield. Its landing gear spacing was too narrow and was not suitable for Soviet field airports, let alone the opponent of the new German FW 190 fighter. The Soviets, who disliked this aircraft very much, thought
This kind of fighter that is purely used as an air superiority fighter is not as useful as the Hurricane fighter that can be used as a fighter-bomber.
This batch of Spitfires were obviously acclimated in the Soviet Union. Because of the too narrow landing gear, the non-combat losses in the Soviet Union were very high. The airframes were completely smashed and disabled, and the pilots suffered great losses. In the new models of La5 FN and Yak IX
After the output could fully make up for the war losses, the Soviets directly scrapped these aircraft. The engines were disassembled and given to the Anti-Japanese Alliance in exchange.
However, although these aircraft engines are only second-hand goods, and most of them were disassembled from scrapped aircraft, they have been refurbished, but they are still slightly damaged. However, the performance of this batch of engines is still quite good, no matter what
It can be said that it has partially filled the vacancy before self-production.
However, although there are some detailed working drawings of Soviet surveying and mapping, as well as physical objects for reference. But when manufacturing large quantities of engines required by oneself, with the technical foundation of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, it is difficult for the British to fully understand this kind of technology in a short time.
Already relatively backward, but for the Asian battlefield, the engine is still very advanced and has encountered great difficulties, and the progress of imitation is still slow.
In the end, the first batch of 200 Yak-9 long-range fighter jets manufactured by the Anti-Japanese Alliance were all used when they were shipped out of the factory in the second half of 1943. The British provided spare engines for the Hurricane IV fighter jets. Even the second batch of 100
Fifty aircraft were grounded due to insufficient spare engines, and the engines were removed and retrofitted to this aircraft.
It was not until the beginning of 1944 that the imitation of this engine was completely completed. However, although the process was a bit more difficult, through the imitation of this engine, the British process and production standards were mastered. The performance of the engine manufactured by the Anti-Liange was actually
It surpassed the Soviet imitations and mastered turbocharging technology through mapping and imitation.
It was also by relying on the imitation of this British-made engine that a good foundation was laid for the subsequent imitation of the engines used by the B-24 bomber and C-47 transport aircraft. These two American-made engines have been used since the end of 1943.
After receiving the drawings, manufacturing capabilities can be formed in a short time.
It cannot but be said that the British, as an old industrial power, have a solid foundation in terms of craftsmanship. Even though this engine has detailed reverse engineering drawings provided by the Soviets and a physical prototype, the counterfeiting work of the Anti-Japanese Alliance is still abnormal.
difficult.
In the early stages of imitation, although the finished product was quickly produced, both the level of craftsmanship and the quality of the product were far from being comparable to the prototype. Not only was the structure overweight, but it was also riddled with problems after only a few dozen hours of use.
Either it has to be grounded, or it has to spend a lot of effort on repairs, or even have to endure the cost of a decline in the overall performance of the aircraft.
It took nearly half a year just to reduce weight and improve reliability, but the result was still the use of imported materials. After switching to using most of the self-made materials, the average life of these engines was only a dozen hours. It was helpless.
The only way to do this is to walk on two legs.
One is to import as many raw materials as possible to create a qualified engine. On the other hand, start from scratch in terms of raw materials. Continuously improve the raw material process formula and make great efforts to solve the production process. However, when the foundation is too thin,
By the time a qualified engine made entirely of its own materials leaves the factory, this battlefield has entered its final stages.
In order to concentrate the limited manpower to imitate this engine, the Anti-League even temporarily stopped the work of imitating American bomber engines. Fortunately, there are detailed working drawings and processes. Although this engine took a year, it was finally imitated.
come out.
However, due to limitations in the source of raw materials and manufacturing processes, the monthly output has never exceeded 500 units. Compared with the output of tens of thousands of engines of one model in other countries, such a small amount of output is not even a fraction of others.
It can only be said that it has entered the threshold of production.
However, compared with the engines of the Ilyushin II attack aircraft and the Ilyushin IV bomber, the performance of this Merlin engine far exceeds that of the Soviet-made engine. When manufacturing this engine, the level of craftsmanship required is also far higher.
surpassed the Soviet-made engine. This is also the reason why it took so long for the Anti-Japanese League to imitate this engine.
Producing and manufacturing aviation industry products requires more than just technology. It does not mean that if someone gives you the drawings, you will be able to produce and manufacture them. At least a process standard for each component is an insurmountable obstacle. If someone does not give you
Regarding process standards, even if you have drawings, you still can't produce qualified products.
If you want to fully produce qualified products, you have to explore parts one by one. How much quenching process is required for forged parts? What needs to be done to extend the life of fine parts? This is the most important thing in producing qualified products.
factors. Drawings are not the most critical, technology and craftsmanship are the most critical.
It was through the experience accumulated in imitating this liquid-cooled engine that the Anti-League was able to solve the final imitation work of the Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine used by US-made bombers. To a certain extent, it got rid of its dependence on imported aircraft engines and improved
It has improved its own technological level and promoted the development of upstream and downstream industries such as non-ferrous metal metallurgy.
Although the imitation process is extremely difficult, the successful imitation of this engine and the final quality appraisal of the self-produced raw materials have truly allowed the Chinese to enter the threshold of aircraft engine manufacturing. And through a high starting point, it has driven the development of the entire aerospace engine industry.
Sustainable development.
Through the technology accumulated in the subsequent imitation of American bombers, within a short period of time after the war, the imitation of the American B-29 bomber and the Wright engine used by it was completed. However, during the war, the Americans gave the aviation industry
After using up the aluminum, we had no choice but to discontinue production of all-metal bombers because we were unable to process the required ultra-thin aluminum alloy ourselves.
In the end, the problem of raw materials was finally solved with the help of the Soviet heavy bomber master. However, the prerequisite for solving the problem was that the Anti-Japanese Alliance could only share the most advanced heavy bomber in the United States that it had mapped with the Soviets. And
The only B-29 bomber, which was pieced together from the wreckage of a modified aircraft that crashed in the Northeast, was handed over to the Soviets for joint research.
But in any case, after the production of this aircraft, as well as the previous successful imitation of the Il-2 attack aircraft and the AM 38F engine it used, the Chinese have truly entered the ranks of aircraft manufacturing countries for the first time. Although because of
It is not possible to produce all the raw materials by itself, and the quantity produced is very limited, but it can at least partially meet its own needs.
In the process of imitating this engine, Qian Xuequ, who was left behind by Yang Zhen, played an important role. It was this scientist whose major was focused on aviation materials research, who led a group of fledgling
The students, starting from the raw material process and working backwards bit by bit, finally solved all the technical problems of the engine.
However, although this Yak-9 ultra-long-range fighter jet, except for some engines, windshields, and tires, all raw materials are basically self-produced, allowing the Chinese to truly master the production technology of semi-modern aircraft. But it also caused problems on the side.
Another consequence made the people in the base area quite dissatisfied.
It's just that the main body materials of this aircraft and the IL-2 attack aircraft are wooden. Therefore, when manufacturing these aircraft, the Anti-Japanese Alliance mobilized a large number of carpenters throughout the Northeast base area to participate in the manufacturing. Although the technology for manufacturing aircraft is qualified
There are not many workers, but there are still many capable carpenters in the Northeast base area.
In order to repair the Soviet-made aircraft with mainly wooden fuselages, the Anti-Alliance Aviation Force mobilized many carpenters from the beginning. There was no way, the rear fuselages of the MiG-3 and Yak-9 were both made of wood.
Second, even the wings are made of wood. Without qualified carpenters, once these aircraft are damaged in battle, there is no way to repair them.
In order to ensure the attendance rate of these wooden aircraft, the Anti-Japanese Alliance Air Force had a group of salaried non-commissioned officers from the beginning. These people received the standard technician wages of the Anti-Union military industry, but were only awarded the rank of professional carpenter technical non-commissioned officers, and the rank insignia was only two
There are a lot of troops equipped with a cross piece of wood and an ax instead of a gold star.
After the production of the Yak-9 ultra-long-range fighter jet and the Il-2 attack aircraft began, the number of carpenters in the army alone was far from being able to meet the needs. Under the slogan of everything for the front line, in order to meet the needs of long-range escort, a large number of
For the aircraft, the Anti-Japanese Alliance mobilized a large number of qualified carpenters to participate in its manufacture.
This caused another serious consequence. For a long time, the people in the base area could not find better carpenters when they needed it. And not only the Northeast, but also various base areas in North China mobilized
A large number of carpenters came to work in the Northeast.
But in this era, as long as the conditions are acceptable, people always have to buy one or two pieces of furniture as dowry or betrothal gift when they get married. Building a house in the countryside also requires a large number of skilled carpenters. Most of the skilled carpenters were recruited by the Anti-Japanese War to make airplanes.
, can people be satisfied with the things created by the remaining half-baked carpenters?
It is undoubtedly a shame to marry a wife and daughter who cannot make qualified furniture. This makes the people in the base area who have no idea where these carpenters have been mobilized by the government, are naturally a little dissatisfied. Some people even think that these people are
He was sent to Lao Maozi to make furniture for the Soviets in exchange for aircraft and cannons.
However, many years later, the confidentiality period established back then has passed, and many issues have been made public. These carpenters who were mobilized to the factory but had no idea what they were doing, still have a lot of awesomeness to brag about: "Don't look at me as a carpenter.
, I built airplanes back then, and my craftsmanship also played a big role in fighting the Japanese."
It was only these carpenters who later made what they were doing at the time. Their career in making aircraft was very short. They mastered the technology of aluminum airframes in the Anti-Japanese Alliance, and with the recovery of Fushun, the important aluminum industrial base of the Japanese, after all-out repairs
When the Fushun Aluminum Factory resumed production, these carpenters' careers as aircraft workers came to an end.