Chapter 21 20 The main founder of the new China aviation industry

In the past 37 years since the founding of New China, the aviation industry has made major achievements that have attracted worldwide attention.There are many people who worked hard and made outstanding contributions to it, but they have passed away, and they are worthy of our deep memory.One of the most admired is our Premier Zhou. On the occasion of Premier Zhou's 90th birthday, I will only briefly review the deeds of my personal experience about his care and leadership in the establishment of the new China's aviation industry. Building a strong aviation industry is the long-awaited wish of the Chinese people.Not long after the founding of New China, the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao put the construction of the aviation industry on the agenda, and Premier Zhou Enlai personally planned and directly led the creation work.

In late December 1950, I was transferred from the Northeast Post and Telecommunications Bureau to the Ministry of Heavy Industry to participate in the preparation of the aviation industry.After arriving in Beijing, I had two meetings in Premier Zhou's office.Nie Rongzhen, Acting Chief of the General Staff, Liu Yalou, Commander of the Air Force, He Changgong, Acting Minister of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, and other comrades participated.The meeting was presided over by the Premier himself, discussing the development path of the new China's aviation industry. The speeches were very enthusiastic, and finally Premier Zhou made a conclusion.He pointed out: "The construction of China's aviation industry should proceed from China's actual situation. We have an air force first, and we are fighting in North Korea. A large number of combat aircraft need to be repaired. Our country has a land area of ​​9.6 million square kilometers and a population of 600 million. It is not enough to rely on buying other people's aircraft to carry out repairs. Therefore, the construction path of China's aviation industry should be to meet the needs of the war, first to carry out repairs, and then develop from repairs to manufacturing." The old China left a little bit of engineering technology to the aviation industry. Except for power, most of the others are not worth mentioning.Therefore, New China lacked the foundation to establish an aviation industry. Under the current situation, it could only rely on the help of the Soviet Union.In this regard, Premier Zhou had already negotiated with the Soviet government in advance, so at these two meetings, in addition to discussing the development policy of the aviation industry, it was also decided that He Changgong, Shen Hong and I would form a delegation to the Soviet Union to negotiate and assist China has established a complete set of aviation factories.At that time, the country was still very poor, and North Korea was at war, and financial resources were limited. Therefore, the Prime Minister repeatedly emphasized that the scale should be smaller at the beginning, and the main thing is to solve the needs of aircraft repairs to ensure that North Korea will go to war. The principle is to repair first and then manufacture, from small to large. .While designing and constructing a repair shop, consideration should be given to the arrangement of converting it into a manufacturing plant in the future.After we accepted the task of going abroad for negotiations, the Prime Minister also warned us again and again: "Be modest and prudent, and explain to the comrades in the Soviet Union the truth that our country has no aviation industry foundation and must build from scratch." The Prime Minister also urged us: "What problems are there in the negotiations? Please send a telegram or telephone to the country at any time to ask for instructions, and proceed with caution.” According to the analysis afterwards, it may be because I was appointed as the director of the aviation industry by default at that time, so after the second meeting, the Prime Minister specifically asked me to say: “About specific details such as aircraft repairs. You can discuss the problem with Comrade Liu Yalou in detail.” According to the instructions of the Prime Minister, before going abroad, I visited Commander Liu, and he explained to me the nature of the negotiations in the Soviet Union, the tasks and the main issues of building the aviation industry.This time we talked for a long time and covered a lot of content, which made me understand a lot. It can also be said that it was the first class that the Prime Minister arranged for me before I formally entered the door of the aviation industry.Comrade Liu Yalou has dealt with the Soviets many times during the establishment of the Air Force, and is also very familiar with aircraft repair work. His experience is what I need most.Thinking of this, I feel more and more that the prime minister considers the situation carefully and arranges Zhou Yang carefully.

On New Year's Day in 1951, a three-person negotiating delegation headed by He Changgong and composed of Shen Hong and Duan Zijun flew from Beijing to Moscow.The Soviet Union attached great importance to this negotiation, and the work progressed smoothly.At the beginning, the Soviet side didn't quite understand the policy from repair to manufacture proposed by our side. After our explanation, the Soviet side agreed with our opinion.We have sent several telegrams to the Prime Minister regarding the progress of the negotiations.The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that we won the repair of trains (i.e. mobile factories) and infrastructure design in Beijing, but felt that the scale of construction was too large.We immediately revised the scale of the plan in accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister.There is one thing that needs to be mentioned here.During this negotiation, we ordered a batch of equipment from the Soviet Union without asking for instructions. When the Prime Minister learned of this, he immediately sent a telegram to the delegation: "As for the equipment needed for the aircraft, we will make a final confirmation with the other party without approval. It seems impatient. Now that it has been decided, except for the orders that we hope to win, we have to make a draft first, and after returning to China, it will be reviewed and approved before formally signing. How about it, please tell me.” From this telegram, it is not ugly. The prime minister is highly responsible for the people.He not only considered the country's ability to pay for the equipment at the time of purchase, but also worried that we would cause waste if we bought back equipment that was not urgently needed; This makes us feel the meaning of these four words, and accept this criticism wholeheartedly.Just between these lines, it shows the prime minister's high leadership art.

In March 1951, an agreement was signed for the Soviet Union to assist my country in building the aviation industry. Aircraft repair only met the needs of the Korean battlefield at that time, and the fundamental purpose of building the aviation industry was to move from repair to manufacturing.In order to implement the policy set by the Prime Minister, we have worked with Soviet advisers to contemplate a plan since August 1951, that is, to successfully trial-produce the piston trainer Yak-18 and the jet fighter MiG-15 within 8 to 5 years. Biss (later changed to MiG-17ev).After this plan was reported to the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, in December of the same year the Prime Minister personally presided over a meeting to study how to implement it.After discussion at the meeting, the Prime Minister finally concluded that we will follow the plan you proposed.After this plan is completed, 3,600 aircraft can be produced.In this number, the proportions of fighter jets, trainer planes, and transport planes should be reviewed by the Air Force to see if they comply with the relevant ratios stipulated by the Military Commission.Regarding the issue of ordering next year and the plan to transition from repair to manufacturing within 3 to 5 years, first send a telegram to the Soviet Union and ask them to consider it.As for whether the repair task will be assigned to the Bureau of Aviation Industry or to the Air Force after this transition is realized, it is not yet determined today.The Prime Minister also said that he agreed to hire another 25 experts from the Soviet Union, and Comrade Fu Chun would handle the personnel and funds needed to complete this plan.It seems that the required funds can be converted into 5 billion catties of millet.It is necessary and necessary to set up an aviation university with 6 billion catties.Shortly after the meeting, Comrade Fu Chun conveyed in a conversation with Soviet experts that Chairman Mao had agreed to the plan to realize the transition from repair to manufacturing within 3 to 5 years.

In the winter of 1951, it was the tense stage of the Korean War, and the task of aircraft repair was very heavy.The leaders of the Bureau of Aviation Industry, on the one hand, paid close attention to the maintenance tasks and did everything possible to meet the needs of the Air Force; on the other hand, under the leadership of Comrades Chen Yun and Fu Chun, they actively planned the transition to manufacturing.During this period, together with the Soviet consultants, he researched and selected six major manufacturing plant sites, strengthened the construction of bureaus, put forward the policy of quality first, and ordered spare parts for repairs according to the ratio of 1:10 proposed by experts, etc.However, some major problems were also encountered during the work process.For example, in the selection of the six major manufacturing plants, whether to build and build a new factory from the beginning; whether to start building a bomber factory while grasping trainer aircraft and fighter jets; how to mobilize personnel, equipment and improve aviation industry employees more effectively wages and other issues.

For this reason, on July 31, 1952, Premier Zhou held another meeting in his office to study and solve these problems.The Prime Minister said that the guidelines, principles and construction plan for the development of the aviation industry had been finalized at the end of last year, and we should continue to follow the established plan.At the same time, it is necessary to start the basic construction of the light bomber factory, and strive to officially put it into production by the end of 1957.With regard to the request for information from the Soviet Union, ordering from the Soviet Union next year, the recruitment of additional experts, and the extension of the existing 100 Soviet experts, we will follow your suggestions.In the work, we must pay close attention to, pay close attention to, and grasp well.In ordering spare parts, since it is found that many spare parts ordered at a ratio of 1:10 are not applicable, it is not necessary to place orders at a ratio of 1:10 in general.Regarding personnel issues, Comrade Fuchun is asked to transfer 1,500 technicians from the Ordnance Industry Bureau and 1,000 technicians from the automobile assembly plant to the aviation industry.In the future, it will be decided to allocate 2,000 graduates of the University of Aeronautics and Technology every year.In addition, it seems necessary to transfer 300 veteran cadres to participate in the construction of the aviation industry.It is best to adjust it before the end of October.As for the translation issue, Comrade Changgong can discuss it with the airline company.Write a report when you can't solve it.For the 286 precision machine tools that are urgently needed, specific specifications should be put forward as soon as possible, and then the solution should be considered nationwide.The life of the MiG-9 engine is not long, and it can be repaired until 1955 at most.Then the Prime Minister criticized the selection of test pilots for being too slow, and ordered the Air Force to send test pilots to the factory before August 15.The issue of a 15% increase in wages for aviation industry workers (and 5% increase for handymen) was also approved at this meeting.After the meeting, leading cadres, technical cadres, skilled workers and translators urgently needed by the aviation industry were further gathered from all over the country, and various equipment and equipment urgently needed were shipped in succession from home and abroad, and Soviet blueprints and technical materials were also shipped in batches. The reconstruction and expansion projects of the six major factories planned to be carried out in the next five years will also be rolled out soon, and the planning and preparation work of the aviation industry from repair to manufacturing will be basically completed and enter the transitional stage.

In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, I participated in the four meetings chaired by Premier Zhou to study major issues in the aviation industry. His series of major decisions and powerful measures set the direction and laid the foundation for the new China's aviation industry.Over the past few decades, under the guidance of Premier Zhou, the aviation industry has grown from small to large, from low to high, and has developed into one of the few large-scale countries in the world today.As the main founder of new China's aviation industry, Premier Zhou is well-deserved.

Premier Zhou has thought carefully and painstakingly about the establishment of the aviation industry.The first is to personally preside over the construction policy of the aviation industry and the development steps assisted by the Soviet Union.Then, he worked hard for the talent gathering and team formation of the aviation industry.On the second day after the departure of the negotiating delegation to the Soviet Union in 1951, on the 3rd of May, the Premier sent a telegram to the leader of the Northeast Bureau at that time, deciding that the Dalian military industry enterprise should establish a new company and form the Aviation Industry Bureau.In the telegram, the Prime Minister also specifically stated: Knowing that the cadres in the Northeast are difficult, but if the Aviation Industry Bureau transfers people to various places, it will be difficult to complete the task. Therefore, it is more appropriate to transfer and build the entire organization of the new company.Soon, a large number of cadres of Jianxin Company, led by Comrades Chen Yimin, Chen Ping, and Fang Zhiyuan, arrived successively.On April 29 of that year, Premier Zhou issued a document of the Central People's Government approving the establishment of the Aviation Industry Bureau. On May 15, cadres from the Jianxin Company, the Air Force, and the Ministry of Heavy Industry gathered together and officially announced the establishment of the Aviation Industry Administration in Shenyang.

Under the decision and support of Premier Zhou, a large number of cadres supporting the aviation industry arrived one after another from all over the country.From 1951 to 1954, more than 70 local and division-level cadres and nearly 200 county and regiment-level cadres were transferred from North China, East China, and Northwest China successively, which enriched the leaders at all levels of the aviation industry and ensured It has ensured the completion of tasks in various periods of the aviation industry.Regarding the composition of the workforce, according to Premier Zhou’s instructions, in addition to Comrade Fu Chun’s transfer of 1,500 technicians from the Ordnance Industry Bureau and 1,000 technicians from the Automobile Assembly Plant to the aviation industry, the Government Administration Council also made a special decision in March 1952. 315 technical personnel and 1,185 skilled workers were dispatched from the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Communications, the Telecommunications Bureau of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, the Northeast, North China, East China, Southwest and other large administrative regions and Tianjin to support the aviation industry.And it is required that model workers account for 2% of skilled workers.Many of the skilled workers transported here are skilled craftsmen.Although their education level is generally not high, they have rich practical experience and played a great role in the stage from repair to manufacture.

For the technology-intensive aviation industry, the most critical thing is technical personnel.Apart from skilled workers, the most difficult thing at that time was to mobilize technology to the Ministry.Premier Zhou had thought deeply about this and had already prepared for it. As soon as Shanghai was liberated in May 1949, Premier Zhou instructed the responsible comrades in East China to pay attention to recruiting aviation technical personnel left by the old China.In accordance with the spirit of the Prime Minister’s instructions, the Aviation Department of the Shanghai Naval Management Committee has extensively recruited high- and intermediate-level technical personnel left by the former Kuomintang Air Force and aviation technical personnel who returned from studying abroad on the eve of liberation through various channels such as newspaper recruitment, personnel takeover, and recommendation from our underground party. .There are also some intellectuals who have just graduated from the aviation department of the university.A total of more than 60 people were gathered successively. Under the leadership of the East China Aviation Department, the East China Aeronautical Engineering Research Office was established.Regarding this group of technical backbones, Premier Zhou once gave special instructions: "Organize this group of aviation talents first, and there are other plans for how to use them." After the Aviation Industry Bureau was established in 1951, most of these personnel were assigned to work in the Bureau and the six major factories.Many of them have made great contributions to the aviation industry.

It should also be mentioned here that in August 1949, Premier Zhou personally deployed the work of fighting for the uprising of the former central and Chinese airlines in Hong Kong, and instructed our underground party members to launch an uprising of all employees of the "two airlines" and stop the single-aircraft uprising In the work of instigating rebellion, winning over people is the most important thing.Under the correct decision of Premier Zhou, the 3,000 patriotic employees of the "two airlines" in Hong Kong resolutely left the Kuomintang regime and returned to the embrace of the motherland.More than 300 of them have devoted themselves to the aviation industry and have made positive contributions to accelerating the construction of the aviation industry, especially the professional construction of aviation instruments. Under the influence of "leftist" mistakes, the "Great Leap Forward" caused serious setbacks to the aviation industry.Due to the high index and urgent requirements, rapid trial production and rapid construction resulted in a serious decline in the quality of aviation products, a large number of aircraft could not be delivered to the troops, and there were serious problems in the quality of basic construction.In order to eliminate the negative impact of the "Great Leap Forward", in accordance with the eight-character policy of "adjustment, consolidation, enrichment, and improvement" proposed by the central government, the National Defense Work Committee held a working conference in Beidaihe in July 1962 and the Third Machinery Department held a meeting in Shenyang in June 1962. A military preparation meeting was held.Premier Zhou personally attended these two meetings and made important speeches. At the Beidaihe meeting, the Prime Minister pointed out that the current plan adjustment policy is to "resolutely retreat enough, leave room for improvement, focus on adjustments, and fight a war of annihilation". Only by retreating enough can we move forward.The Prime Minister also emphasized that: there must be cutting-edge weapons; we must also intensify efforts to develop conventional weapons.He also said that in the past there were conflicts due to high targets, and now it is no longer possible to set high targets. At the army preparation meeting held in Shenyang, the Prime Minister gave five key instructions: (1) The defense industry has made achievements in the past 10 years, and the achievements are the main ones, and lessons learned should be summed up; (2) The foundation of the national defense industry has been laid, but it is still weak, and production cannot be fully matched. We must gradually rationalize the layout, consolidate the foundation, and develop it; (3) Self-reliance should be gradually realized; (4) Scientific research and cutting-edge technology should be carried out step by step, and gradually climb up on a certain basis; (5) The military industry must first focus on production; production is the foundation, and capital construction must be added to the basis of production development, and the production base must be gradually expanded, and production cannot be stopped for capital construction.The same is true for the routine and the cutting edge. The routine is the foundation of the cutting edge, and gradually breaking through the cutting edge is also a step-by-step process. The Prime Minister's speeches at these two meetings are to guide us to correctly implement the central eight-character policy, and they are major decisions made by the Prime Minister to address the problems existing in the defense industry and the aviation industry.These instructions of the Prime Minister, through the organization and implementation of Comrades Luo Ruiqing and Sun Zhiyuan, finally enabled the aviation industry to better complete the task of passing the product quality and began to provide new equipment to the troops; produced a large number of spare parts to meet the urgent needs of the troops, and solved a large number of aircraft. In particular, the relationship between scientific research and production, cutting-edge and conventional, main engine and auxiliary engine, production and infrastructure has been initially straightened out, so that the aviation industry can continue to move forward on the basis of adjustment.At the army preparation meeting held in Shenyang, as soon as I met Premier Zhou, he kindly called me "Comrade Duan Zijun!" I was very excited at that time.It has been 10 years since he participated in the meeting convened by the Prime Minister on July 31, 1952. It is amazing that the Prime Minister can remember a cadre so clearly.The prime minister shook my hand tightly.After this meeting, the Prime Minister went north to inspect the Harbin Aircraft Factory.During the inspection, he told everyone that from the perspective of the national situation, "difficulties have reached their peak, and the situation of rising is just beginning." As the Prime Minister asserted, under the guidance of the central eight-character policy, the aviation industry has achieved victory by earnestly implementing the spirit of the two meetings. Overcame various difficulties caused by the "Great Leap Forward", "Anti-Right Deviation", three-year natural disasters and the suspension of aid from the Soviet Union, and won another golden period after the first five-year plan. For the development of my country's aviation industry, Premier Zhou Enlai has always advocated self-reliance. At the same time, he has always kept his eyes on the world, emphasizing learning and introducing advanced technologies.As mentioned earlier, during the start-up period of my country's aviation industry, due to Premier Zhou's care and personal planning, he won the assistance of the Soviet Union in many aspects such as technology and management, which played an important role in the rapid transition of my country's aviation industry from repair to manufacturing. In July 1960, the Soviet Union tore up the agreement and unilaterally decided to withdraw the experts. The design drawings, process data, and key raw materials that should be provided were all interrupted, which caught me off guard.Coupled with the impact of three years of natural disasters and the "Great Leap Forward", my country's aviation industry was once in trouble.At that time, under the situation that Western countries still imposed a strict technological and economic blockade on my country, if we did not judge the situation and actively take effective measures, our country's aviation industry would very likely appear in a situation of "successor inorganic" within a period of time. At the beginning of 1961, Khrushchev suddenly sent a letter to Chairman Mao Zedong, expressing that the Soviet Union was willing to transfer the manufacturing rights of the MiG-21 aircraft to my country, and hoped that I would send a delegation to Moscow for negotiations.At that time, Sino-Soviet relations had deteriorated, but considering the need for the development of my country's aviation industry, the Party Central Committee and Premier Zhou still did not miss this opportunity, and immediately instructed the Air Force and the Bureau of Aviation Industry to study and propose solutions.Next, Premier Zhou listened to reports from Air Force Commander Liu Yalou, Air Force Engineering Vice Minister Ding Zhong, and Aviation Industry Bureau Deputy Director Xu Changyu in Zhongnanhai.After listening to the report, the Premier immediately decided that Liu Yalou would lead a delegation to go to the Soviet Union for negotiations, and pointed out: If they want to use the manufacturing power to block, we will not do it; if they want to pressure us to make concessions in principle, they would rather not. The negotiations had the prime minister's attention throughout.After a round of negotiations, the delegation estimated that the Soviet side might raise the issue of dispatching consultants next time, and reported the matter to the country. The Prime Minister immediately replied with a clear instruction: it is okay to send technical experts, and we can take the initiative in how to use the experts.Sending consultants cannot agree.If they insist on sending advisers, we would rather not have a MiG-21.Under the political background at that time, the decisive flexible measures and high principles adopted by the Prime Minister in the introduction of advanced technology can be clearly seen from this telegram. After negotiations, an agreement was signed in which the Soviet Union transferred the right to manufacture the MiG-21 aircraft to me. In 1966, my country successfully trial-produced the MiG-21 aircraft, which was named J-7 aircraft in China.Since then, according to Premier Zhou's policy of learning, introducing, and innovating, on the basis of the prototype, the J-7 I, II, and M models have been successfully improved and developed into the J-7 aircraft series.Since 1965, my country has successfully designed and manufactured the first high-altitude and high-speed J-8 aircraft.Now the J-8 aircraft has developed into an all-weather J-8II aircraft.Seeing these achievements, one cannot help but think of the correct decision of Premier Zhou to purchase the right to manufacture MiG-21 aircraft. In the early 1960s, after Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated, Premier Zhou paid more attention to the world, seeking all favorable opportunities to break the blockade and embargo imposed on my country by the Western world. In April 1965, when the Prime Minister learned that a Nabel company in the UK had closed down and all the equipment was auctioned off, he immediately notified the Ministry of Three Machinery to study whether it was worth importing.We quickly wrote the report and recommended buying them all back.The Prime Minister instructed not to buy all of them, but to buy selectively.According to this instruction, we sent capable leaders and engineers and technicians to the UK to purchase this batch of equipment.Later, at a meeting attended by Minister Sun Zhiyuan, the Prime Minister inquired about this matter. He knew that the personnel had gone abroad, so he told Sun that I wanted to talk to them in person before the personnel who purchased this batch of equipment went abroad. Choose carefully to prevent being fooled.Now that they are gone, send a telegram and tell them of this spirit.Comrade Sun Zhiyuan came back and handed over the matter to Zhao Guangchen, then deputy director of the General Office of the Ministry of Machinery.Comrade Zhao Guangchen personally delivered the draft to Zhongnanhai that night.The first sentence the prime minister said to Zhao Guangchen was serious, I have been waiting for you all afternoon, why did I come now.The Prime Minister read the draft telegram and did not explain the spirit accurately and thoroughly, so he asked Zhao to rewrite it in his office.At this time, the secretary sent Comrade Fang Yi a draft drafted on the same issue. This may be because the Prime Minister could not wait for the telegraphic draft from the Ministry of Machinery, and arranged for Fang Yi to draft it at the same time.After the Prime Minister reviewed it, he thought it was OK and sent it out immediately.According to the instructions of the Prime Minister, the personnel who went abroad carefully purchased a batch of high-precision gear processing equipment, which only cost 400,000 pounds.This was the aviation industry's first attempt to engage with the West after Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated.These devices, in the late 1960s, played an important role in the high-precision gear processing in my country's development of new aero-engines, and some of them are still functioning today. What is particularly memorable is that during the "Cultural Revolution", Premier Zhou resisted the interference of Jiang Qing and others, and resolutely decided to import Spey aeroengines from the United Kingdom.For aircraft, the engine is known as the heart of the aircraft.At that time, my country's aero-engine development lagged behind that of aircraft, and quality problems often occurred in mass production.After Premier Zhou learned of this situation, he repeatedly instructed to solve this "heart disease" problem.In the early 1970s, the Spey aeroengine manufactured by British Rolls-Royce Aviation was a relatively advanced engine in the world. In July 1971, Premier Zhou approved the Ministry of Aviation Industry to import 16 civilian-use Spey engines from the United Kingdom; on December 26 of the same year, at a symposium on aviation product quality, Premier Zhou again instructed to import Spey engines.He said: How can a plane do without a "heart"?It cannot be considered that everything in capitalist countries is bad.It is also created by working people.Don't think that we can do anything, but learn foreign things critically.According to Premier Zhou's instructions, the Ministry of Aviation Industry immediately cooperated with the Ministry of Foreign Trade to start the work related to the introduction of Spey engines. In May 1972, Hu Ke, technical director of Rolls-Royce Company, visited China, had a technical discussion with me, and visited the Shenyang Aero-Engine Factory.Entrusted by Premier Zhou, Vice Chairman Ye Jianying personally participated in this foreign affairs activity. On August 8th, Premier Zhou gave the following instructions to the related request report: "Negotiations and future inspections must be carried out extremely seriously. If there is any problem, you must ask for instructions in advance and then reply. In Britain, you must ask for instructions through the embassy in China. Don’t be careless.” In order to introduce the Spey engine, Premier Zhou was so meticulous and deliberate. He not only thought of many problems that our competent department did not think of, but also reminded us again and again.We learned afterwards that in May 1972, Premier Zhou was already suffering from cancer. Regardless of his serious illness, he worked day and night on national affairs, and still cared about the development of the aviation industry.Every time I recall this incident, my heart is overwhelmed.However, in the so-called "criticizing Lin and criticizing Confucius" in 1974, Jiang Qing and his gang created the "snail incident" and "Fengqinglun incident" successively, pointing the finger at Premier Zhou.Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian and other leading comrades resolutely eliminated interference and supported the inspection and negotiation on the introduction of the Spey engine. On December 13, 1975, my country and Britain formally signed a patent contract for the introduction of the British military Spey aeroengine in Beijing. In 1979, my country's aviation industry successfully imitated the qualified Spey engine, and passed the British simulated high-altitude test bench test in May of the following year.This is a breakthrough in the introduction of Western aviation and military technology under the care of Premier Zhou.Through the inspection and imitation of Spey military engines, the design and technology level of my country's aero-engines has been improved.At the same time, around the imitation of Spey military engines, domestic metallurgical, mechanical, chemical and other departments mobilized technical forces and organized technical breakthroughs, which not only ensured the needs of Spey's imitation, but also led to the improvement of its own technical level. In accordance with the development policy set by Premier Zhou, my country's aviation industry successfully completed the transition from repair to manufacturing in the early 1950s, and then set about establishing scientific research institutions to create conditions for self-design.Around 1960, a scientific research force had initially formed, and attempts to self-design had begun.Aeronautical scientific research strength grows in the development of the aviation industry, and production and scientific research are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.However, due to various reasons, at the end of 1960, the aeronautical scientific research institute was separated from the aviation industry, and a separate aviation research institute was established under the leadership of the army. After 1962, the shortcomings of the separation of scientific research and production were gradually exposed.Due to the lack of scientific research and design strength in the industrial sector, it is difficult to improve product performance, and the new technology formed in production practice cannot be promoted in time.Due to the lack of trial-manufacturing capabilities in scientific research institutions, program demonstration and design cannot be verified in time, which affects the rapid development of aviation research.In this case, Minister Sun Zhiyuan reported to the central government in a timely manner, suggesting that the industrial sector take back the scientific research institutions that have been set aside, and implement centralized and unified leadership for scientific research and production. In the summer of 1963, Premier Zhou held a meeting to study the combination of scientific research and production.At the meeting, some people insisted that scientific research must form a fist, which means to establish an independent academy and be under the leadership of the army.Premier Zhou immediately expressed his disagreement.The Prime Minister said that this cannot be overemphasized, and production practice is a basic human activity.After the meeting, Comrade Luo Ruiqing continued to conduct investigations and studies, and in November 1964, he submitted a report to the central government on the merger of the Ministry of Defense Industry and the Research Institute, which was immediately approved by the leading comrades of the Party Central Committee. In January 1965, the Ministry of Three Machinery merged with the Aeronautical Research Institute, and the scientific research and production were under the unified leadership of the industrial department. In 1967, the Aeronautical Research Institute was under the military management of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission and left the industrial sector again. On December 25, 1971, at the symposium on the quality of aviation products, Premier Zhou once again instructed: to give the research institute to the factory.It is not possible to separate from production. First, conduct an experiment, divide the Shenyang Engine Design Institute into two, and give half to Zhuzhou Aero Engine Factory and the other half to Shenyang Engine Factory.The Prime Minister said, I don't believe that nothing can be produced in the factory.If this method fails, let's change it again.I want to give it a try, it needs to be practiced on the spot!If you want to do it this time, do it well.Based on this, on December 30, the Aeronautical Research Institute submitted a request for the above three factories, the factories to be implemented, and the combination of the institutes. The next day, Premier Zhou gave instructions to implement this plan on a trial basis. After a year of experimentation, with the approval of Premier Zhou, in December 1972, Vice Chairman Ye Jianying hosted an aviation report meeting to specifically solve the system problems of aviation industry production and scientific research.Finally, Vice Chairman Ye Jianying made a summary.The basic principle of implementing the combination of ministries and institutes and the linking of factories and institutes was put forward.After the meeting, the State Council and the Central Military Commission decided to place the Aeronautical Research Institute under the Ministry of Aviation Industry and implement the policy of combining scientific research and production. Looking back on this period of history, we deeply understand that Premier Zhou Enlai has always insisted on the close integration of aviation research and production.According to the practice of the construction of the four modernizations, the Party Central Committee has repeatedly clearly required that scientific research should be oriented towards economic construction. In February 1987, the State Council officially issued Documents No. 6 and No. 8 to promote the integration of scientific research institutions into large and medium-sized enterprises and enterprise groups, and the establishment of research and production complexes.This makes us even more aware of the incomparable correctness of Premier Zhou's policy of combining scientific research with production and his foresight in guiding national construction. In order to strengthen the strength of the air force, meet the needs of domestic air routes, and promote a more complete range of aircraft produced in my country, Premier Zhou has always paid special attention to domestic bombers and helicopters.As early as the summer of 1952, when discussing the 3- to 5-year development plan of the aviation industry, the Prime Minister proposed to consider the issue of building a bomber factory.At that time, because the Soviet Union did not agree, it was not included in the "First Five-Year Plan" construction project.It was not until 1956 when the "Second Five-Year Plan" was compiled that the bomber factory and its engine factory were included in the plan. When Vice Premier Nie Rongzhen led a delegation to the Soviet Union in 1957, he reached an agreement with the Soviet side on the introduction of the Tu-16 bomber in 1959. In the autumn of 1968, with the support of the United States, Chiang Kai-shek clamored to "counterattack the mainland" and used aircraft equipped with "Sidewinder" missiles to invade the coastal airspace of the mainland. On September 16, when Khrushchev met Liu Xiao, our ambassador to the Soviet Union, in Yalta, he said that the Soviet Union could send a batch of Tu-16 bombers equipped with rockets to China, accompanied by Soviet pilots, if China considered it necessary and requested it.Comrade Liu Xiao telegraphed the matter to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reported it to the Central Committee.A few days later, the Premier received Wang Xiping, director of the Aviation Industry Bureau.The Prime Minister showed Comrade Liu Xiao's telegram to Comrade Wang Xiping, and then asked Wang: "After so many years in the aviation industry, can bombers be manufactured now?"Wang replied: "It can be manufactured, but it still needs some conditions." The Prime Minister asked: "What are the conditions?" answered.The Prime Minister said, well, we will ask the Soviet Union to help solve these conditions, and we will create them ourselves. On October 12, the Prime Minister sent a telegram to Khrushchev, stating: We have decided to manufacture the Tu-16 bomber ahead of schedule.The most urgent problem at present is to obtain technical information and samples related to the production of Tu-16 from the Soviet Union in advance, as well as assistance from Soviet technical experts.Khrushchev called back agreeing.The Prime Minister sent Zhang Liankui and Wang Xiping, the vice ministers of the Ministry of First Machinery, to go abroad for negotiations. In January 1959, two prototypes of the Soviet Union Tu-16, relevant drawings and technical data, and two bulk parts were shipped in succession.Our factory started assembly on June 28, and completed the final assembly task of a Tu-16 in only 67 days. The official flight test was successful on September 27.The trial production of the whole machine was not successful until December 1968 due to the interference and destruction of the "Cultural Revolution".The successful trial production of Figure 116 has played a major role in enhancing the strength of our Air Force. Since helicopters have special features such as easy take-off and landing, Premier Zhou has always paid close attention to the production of helicopters in our country.According to the memories of Comrade Wang Huanjie, a helicopter pilot, Premier Zhou took the domestic helicopter driven by him to work in other places many times.During the "Great Leap Forward", the domestically produced straight-five machine also had serious quality problems.The three-level cadre meeting of the defense industry decided to conduct a high-quality clearance.At this critical moment, Premier Zhou came to Harbin Aircraft Factory three times. The first time was in June 1962, when Zhiwu was passing in high quality.The Prime Minister said earnestly to the comrades in the factory: Our country is still very poor and lacks experience. In addition to three years of severe natural disasters and people coming to our door to press for debts, our life is very difficult. Comrades have worked hard.He also encouraged everyone to say: You have such a large factory building, so much equipment, and a lot of people, so you should make more contributions to the country.You have to fight for your breath, rely on your own strength, and feel proud. The second time was in June 1963, when the Prime Minister accompanied foreign guests to visit the factory.In the aircraft assembly workshop, the Prime Minister asked whether the Z-5 had passed the quality inspection.The factory leader replied, "This year must pass the test."The Prime Minister immediately said heartily: "Good! I am waiting to hear your good news." The third time was in May 1966. The Prime Minister accompanied the foreign guests to the factory again. After entering the assembly workshop, the Prime Minister asked whether Zhiwu had really passed the quality inspection.The factory leader replied: Please rest assured, the Prime Minister, it has passed the quality test.After hearing this, the Prime Minister nodded frequently, and instructed that more helicopters should be sent to support national construction. It is a pity that due to the destruction of the "Cultural Revolution", a lot of quality problems have appeared in Zhiwu, which has passed the quality test. In July 1971, when the Prime Minister talked about helicopters with foreign guests, he had a thought-provoking conversation.He said: Your president also needs three helicopters.President Toure has also asked us many times.We do feel a little sorry for him.We can build a large bomber, but also a fighter better than the MiG-21.But the helicopter has been built for 10 years and still has problems.Helicopters passed the test before, but now they cannot pass the test.So there are many things in China, don't say that all are good, this is a kind of bad!When the Prime Minister mentioned that he had flown in Soviet-made helicopters in 1958 and domestically-made helicopters in 1965 and 1966, he said: Now I am not allowed to ride, they say the quality is not up to standard, do you think it is strange?I have been in a Soviet helicopter in Guinea, and an American helicopter in Indonesia, but I can’t fly in my own helicopter in China. I am not reconciled to this.The prime minister also said to the delegation: I want to make an agreement with our ordering minister.就是送给杜尔总统的直升机也好，送给史蒂文斯总统的直升机也好，首先让我坐几次再送出去。周总理这种爱护国产飞机的感人态度和对人民对国际友人的高度负责精神，至今仍深刻地教育和激励着航空工业的广大职工。 “文化大革命”中，航空工业受到了空前严重的破坏。 1967年“一月风暴”之后，航空工业从部机关到企事业基层的领导班子普遍被“夺权”。管理机构“一刀砍”，管理制度“一风吹”，生产、科研陷入无政府状态，导致了前所未有的严重产品质量问题。周恩来总理对航空工业遭受的破坏异常重视，非常痛心。在那样极其复杂的情况下，挺身而出，毅然提出批判极“左”思潮，指引航空工业广大职工同林彪、江青反革命集团的破坏奋起抗争。 1969年4月，在航空工业产品质量问题开始爆发的时候，周总理接到了空军的有关报告。他在文件的空白地方列式计算由于航空发动机的质量问题造成飞机停飞的总架数。 4月12日，周总理召集国防工业办公室、空军、航空工业部的领导人开会。他严肃指出：一个军事工厂搞成这样怎么行？沈阳航空发动机厂，取消检验制度你们是否知道？工厂报告了没有？你们为什么不敢抓？我是早上看到报告的，看后非常难过。军事工厂哪能搞成这样！当航空工业部军管会主任说，有的工厂正在逐步恢复检验制度时，周总理批驳道：什么逐步恢复！你们怎能这样说话！怎么能用这样的词句？ !不是逐步恢复，而是应当马上恢复。你们应当下命令。改革不合理的规章制度，一概取消是不尊重科学的。砸烂一切，否定一切是极“左”思潮。总理在大是大非面前，就是如此旗帜鲜明地指出质量问题的严重性。 1971年底，航空工业全面暴露了产品质量问题，歼6飞机更为严重。周总理得悉后，十分焦急。当年12月连续6次对歼6飞机的质量问题作了指示或批示，严令对歼6飞机“必须严格执行试飞和全检制度，合格方许出厂”。并要求国防工业办公室、航空工业部派人去工厂切实检查，看究竟有多少架已生产的歼6飞机符合援外要求。还指出：不合格的在国内使用也成问题，必须对此作出结论。他严厉告诫：只此一端就可看出我们飞机生产质量下降到什么程度。还不够我们提起警惕吗？ !接着，周总理又委托叶剑英副主席召开航空产品质量座谈会，他还亲自到会听取汇报，作了重要讲话。会上，周总理再次指出：为什么合理的规章制度没有恢复？要批判林彪反党集团，批判无政府主义，批判极“左”思潮，各单位一把手要亲自抓产品质量。他语重心长地教育大家要对党、对人民负责，对祖国的荣誉和战士的安危负责。他说：你们搞生产的，要安全第一，重视质量。周总理在这次会议的讲话中提出了著名的“三抓”和“三促”，即：抓援外，促质量；抓歼6，促其他；抓航空工业，促国防工业和民用工业。在这次会议过程中，周总理不只一次地说，一架飞机不好我心里也不安。我有责任，我要负责。 长达10年之久的“文化大革命”给航空工业带来了深重灾难。在这场浩劫中，产品质量首当其冲。完全可以想见，如果不是周总理挺身而出，批判极“左”思潮，关注航空工业的产品质量，尽可能地稳定企业正常生产秩序以减少损失，那么航空工业和航空产品质量将会陷入何等境地，真是不堪设想呵！ 三十多年来，航空工业在党的领导下，长期奋斗，锐意进取，虽然几经艰难曲折，但终于在旧中国微不足道的基础上，发展成为我国国民经济中技术密集、实力雄厚的新兴产业，建立起门类比较齐全，科研生产基本协调配套的工业体系，为国防和国民经济建设做出了重要贡献，而且奋进不息，继续朝着跻身于世界航空工业的先进行列开拓前进。每当回顾往昔，展示前景，莫不使人深深地感到，航空工业的进步，曾凝结着周总理的心血。