Chinese Aviation History
Establishing A Complete Aviation Industry (1961-1976)
China's aviation industry entered into the stage of independent construction and development with her own efforts after the withdrawal of experts and unilateral breach of contracts by the Soviet government in July 1960. With the purpose of carrying out self-reliant R&D and manufacturing new type of aircraft, scientific research institutes were systematically set up, which completely solved the problems of the supply of domestic airborne equipment and materials; and fairly complete set of production capabilities were constructed and the so-called thitd line (inland) construction was started. By the mid-1970s, was established a rather complete system of aviation industry which experienced the prosperity in the early stage of the 1960s as a result of the policy of " Adjustment, Consolidation, Replenishment and Improvement." It also saw unprecedented heavy destruction caused by 10 years long " Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution" . Old generation of proletariat revolutionists like, Zhou Enlai, Ye Jianying and Deng Xiaoping showed deep concern to aviation industry even during the "Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution", encouraging people to strive forward continuously to eliminate interferences.
During the 16 years from 1961 to 1976, 7 new types of aircraft, 7 types of engine, 4 types of missiles and one type of special aircraft had been successfully developed and certified for production; 6 types of aircraft, 7 types of engines and 3 types of missiles had been improved and modified for production. 13 types of aircraft, 14 types of engines, 7 types of missiles and 1 type of special aircraft were provided, which enabled the Air Force and CAAC to have a variety of aviation equipment. Compared with what were possessed before 1960, now their equipment included not only trainers, fighters, transports, but also helicopters, attack aircraft, bombers and pilotless aircraft. Aircraft weight was also increased gradually from below 10 tons to 25 tons take off weight of the H-5, and 75 tons of H-6. The heavier aircraft Y-10 transport with 102 tons was under development as well. Fighter's performance was developed from subsonic in the 1950s to supersonic and then to two times of the speed of sound, from day type to all weather type. Engines and airborne equipment for all types of aircraft were designed and manufactured by China. China's aviation industry already had the capability of supplying a variety of aviation equipment.
When Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping was entrusted to take care of daily affairs of the CCCPC in 1975, he immediately waged a tit-for-tat struggle against Jiang Qing counter revolutionary clique. At a enlarged meeting of the Military Commission of CCCPC presided over by him, Deng Xiaoping put forward proposals of recorganizing Army and defence industry. The Chengdu Aircraft Factory, Aero Engine Factory and Aero Instrumentation Factory attended a key enterprises report meeting approved by the State Council and the Military Commission of CCCPC in March 1975. The meeting was aimed at solving situation problems of those long time disordered organizations. Deng Xiaoping, Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian and Wang Zhen all went to the meeting and delivered important speeches, sternly criticizing ultra left ideological trend and anarchism, requesting those enterprises to get rid of paralysed status within a certain time.
It is also worth mentioning that in order to introduce foreign technology and accelerate China's development, Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Chairman Ye Jianying strongly supported aviation industry to introduce "Spey" engine technology from England by firmly removing "leftest" interference under very difficult conditions in the period of the "Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution". The introduction of "Spey" engine at that time not just played an important role in improving technology of China's aero engine, but more importantly, it broke through China's long term closed-door policy and technological blockade by the west, which had a far-reaching significance.
Drastic measures of reorganizing the management of each factory was soon adopted. Entrusted by Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, Vice Chairman Ye Jianying presided over a report meeting on defence industry and military equipment in May, at which the need for rectification of military equipment and production of defence industry was re-confirmed. Deng Xiaoping pointed out specially: we must make our existing defence factories capable of producing products. Situations in some key factories are not good because bad persons are in power, like Chengdu Aircraft Factory. This must be solved in due time and the situation must be quickly changed. The employees of the aviation industry who were in the arduous struggle were undoubtedly greatly encouraged by his remarks.
Having approved by the CCCPC, the key enterprises meeting of defence industry was held again in July and August of 1975, at which Deng Xiaoping mentioned further: three things should be tackled in solving problems of defence enterprises. First, a powerful management must be set up; Second, quality should be put in the first place and third, the livelihood of the masses must be taken care of. Responsibility systems of Chief Engineer and Chief Accountant must be set up to guarantee normal order of enterprises. Employees of aviation industry were energized by this meeting. By the end of 1975, most of enterprises had fulfilled their tasks fairly well; the whole industry had made up its deficits; good progress of development of new type aircraft and capital construction was achieved and a number of factories had their product quality passed approval and acceptance.
The year of 1975 was the best year of fulfilling the task by aviation industry dur-ing the period of "ten years turmoil". It was a pity that this good scene did not last long. The upward trend of the situation brought up by reorganization was soon stopped by "fighting against right trend of reversing verdict". Aviation Industry, like other industries in China, was again caught in disorder.
But no matter what kind of setbacks and relapses happened, most of employees of aviation industry were still loyal to their work and stayed in their posts. A large number of veteran cadres continued their work in spite of being framed and humiliated. Broad cadres and masses of aviation industry had experienced rigorous trials during the " Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution" and pushed forward aviation industry in the struggle against destruction. No doubt, aviation industry would have made greater achievements if there had been no Cultural Revolution.
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