Chapter 28: Cobra Maneuver

Chapter 28: Cobra Maneuver (Requesting Recommendation Votes and Five-Star Reviews for the Late Night)

Both aircraft were biplanes, propeller-driven, with single engines—far removed from the sleek, powerful images of modern star fighters such as the J-20, J-10, Su-30 series, F-22, F-35, or F-15 that Zhou Zhihan was familiar with.

For a moment, he felt a tinge of disappointment and loss.

But he quickly adjusted his mindset. This was 1936, not 2026.

At this time, having even one F-35 or J-20 was out of the question. Even a single J-10 or F-16—or at worst, a J-7B—could alter the entire course of World War II, rewriting history.

In this era, having one J-7B capable of executing targeted strikes against members of the Axis powers could halt the war and save countless lives.

The plane on the left bore the Rising Sun flag on its wings, fuselage, and nose, glinting in the sunlight.

It was a Japanese biplane trainer.

The plane on the right displayed the Stars and Stripes on its wings, fuselage, and nose—undoubtedly an American biplane trainer.

Hmm.

This American warplane bore no pin-up girl image!

Back when he watched American TV shows, American military planes always displayed the Stars and Stripes, but the most conspicuous spot was reserved for various beautiful women, posing coyly as if perched on the aircraft.

It was said that American pilots painted pin-up girls on their planes to confuse Japanese pilots.

When the Zero fighter first appeared, American fighters were comprehensively outclassed in performance. The Zero’s outstanding maneuverability and the pilots’ tactic of diving from 4000 meters, sacrificing altitude for speed, allowed them to launch lightning-fast surprise attacks on American planes, resulting in heavy US casualties.

Later, an American pilot had a sudden idea—he painted a scantily clad, blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty on his fighter.

When Japanese pilots diving from afar saw the image of a naked woman provocatively posing on the American plane, they would momentarily lose focus, forget to fire their machine guns, inadvertently overshoot, and be caught and shot down by the American fighter.

This was just a legend, and its truth remains unverifiable. Yet Zhou Zhihan thought it was a clever tactic. Painting a beautiful woman on his own plane might be a fine choice—a companion amid the lonely skies.

Damn!

How stunning it would be to bring a beauty into the blue sky and white clouds.

Just as Zhou Zhihan’s mind wandered, the system prompted:

“The plane on the left is the Tachikawa Ki-95c Japanese biplane trainer. It first flew at the end of 1934 and is currently the most widely used trainer for Japanese pilots. Those trained on this aircraft can directly pilot the Type 96 carrier-based fighter during wartime.

It is a single-engine, two-seat, biplane trainer.

Length: 7.53 meters

Wingspan: 9.6 meters

Height: 2.75 meters

Empty weight: 906 kilograms

Load capacity: 1260 kilograms

Maximum takeoff weight: 1322 kilograms

Maximum speed: 170 km/h

Maximum dive speed: 213 km/h

Crew: 2

Engine: Nakajima Kotobuki 38 air-cooled engine, 230 horsepower

Rate of climb: From ground to 3300 meters in 5 minutes 33 seconds

Compared to the Ki-95a, this trainer’s wings have not changed much, but the fuselage is slimmer and sturdier, with enhanced engine power. Although its maneuverability is still not great, it is very suitable for a novice pilot like the host and easy to master.”

Zhou Zhihan twitched at the corner of his mouth. Are there any veteran pilots?

The system replied: “The Type 96 carrier-based fighter was Japan’s main fighter in the early invasion of China. Many fierce aerial battles will take place between Chinese and Japanese fighters in the future.

The plane on the right is the American Stearman PT-17 biplane trainer. It is currently the most widely used trainer in the United States, reliable in performance and suitable for a novice pilot like the host.

Key specifications of the PT-17 primary trainer:

Wingspan: 9.8 meters

Length: 7.6 meters

Height: 2.7 meters

Empty weight: 878 kilograms

Gross weight: 1232 kilograms

Maximum speed: 175 km/h

Maximum dive speed: 215 km/h

Service ceiling: 3413 meters

Maximum range: 813 kilometers

Crew: 2

Engine: Continental R-670-5, 226 horsepower

Rate of climb: From ground to 3300 meters in 5 minutes 35 seconds

The performance, power, appearance, and size of these two American and Japanese trainers are quite similar.

When two aircraft have comparable performance, victory depends on the pilots.

The host must always remember: aircraft are solid and fixed, but pilots are living beings. Flight skill has no limits. Once the host’s skill reaches a certain level, he can perform the cobra maneuver even in any fighter, surpassing the Su-27.”

“Damn!” Zhou Zhihan exclaimed. “Can fighters from World War II really perform the cobra maneuver?”

“If the host considers himself an ordinary person, naturally he cannot perform the cobra maneuver.

Now, the host may choose either of these two aircraft for the maiden flight and may later alternate flying both.

Please select your first flight aircraft!”

Zhou Zhihan said, “I choose the Tachikawa Ki-95c trainer for the maiden flight.”

The system responded, “Please state your reason for choosing the Ki-95c as your first flight.”

“In China, we have an old saying: Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never lose a battle. The Ki-95c is a predecessor to the Type 96. They must share many operational similarities. In the future, the Type 96 carrier and land-based fighters will be the main adversaries of our air force.

At the beginning of the War of Resistance, our fighters were far inferior to Japan’s Type 96 in both performance and numbers.

Therefore, I must first thoroughly understand this aircraft’s performance and later teach our pilots. This will enable us to take the initiative in aerial combat against the Type 96.”

“The host truly is extraordinary! Thinking what others do not, doing what others cannot, reaching what others cannot attain. This system has not chosen the wrong person!”

Zhou Zhihan was speechless.

“Now please open the interface and select your personal aviation equipment.”

Zhou Zhihan opened the interface, which displayed a set of aviation gear:

Aviation pressure suit: 6000 air combat coins

Transparent helmet: 8000 air combat coins

Pair of tactical anti-glare goggles: 2000 air combat coins

Pair of tactical gloves: 2000 air combat coins

Emergency parachute: 10,000 air combat coins

Aviation emergency watch: 12,000 air combat coins

Total: 40,000 air combat coins.

Is there only one option? Zhou Zhihan muttered, then clicked to purchase.

As the equipment disappeared from the interface, Zhou Zhihan felt that something had been added to his body—real yet invisible to the eye. What he did see was that his old watch, which often needed adjustment, was replaced by a seemingly more basic watch.

Zhou Zhihan picked his nose and thought, Is this watch meant to ruin my looks?

“This equipment will protect the host’s life in case the aircraft is shot down during air combat. As the performance and weaponry of aircraft upgrade, this equipment will also upgrade accordingly.”

“Even with the system, can you be shot down?” Zhou Zhihan asked anxiously. Isn’t the system supposed to be invincible?

“The Air Combat King system is invincible against any single enemy aircraft but cannot guarantee flawless victory when surrounded by dozens of enemy planes.

If that were possible, this system would not have gone to such lengths to select a host.

However, when the host’s air combat ability reaches an almost unbeatable level, how would he be surrounded by dozens of enemy planes in the first place?”

Zhou Zhihan walked to the nose of the Tachikawa Ki-95c. A ladder automatically appeared on the left side of the nose, and the cockpit canopy slid open. As Zhou Zhihan climbed into the cockpit, the ladder vanished and the canopy closed automatically.

The instant the canopy shut, an evil aura surged and filled the cockpit.

(End of chapter)