In 1928，Chen Shaokuan took office as the Commissioner of the Republic of China's Naval Force, and with vigor and high spirit he submitted that the Republic Navy began a two year construction programme consisting of an aircraft carrier, four destroyers, three cruisers and two submarines. Chen Shaokuan intended to use this naval fleet to reaffirm China's previously lost naval dominance.However, one month after submission, the Republic's National Reorganization Conference was convened, and Chen Shaokuan's application for the programme was ruthlessly denied.Chen Shaokuan cried out at the verdict, as he had been at the helm of the Navy for 17 years, and in this period had assembled through purchases and construction a fleet numbering 45 ships.However, the total weight of the fleet did not surpass 30，000 tons, or in other words a navy that was not more developed than a fleet of the Late Qing Dynasty.After the victory of Anti Japanese War and Chiang Kai-Shek's provocation of a civil war, Chen Shaokuan's dream of a Chinese aircraft carrier was thoroughly shattered.
After 1960's, Liu Huaqing was the symbolic figure of the Chinese aircraft carrier dream.
In 1982，Deng Xiaoping personally appointed Liu Huaqing as Naval Commander. In fact, seven years previously as Deputy Naval Chief of Staff, Liu Huaqing had written in the book Reports on Issues of Naval Equipment that Deng Xiaoping, at the time the Vice Chairman of the Central Communist Party, calling bravely to“Commence research and development of an aircraft carrier as early as possible！”
Chairman Mao and the Communist Party were both determined to speed up the development of the navy. The navy would strengthen through determination and the realization of planning.However the construction of a powerful navy should not only be directed on the development of small ships.Building more ships would do little to deter the enemy, and battleships were essential to overcome this.The nation invested 10 years, a large amount of its precious materials and various resources on the crucial development of large naval ships, as anything less would be inferior and ultimately useless.
Racing against time, the initial seven or so years period was planned to test the carrier, and after 10 years the carrier would be combat ready.
If the ship was not prepared after ten years, especially before the Fifth Five-Year Plan, then the nation would have to wait another 20 years for an aircraft carrier. Because the research and development period would take at least seven or so years, and as the process was starting from scratch, the timeframe would need to be slightly longer.We needed to construct a powerful navy composted of numerous high quality ships.
In May 1983，the Naval Equipment R＆D Centre was established, and under Liu Huaqing's command the aircraft carrier became an important subject of research and feasibility studies.
In January 1984，the Navy held the first session of the Conference on Technology and Equipment, and Liu Huaqing openly proposed the question of constructing an aircraft carrier.
In December 1986，during the Navy Sixth Party Congress, Liu Huaqing made a clearly proposal，“To organize and demonstrate the feasibility of developing an aircraft carrier.”
Afterwards, Liu Huaqing was appointed as the Vice-President and Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Military Commission, and during the five years from 1987 to 1992 he focused on the modernization of military equipment, only increasing his interest on the construction of an aircraft carrier. He opened up with many of his old fellow cadres that he was indeed becoming“carrier obsessed”.
I wanted to build an aircraft carrier when I became Naval Commander in 1982，however the nation was not strong enough, and we could only wait. Chairman Deng proposed in 1984 and 1985 for serious research into the issue of the Taiwan Straits.The Navy said that three aircraft carriers would be able to reduce the number offairplanes required in service.One aircraft carrier could be equivalent to 300 aircraft, substituting three aircraft divisions, covering onshore bases and submarines and was something we simply cannot not have.Currently, there is also the issue of Nansha.Due to the requests of international organizations, in March of the previous year a maritime observation station was built in Nansha.If Vietnam made any provocation, the Chinese South China Sea Fleet could be dispatched there within two days, but the airforce would be unable to join the dispatch.Therefore, I hoped that the topic of the requirement of an aircraft carrier would move into the next round of discussion.This topic is still discussed today.I hope it will be considered during next year's discussions on the“Eighth Five-Year Plan Model”pre-research programme.As for whether the model can be confirmed during the“Ninth Five-Year Plan”is still hard to say.If you asked me how to decide between the alignment offaircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, I would say that we should first align with our aircraft carriers that the Navy badly need.
As for Luo Yang?
What was Luo Yang's dream for an aircraft carrier?
In 1999，Luo Yang visited America as a delegate of the Chinese Navy.
In the city of San Diego, Luo Yang and other delegates boarded the US Navy's Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier for an inspection. The US Navy holds“public days”，whereby navy ships are open to visitors to enhance their pride and patriotic feelings of its citizens；and for foreign nationals, as a strong advocation of the strength of the United States military.
The Kitty Hawk stood proudly as the the world's largest and most advanced conventionally powered aircraft carrier in service, with a full load displacement of 81，200 tons, a maximum speed of 32 knots, and a flight deck the size of three football fields.
In 1915，two British Royal Navy aircraft carriers—the Campania and Pegasus were completed and entered into service, declaring the advent of the“Aircraft Carrier Supremacy”era of naval warfare.
During World War Ⅱ，especially during the outbreak of the Pacific War, aircraft carrier's displayed excellent performances on the battle arena.From the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to the Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal；from the Marianas, Leyte Gulf and the Great Battle of the Coral Sea, to the Iwo Jima and Okinawa landings, the history of modern human warfare had ultimately been written by the brilliant record of“dominant aircraft carriers”.
Through the application of the aircraft carrier flight deck, the United States replaced Britain on the throne of world hegemony. Up until the 21st century it was difficult to obtain any weapon systems that were capable of combining ships and aircrafts, in both offence and defensive capability, with flexibility, sturdiness and the ability to inflict damage with multiple aligned high tech systems.
As an aviation expert, Luo Yang's eyes fell on an area that was off limits for visitors, the area where the carrier-based aircraft were neatly arranged in rows. Under the sunlight stood the silver F18 fighter, emitting what seemed like a particularly dazzling bluish aura of their own.The corner of Luo Yang's mouth grew tight, and he could not help but to feel a heavy weight on his chest.
On the 2nd of May 1912，British aviator Charles Samson conducted the first aircraft take-off from a military vessel, opening a new page of carrier-based aircraft weapons in carrier history. During World War Ⅱ aircraft carriers were widely used, and in particular they played a decisive role in the Pacific battlefield.The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a prime example.
Although the Unites States having insufficient land resources for airports in the Middle East during both the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War, they utilized a strong carrier-based naval fleet to ultimately win both wars.
According to estimates, approximately 1，250 carrier-based fighter jets were in service during Luo Yang's visit, and of those over 1，000 were from the US, the remaining from Russia and the United Kingdom.
As for China?
The gap here was simply too large, as our carrier-based aircraft project had not even landed a single plane onboard a Chinese aircraft carrier in comparison. Luo Yang wanted to take a picture of himself with the Kitty Hawk in the background to keep as a memory, but at the last minute he gave up on the thought.At that moment in time, a huge question mark was lingering in Luo Yang's mind.When would China manufacture its own carrier-based aircraft?Luo Yang felt it more strongly than ever that China must not rely on purchasing American technology for the core components, and the modernization of national defense simply could not wait for its own independent technology development！
In fact, Luo Yang's feelings at this time have been shared as a painstaking quest by three generations of aviation personnel over the last half a century！
Alongside the Chinese aircraft carrier project, the countdown to commencing the research and development of a Chinese carrier-based fighter jet had begun.
On a classified date in the 2000's, The J-15 carrier-based fighter jet programme began, and Sun Cong was appointed the Chief Designer at Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute.
Not long after, Luo Yang took over from Li Fangyong as the Party Committee Secretary of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, appointed also as Chairman, General Manager, Director and Chief Research and Development Field Commander of J-15 aircraft research.
China's first carrier based aircraft was to be born into the sky！
Carrier-based fighter jets are the main means of war for an aircraft carrier, and by their very definition to act fundamentally as a military fighter jet over the aircraft carrier. The main objectives of carrier-based fighter jets are to align with the overall completion of combat missions at sea, to seize control of the skies over ocean and coastal regions, and to engage and attack maritime and coastal regions.The weapons systems offaircraft carrier-based aircraft are the most powerful throughout all modern naval weapon systems, and make up the core strength of naval power.
As the carrier-based aircraft uses an aircraft carrier as its“base”，and because combat is undertaken on the sea, these aircraft are unique, with their own separate and particular features. Regarding the exterior, a shape designed to increase lift and reduce the speed required for carrier-based take off is required, and in addition the wings are required to fold to reduce the storage space of the planes on the ship.Due to the fact that carrier-based jets need to spend long periods of time parking on ship at sea, they are required to undergo rapid take-off and cable assisted arrest on landing, this imposes many structural changes in comparison with a landbased aircraft.It is most necessary that carrier-based aircraft have excellent acceleration, reliability and corrosion resistance, in particular against salt-spray, moisture and mildew.
Sun Cong has previously said，“Not all fighter jets could be called a carrier-based one，”just as they say in an market advertisement，“Not all milks could be called Milk Deluxe.”Although carrier-based fighter jets and land-based fighter jets may look only slightly different, aircraft carriers have a runway only about one tenth the length of a land-based runway, and the landing approach, combat utility, onboard security, intense electromagnetic field of the ship and maritime environment are all factors that land-based aircraft do not need to contend with. Therefore, carrier-based aircraft should not be confused as the relationship between“nephews”or“cousins”of land-based ones, rather the two have many essential differences.Foreign experimental tests have proven that the second generation of land based fighter jets implemented on carrier have almost all failed, and after the third generation, only almost completely upgraded designs and new models were implemented, drawn from already mature technology systems.This signifies that the requirements of low speed flight, certain aerodynamic characteristics, high impact loading, an arresting system landing gear and a folding wing system should all be compliant with the qualified principals of the new designs of“carrier adaptation”.
Just so it is with the design, so does the manufacturing process. The J-15 put forwards an unprecedented challenge during the manufacturing process.Looking only at the carrier-based jet's unique cable hook, the difficulties of material, welding and heat treatment were already present.And in comparison with the folding-wing design and, air ducts and landing gear, the difficulties of the cable hook was simple！
Without experience, it is not possible to successfully implement this important technology.
The experience gained here was indeed a tough battle！
On one day just before finishing work, Luo Yang took a call from Sun Cong.
“I want to see you.”
“Oh yes?”Sun Cong replied，“For what mode?”
Luo Yang said，“For what mode！Come and sit with me in my office.”
“Your office hasn't got anywhere to sit，”Sun Cong said，“How about this, in half an hour I will come and pick you up.”
Luo Yang wanted to ask where they would go, but at that instant Sun Cong hung up the phone.
After half an hour, Sun Cong arrived to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, and pulled Luo Yang into the car with great energy.
Luo Yang was a little confused，“Where are you taking me?”
Sun Cong held the suspense for a minute, saying，“You will know when we get there.”
The car parked by the restaurant, and Sun Cong took Luo Yang inside, into a small room.
Luo Yang looked doubtful，“What is this all about?”
“Time to eat！”
“You have set up a trap?”
Sun Cong took out a bottle of Maotai liquor from his bag, and said with a smile，“I have kept this bottle of Maotai for ten years, and had no excuse to drink it till now. Tonight the bottle will meet its fate.Let us both embark on this‘wine for expedition'together！”
Luo Yang came to life at this, saying，“That is very thoughtful of you, to take me on the‘wine for expedition'！”
Sun Cong poured a glass and said，“The first is for you.”
Luo Yang said，“The first is yours, my old comrade Chief！”
“Well, I will need to drink three then！”
“Why three glasses?What's this all about！”
Sun Cong lifted the first glass, then said，“The first glass is for all of the help and care you have given me over the years！”
Luo Yang laughed，“I have never seen you so polite！Drink up！”
Sun Cong lifted the second glass, and said，“This second glass, is to send my respects to you as from a Party Secretary to a General Manager and Chairman！”
Luo Yang lifted his hand，“That's too much praise, no need to send respect for that！It just means more responsibility, I work more and have to deal with more！But we were built for this, were we not?”
Seeing Sun Cong lift yet another glass, Luo Yang said，“This time let me pay the respects.”
“No no，”Sun Cong said，“I haven't finished my three glasses yet. This third glass is to wish us both, or rather, to wish the J-15 Field Development Commander a successful collaboration with Chief Designer！”
“Now that's a glass I will drink to！”Luo Yang finished his drink in one mouthful, then said，“Sun Cong, you are the Chief Designer, we will assemble what you tell us to, and we will do what you ask us for.”
“With your words, I feel emboldened to do so.”
After drinking the other glasses, Luo Yang poured out some more of the liquor, and said，“Now is it time for me to pay my respects to you?”
Sun Cong waved his hands, saying，“Never mind, we are done with the niceties！No need for such frivolity now. Let's drink up together.”
As fellow drinkers, Luo Yang and Sun Cong drink just as much as one another, which was about half a litre of liquor each.
But Sun Cong saw no limit to his passion and he would act according to his great aspirations and drink a full bottle or two；Luo Yang, on the other hand, was a conservative man that would stop drinking upon arriving at his limit of half a bottle.
After Luo Yang finished a glass, he said to Sun Cong，“We really are too lucky, and must pursue this opportunity quickly. I am at once excited and also can feel the heavy task that both the military and the nation have placed upon our shoulders.This heavy burden feels as though we are treading a precipitous trail, and one that falls off into the abyss.”
Sun Cong responded“Yes, if we lack any of the timeliness, favourable terrain, or friendly people, the project of building models for the airforce will not succeed. Previously, the Group Corporation called on to learn from Wu Daguan, the grandfather of China's aviation engines.Owing to various reasons, none of Wu Daguan's leading research into engines was developed into military equipment, and his work was finally discontinued.Among the projects was the landmark Turbo Fan 6 Engine, whose programme was born during the 10 years of Cultural Revolution, undergoing four launches, three discontinuations and five research location transfers, ultimately missing the optimum time for implementation into military usage due to the extensive time of development.To serve his nation he committed his life, overcoming obstacles with a burning pioneer spirit.Today, we have all the favourable conditions as one, and for this we must thank our previous generations.Over the previous 50 years, despite frustration and setback, and due to dedication alone they carried on.So, today we stand on the shoulders oflour previous generations to ascend the highest peaks！”
“Last week I met Academician Gu Songfen during a meeting at Beijing Group，”said Luo Yang，“During a conference break, he pulled me to the side to ask me about the J-15 project. He said to me earnestly，‘Luo Yang, if we are to say that the aviation industry is running a baton race, then we have just placed the baton in your hands.You are holding the baton now as a representative of the 500，000 aviation personnel of the nation, and the entire nation is watching you and your team.Keep pushing forwards……'The past generation is giving us encouragement, telling us to push on！The time has come for us to take the test, to see whether we are able to deliver the most important, combat effective and most urgently required national defense equipment.”
Sun Cong said thoughtfully，“Currently no effort is being spared as our nation constructs its first aircraft carrier, with foreign predictions being made that even once the carrier has set sail, the supporting carrier-based jets will be nowhere to be found. There are people laughing at us now.We must win honour for our nation to deliver these jets according to the specified time！”
A surging heat rushed through Luo Yang's chest as he poured out two glasses of the liquor, handed one to Sun Cong, and holding out the other, he stood up and said with much passion，“On my word, we will fight for the J-15's！Cheers to that！”
They stood and together finished their glasses.
Facing the biting wind and waves, Luo Yang led his fleet forwards. His was a fleet of 16，000，yet he represented hundreds of thousands！
Aircraft production is a system of massive scale engineering. From trial, manufature, testing to experimental flight, each phase must function seamlessly with all others.As aircrafts have multiple components, if even a single screw was to come loose, the resulting problem could cause a serious accident.As Shenyang Aircraft Corporation was the main aircraft plant, and Luo Yang, as the General Manager, he had to manage every phase and pay careful attention to every single component.
In addition, as the Chief Field Research and Development Commander of the J-15，Luo Yang had to coordinate the Design and Production Departments, the relationship between the production unit and the Military and also was in charge of managing the complete coordination of almost 200 coordinating units.
On the 8th of July 2008，Luo Yang signed off the first General Manager Order in the history of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, called the Task Order Concerning and Ensuring the Complete Research and Development of the J-15. The Task Order had written，“The corporation requests that each responsible unit and responsible personnel complete the task at hand to the utmost degree, to meet task objectives and deadlines, and quickly though without cutting corners to execute their missions according to the already defined project.”The objectives were heavy and challenging within a short time frame, and from the beginning the Task Order set out a heroic“boom or bust”style mission.
The normally docile Luo Yang launched into awe-inspiring action at this point. The carrier-based fighter jet project had three specific areas, the first being novelty；they used a large amount of novel technology, materials and engineering.The second was difficulty；as many of the engineering and materials had not previously been applied before, and the production process entail a high degree of difficulty.The third was urgency；as most of the construction had to be completed within a year, and the previous model was required for development completion within three to four years.
Scientific management had to be accompanied with courageous innovations. In order to provide high speed and efficiency, Shenyang's Plant and Institute proposed the new concept of“manufacture in the face of design”and“design in the face of manufacture”.During the J-15 design phase, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation assigned over 100 personnel to the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation Design Institute to begin early stage design；and once manufacture had commenced, the institute sent another 100 personnel to enter Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and“follow the production team”，in the process extending design into manufacture.From the plant to the institute, design and manufacture integrated together, and each tied into one another, they ensured fast paced scientific breakthroughs and rapid project development.
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation Design Institute's Chief Designer Wang Yongqing heaped praise on Luo Yang for his contribution to this project, saying，“Luo Yang started himself in design, and then went into R＆D, then to low and mid level management, then establishing the relationship between the Party-building and enterprise culture, and so he has a very deep understanding of all of these aspects. During development of the J-15，the three components of design, technology and workers were accumulated together to establish a new and organized model for a‘high speed development centre'that explored new management models and administration systems, bringing with it new development processes.Over 50 top level documents defined these processes, most of which were used during the development stages of 3D planning, digital transmission and numerical control turning, which lead to the reduction of time spent in development and the increased speed at which the model moved into the production phase.”
Wang Yongqing said，“In the past, the manufacturing and design units would contradict one another. The designers would like to apply the forefront of technology, however as the level oftengineering in our nation is comparatively trailing behind in the world offaircraft manufacturing, the pursuits of designers would often be difficult to completely move through validation.Luo Yang gave upstream designers the biggest space for creativity, and when we would discuss together proposals for design he would very rarely sink into the difficulties of manufacture.On the contrary he would always encourage us to be brave designers, brave innovators, and then he would go again to the manufacture engineers to organize their research.”
Wang Yongqing made the analogy that Luo Yang turned aircraft manufacturing from a“stitch seamed jacket”style into“Suzhou embroidery”.
From one difficulty to another, to“fight with vigour, fight with wisdom, and fight with style！”
The carrier-based fighter jet wings was not only required to fold, as various systems including fuel and hydraulics had to be manipulated so that through the folding process, no matter how the wings folded up the systems would continue to function as normal. The internal structure of the wings was particularly complicated, and the technology used was extremely complex.Luo Yang himself set up the task force required to develop folding wing.
I went searching specifically for Engineer Ni from the metal-lurgical section, and asked him to explain in more detail the work required at that time.
I asked them，“How difficult was the additional work required for folding wing?”
Engineer Ni said，“Very difficult！The wings of the J-15 utilized a new structure and new materials, so when upon taking the design template, we were all very confused. Previously none of us had come across this type of build.We started on the first few critical components, and pretty much all of them were scrapped.”
During that time, everybody lived and ate their meals together in the factory, working together from morning till night. One day Luo Yang arrived just as the workers had given up in frustration.He asked Engineer Ni what was the problem, and Ni grimaced with a sigh.Luo Yang grew agitated here, saying“Now, now, I have to correct you here.What's the point of sighing when you come across a problem?Foreigners do not have bigger brains than us and they can do it.So can we Chinese！We have no choice but to think of the way to turn the impossible into possible！”
Luo Yang called everybody to come and sit with him，“Come on over, come on over, let's all have a look at what the problem really is.”He read over the blueprints one by one, and together with everyone else analyzed the reason for the manufacturing fault, and ask that everybody try to grasp the principal contradiction.
Engineer Ni told me，“In those days, Luo Yang would always carry two notebooks with him during his field visit. One was the project schedule, and the other filled with calculations and his thoughts for solving technological problems.He said to everyone，‘We need to expand our vision further, and look to the furthest reaches of the world to adopt the newest processes.'Take welding for example.The original welding process that we used was already very advanced, however it did not satisfy the design requirement.Luo Yang recommended to use the latest technology, so we tested it out.Sure enough, it worked.”
The folding wing R＆D project changed again and again. Parts were made over and over, starting from scratch, and one by one the problem thorns were pulled out.Finally, carrier-based aircraft wings of the highest degree were developed.
Another core part of the J-15 was the“catching hook”（also called the tail hook）. When carrier-based fighter jets land on the aircraft carrier, they would rely on the“catching hook”to catch the flight deck cables, allowing the plane to decelerate in time.The catching hook is constituted of a baseplate and extending beam, both of which are developed using new material and processes, and such the fabrication requirement is very high.During a meeting with the production team, Luo Yang said，“The speed of catching hook production will determine the number offaircraft we can build.”
The job of welding the catching hook was tasked into the hands of advanced welder Wang Qiang of Metal Plate Workshop 21 within Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. He was in his early 30's, the strongest years of a welder, and had both ample skill experience and bodily strength.
Luo Yang attached particular importance to the catching hook, and especially established a small research team composed of the Chief Metallurgist and the Process Research Institute Director. In total，15 or 16 people joined in order to provide advice to Wang Qiang.
The material used in the catching hook lever was the titanium alloy with unprecedented high strength properties. The fabrication requirements were very high, as the length of the lever could not extend past a certain number of millimeters.At the beginning, in order to guarantee that the shape would only undergo the smallest amount of variation, experimental symmetrical welding was used.After one month, it proved difficult to weld the first lever, as on contact with high temperature the material would not only change in shape but also the internal structure of the lever would crack.After several months of continuous research and development, the lever could still not reach the design requirements, so the catching hook programme came to a halt.
Late one night when the wind was blowing and the snow coming down, Luo Yang quietly entered the workshop, and on seeing everybody still hard at work he was quite moved, saying as encouragement，“We needn't be hasty！Besides, a simple hook cannot stop us！We will push onwards, and soon enough will have what we need.”
Luo Yang next asked Wang Qiang with concern，“What's the matter, young man?Feeling disheartened?”
Wang Qiang put down his blowtorch and said，“Chief Luo, whatever difficulties are on our path, we will conquer them！”
Luo Yang said，“As many people have given you so many ideas and much advice, I believe that you are certainly able to overcome problems.”
Together with everyone else, Luo Yang listed out every factor influencing the ability of the product being able to attain the requirements of the designers, and the reason for that influence：accuracy, size and fit, not leaving out any piece of minute details. The meeting was going long into the night, and everybody urged that Luo Yang get some rest；whereby Luo Yang exhorted that everybody must assess their time scientifically, and to pay good attention to managing both their hours of work and rest.
Exploration, investigation, attempt, failure；
Repeated exploration, repeated investigation, repeated attempts……
Wang Qiang remembers the time as though it were a fresh memory，“In all we explored and investigated for almost half a year, and then got on with round the clock welding, later finding that the[CLASSIFIED]method for welding was the most effective. In addition, by undertaking nonstop exploration we found that the[CLASSIFIED]type as the best kind of welding groove.In those days, my blowtorch never left my hand, and hour after hour I would weld constantly, inspect the suitability of various parameters, refining and controlling the rhythm of my welding, whilst the research team would accompany me too.It took almost[CLASSIFIED]days to weld the hook on the first J-15，and after[CLASSIFIED]days we had solved the problem on our aircraft.Under the leadership of Luo Yang, the process of breaking through the thousands of problems and obstacles lead Shenyang Aircraft Corporation to gradually utilize advanced international levels offaircraft manufacture, overall testing, experimental flight technology, and the equipment and manufacturing production lines.Particularly with regards to titanium machining and large scale complex structure computer numerical control machining technology, we were already amongst the best in the world.”
An industry can only progress into the future if that future is envisioned. From the beginning Luo Yang took up his position with the deep vision of modernizing the industry, putting forwards a developmental ideology to construct the“ten integrations”：
Couple and balance the development and coordination of both military aircraft and civilian aircraft as the two primary functions of the corporation.
Integrate and balance the objectives of production with research and development, whilst paying close attention to production, sufficient attention should also be paid to the corresponding research and development.
Integrate and balance the aviation and non-aviation industry, emphasizing that aviation production is the main job of the corporation that they must perform very well, and that non-aviation industries must build up and progress development.
Integrate and balance personal progress with the utilization of social resources, with attention on turning from an extensive growth model to an intensive growth model.
Integrate and balance basic management with basic innovation；when entering into the new concepts, tools and methods of management, basic management and the management of innovation must simultaneously be strengthened and consolidated.
Integrate and balance the energy of technological innovation with the establishment of systems for those technologies, utilizing technological innovations to support the development of production lines and as key elements to enhance competition.
Integrate and balance institutional reform with mechanized innovation by promoting an industry that supports development.
Integrate and balance internal talent cultivation with utilizing external talent by optimizing the strategy to manage relationship between the two.
Integrate and balance industry development with the basic benefits of the workers by placing worker harmony and mutual benefit at the center of industry development.
Integrate and balance internal and external departments, by paying simultaneous attention to the trends of external departments with those of the internal department.
Luo Yang devoted research to developing the characteristics of a state-owned enterprise, and thought deeply on the operational model, fundamental ideology, the strategy of the industry and of the corporation group, creating the responsibility concept of“fulfilling one's duties with no stone left unturned”；the working style of“carefully prepare, fulfil the task”；and the job requirement of“carefully prepare and be meticulous”. In addition, Luo Yang implemented at large scale the operation of the industry to manage the“four modernizations”（namely management of“rigour, refinement, alignment and standardization”）.He completely promoted this across modernized management tools（Lean Six Sigma, Careersmart Balanced Score Card, EVA etc.），ensuring that his management ideas would be deeply rooted and implemented as updated innovative management, positively advocating for the development and application of information technology.By adopting modern technology as a critical component of all aviation products, he promoted the implementation of digital manufacturing technology, integrating with modern Western countries.
Guided by an experience, the construction of the first domestic fighter jet established two management systems within the national aviation industry；the Chief Designer System and the Chief Commander System. The Chief Designer System was responsible for technology design, and the Chief Commander System was responsible for ensuring the production and manufacturing as well as administrative support deployment.In order for a mission to be completed, it is essential that these two systems are highly unified and in close cooperation.With Sun Cong as Chief Designer and Luo Yang as Chief Commander of Field Development and Research, the two leaders of their respective groups, and in order to reach their common objective of completing the J-15，together they took up the challenge that will forever be recorded in the history of Chinese aviation！
Sun Cong and Luo Yang were born in the same year. Sun Cong's father was a hospital doctor at the original Northeast“Li Ming”Plant（the predecessor to the National Aviation Industry Corporation's Shenyang Li Ming Aeronautical Engines Company），so Sun Cong grew up naturally absorbing the military industry around him, used to hearing the roar offaircraft engines from a young age.On graduating from high school, his first wish was to enter BUAA.
Sun Cong entered Institute 601 one year after Luo Yang, and was initially transferred to the Fire Control Room, later transferred again to Head Office.
In August of 1988，several experts from the State Commission of Science and Technology for National Defense Committee wrote a joint letter proposing their recommendations to commence researching into an aircraft carrier and carrier-based fighter jets, and Liu Huaqing quickly instructed the Chief of Staff that the commission and Navy must resolve research collaboration. Under this backdrop Institute 601 put together a task force to begin the research and development offaircraft carrier and carrier-based jet technology.
At the time Li Tian was the Deputy Chief Designer responsible for the project. He believed that“As a naval power, China must defend its naval territory, and sooner or later the construction of an aircraft carrier will be necessary, therefore research on the technology is required as an essential first step.”
Without the material required as a reference, everything began from scratch. In order to deal with the assessment set for the end of the year, some of the research groups had to work very intensely during the final days, and patched together reports that had no scientific value.On seeing these, Li Tian was furious, and heavily criticized the research group, saying，“Who put together this rubbish！This is clearly rubbishing ourselves also！Do we understand why, despite the difficult financial circumstances, we are being paid to conduct initial research into carrier-based aircraft?Because this project is for our motherland, this project is for the people.”
Through 10 years of hard work, the task force completed three initial research projects on the special technology required for carrier-based aircraft, and was awarded third Prize of Science and Technology Progress by the Ministry of Aviation Industry and the National Defense Science and Technology Commission. These three projects were on：“Use of the uniaxial folding wing mechanism in thin-winged aircraft；Use of a hinge axis for folding wing mechanism in soft thick wings；Use of a high mobility wheel steering mechanism for on-board aircraft carrier decks.”Simultaneously they progressed carrier-based fighter jet launch and booster research, take off and landing force dynamic's research and suitability requirement research for both aircraft and ship.Mastering the basics of the special technology used in the design of the carrier-based aircraft was important, however more so was the cultivation of a group of young technological leaders.
Sun Cong was one of these leaders.
Within Institute 601，the“cradle of aviation heroes”，Sun Cong's intelligence grew from strength to strength；in 1993 he was appointed Chief Engineer Officer；in 1995 he was appointed General Director；in 1997 as Division Vice Director；in 1999，as the Vice President and Chief Designer；in 2002，as Director and Chief Designer；in 2003，as[CLASSIFIED]J-Series Chief Designer；and in 2006 as the J-15 Chief Designer.
This year in spring I had become fully absorbed in the“complex of Luo Yang”，and did not even notice that the spring in my step had changed with the season, that the winter jasmine trees of Beijing by the Bird Nest and Water Cube buildings were now exposed, their yellow faces of their flowers exposed and smiling. I interviewed Sun Cong at a tea shop by the Bird Nest in North 4th Ring Road in Beijing.I arrived half and hour late, and unusually for a military man I mistook the correct route to the teashop.
Maybe due to the launch last year of the J-15 from the Liaoning, a feat that was simply too amazing and too moving, I had a feeling of total admiration and mystery about the Chief Designer of the J-15. At first sight he was not some magnificent image, but a stocky individual, with normal features.However, on opening his mouth, I immediately felt his candor, wisdom and energy.
I joked to him，“In my imagination, the Chief Designer of the J-15 would be like Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, with limitless power and the potential to call the wind and bring the rains, to soar amongst the clouds and ride upon the fog, hurtling down from 180，000 miles above.”
Sun Cong laughed，“I sound so godlike！If I really had the powers of Monkey King, I would have simply plucked a single hair, and with one blow I could have made 100 jets, or 1，000 J-15's！That would have been nice, and cut down on all the hardships us aviators have gone through over the years. I actually think you writers are brilliant.Although one may live a boring life, in the hands of the writer that life can become a wonderful story.”
I said，“People say being in different professions is just like being separated by mountains. This time writing on Luo Yang, I discovered that my understanding of the national aviation industry was very limited.China's aviation industry has developed quickly in recent times, and increased in popularity in the public eyes too.Every time the Shenzhou spacecraft gives us a live feed, the Chinese common folk learn more and more about the industry.”
Sun Cong said，“Aviation and astronautics have both common ground and differences. The sense of secrecy in the aviation industry is stronger, and so many people engaged in this industry are used to not talking about their work, more accustomed to dealing with loneliness.Just like in the years of the‘A-bomb, H-bomb and a satellite'project, involvement in a national security issue means that many scientists live nameless for much of their lives, unknown from the public and out of sight of community.If you were to choose this industry as a way to make a name for yourself, it won't last.”
Despite it being a serious issue, one could not help but to start interviews with the topic of Luo Yang's departure.
“Luo Yang was four months younger than me, though I usually treated him as my elder brother. He was more mature than me, and would often look after me.Many of us were transferred from Shenyang after the year of the‘Seven Wolves'，however the seven of us would meet during every Spring Festival for a cheerful drink, an experience others would not enjoy.”
Departing the ship on that day, all of us were busy with our own things. Hearing that Luo Yang had been taken to hospital, I didn't initially take it seriously, putting it down to exhaustion and not thinking it could be so bad.Later I gave Secretary Xie Genhua a call to ask about the situation, but the call didn't go through.At this time I started to feel a little anxious, and again called with no answer.After a while Secretary Xie's call came through, and he said that it was something serious.On hearing this I immediately rushed to the hospital.
By the time I arrived, the rescue efforts had been going on for over an hour, and the Hospital Dean come to provide a complete description of the rescue. Chief Lin Zouming requested to continue the rescue efforts, and the doctors explained that Luo Yang had aortic thrombosis, and blood clotting had caused all of the aortic branches to die, resulting in large areas of necrosis.We were all so upset for Luo Yang：had he been feeling unwell the previous night?If so, why did he say nothing?He didn't think to find a doctor?We realized that, as Luo Yang departed the ship, despite 80 to 90%of his heart having already died, Luo Yang held such a respect for others that he still managed to shake many hands, and persevered on whilst suffering such great pain.In my capacity as a Chief Engineer, Chief Lin asked that I stay behind to participate in that afternoon's Celebratory Meeting, so I was unable to accompany the hearse back to Shenyang.In the hotel that night, I was terribly upset, and absolutely unable to accept the reality of it all.I gave Chief Designer Wang Yongqing a call and asked him to come and sit with me for a while.We sat facing each other in silence for over two hours.
“Luo Yang and I had worked and lived together for 30 whole years. Back then, living together in the apartment block, with one canteen, one sports pitch and one team.Back then, one could look into the others eyes, or one facial expression, and would known what the other was thinking.For such a lively person to suddenly be gone is not something I can simply accept.”
Sun Cong stared out the window, and sunk into his own memories……
A short while he said to me，“Luo Yang was extremely diligent, reserved, humble and peaceful. As he had been a Party Committee leader for a long period of time, he would consider very carefully any issue from every angle, and hold his thoughts internally instead of speaking them out.He must have had no free space left inside.I was different from him, and when upset I would drink and curse and then forget about it.”
When speaking about the two J-15 collaboration teams, Sun Cong grew excited，“It was beautiful！Although it cannot be said that it was entirely seamless, it was absolutely beautiful！”
“Whilst we were leading the J-15 project we adopted the concept of digital collaborative design. In the past, designers would use a ruler, pencil and paper to draw out the design, and once completed they would take it for a technology review, then onto a design assembly or a design jig and so forth.This is the old system of doing things.Later on, computers started to be used for the drawing, but the process didn't change.”
The J-15 project was the first time that a 3D digital design was adopted, simultaneously changing the design process. Further, changing the process required management to keep up with it.We proposed a joint design from the beginning.Within half a year, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation had over 150 technologists within the design shops oflour institute participating in the concurrent engineering process.This model can dramatically reduce the research and development process.Firstly, during the design, a good manufacturing approval can clearly inform whether or not the deign can be actually implemented.Secondly, if we were to have a design idea, manufacturing would be more easily realized, and the manufacture workers could provide us with their recommendations.Thirdly, in order to obtain a common goal, the design side will explain the core designs, the manufacturing side will explain the challenges, and through reciprocal contact, the top outcome will be hammered out.We also put together a“5-Level Maturity Management”that could break through organization barriers.
I asked，“What is 5-Level Maturity Management?”
“5-Level Maturity Management is completely new management model implemented across an institution and a plant. We have separated the design process into five levels.After the first level, where the initial design is sketched to meet a certain requirement, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation can formulate a working document.After the second level the materials are purchased.This type of high level collaborative aligned model, both hastens progress and promotes the mixing of design and manufacture, and creates a total enhancement for an aircraft.The open mutual work of design and manufacturing creates a single data management group, where data can be shared in real time.”
“And how was the implementation process?”I asked.
“This cooperative model provides a 40%efficiency increase, and if managed well it can even provide a 50%increase.”
Sun Cong told me that the J-15 project used many new manufacturing methods that had never been used previously.“The most difficult thing about aircraft design is to guide the tubing. Aircraft have many tubes, with fuel pumps for the engine, oil pressure pumps that ensure rudder movement during flight and so on.Assembling the paths of these tubes is extremely complicated.In the past when we discussed the models, we would have to design the path of the tubing according to the free space on the aircraft.Currently utilized 3-D computer designs use numerical control machines to assemble the tubing.Our designs were much easier to implement using numerically controlled tubing assembly, and so we moved to mostly advanced numerically controlled bending machines that could bend different types of tubing and then assemble them.This type of manufacturing enhancement created a new field of work, and by ensuring the administrative resources, Luo Yang and his team worked very hard so that the manufacturers could undertake technological innovation during the assembly process.”
The J-15 only required[CLASSIFIED]months before take off. Whilst not an impossible feat, it was certainly unprecedent.
Sun Cong said，“Apart from the 5-Level Maturity Management model, we established fundamental data processes and advanced manufacturing development processes to increase speed. These processes were researched and decided together with Luo Yang.When he had to mediate, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation would draw capable people from the different workshops together to set up a new project group.This project group would not belong to any specific workshop, but would be equal to a reformed organizational model.We worked together openly to create Shenyang's‘High Speed Experimental Centre'，and Luo Yang poured his heart into the centre that we built.The technology innovations came from Luo Yang's policies and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's financial backing.The technology improvements of the J-15 research and development programme were finally reflected in the last flights, however they were a culmination of the blood sweat and tears of the entire team.”
Sun Cong returned again to Luo Yang's last moments on board the Liaoning，“As the J-15 successfully touched down on the carrier, Luo Yang was extremely excited, and his normally furrowed eyebrows smoothed out. Normally camera shy, he took the initiative to get pictures taken with others.During the evening meal, we met at the gangway.He was very excited, his forehead moving about as he said to me，‘the perfect ending！However, we have to go back later to take some readings, and have a look for what was suboptimal.How can Shenyang Aircraft Corporation be improved?Can we improve the management?How can we make an even higher level of production quality?'I did not expect that these would be the last words he would leave to me.”
“On the morning of the next day I hurried back to Shenyang from Dalian and, arriving to Luo Yang's house his wife Wang Xili held my hand and said to me through tears，‘Sun Cong, Luo Yang followed you out, why couldn't you bring him back?'Hearing this, I really fell to pieces and couldn't say a thing. It felt as though a knife cut through my heart.Yes, she was right.Why could I not bring him back?After so many years together, although it cannot be said that he battled through war like the soldiers of times past, he did belong to the same bitter sweet ending, sharing their common fate.We were the closest of friends for almost 30 years, and although we didn't speak often oflour feelings, instead mostly of work together, we would sometimes talk on family life, and the studies oflour children.Luo Yang was unlike those that would always complain to and fro with their emotions.”
The J-15's were to soar into the skies, however Luo Yang's life was about to come crashing down.
Sun Cong gave me a few of the photographs of Luo Yang with the Liaoning. In the background was the flight deck of the Liaoning and the vast, undulating sea.Luo Yang stood in a blue China Aviation Industry Group jumpsuit, his hair blown about by the wind, a small smile on his lips, and a gaze focused straight ahead, to a point very very far ahead of him.
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