"Digging" for treasures in the China Aviation Industry History Museum
Dig deep and carefully in the long history of China's aviation industry
As mentioned earlier, aircraft models and airborne equipment have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. After the "Second Five-Year Plan" and the "Third Line Construction", the aviation industry system of New China has become increasingly complete.
The road to the construction of the aviation industry system of New China is from aviation machinery maintenance and imitation to self-design. The construction of the aviation scientific research system is carried out along four dimensions: aviation basic technology research (including aviation product production technology research), aviation host product design research, aviation airborne system design research, and aviation factory accessories product development.
What is the power behind this organization and promotion? The answer is in this group photo collected by the China Aviation Industry History Museum.
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That is - China Aviation Research Institute, its original name was the Sixth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense, referred to as the Sixth Institute. On June 29, 1961, the Sixth Institute was officially established in Beijing, opening up the long road of construction of the aviation scientific research system of New China.
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The world is set
As early as January 5, 1950, before the establishment of the aviation industry of New China, He Changgong, then acting minister of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, and Liu Yalou, commander of the Air Force, jointly submitted to the Central Committee the "Opinion on the Construction of the Aviation Industry", in which the fourth part proposed "establishing a research institute to conduct research on aircraft materials, instrument manufacturing, aircraft design, electrical appliance manufacturing, etc., and setting up research instruments and large wind tunnels".
With the help of Soviet consultants and experts represented by Chernikov and Orlov, by September 15, 1955, my country had formed "the initial concept of establishing six research institutes such as materials, processes, special and radar, engines, aerodynamics and strength, and flight tests, as well as technical reports and economic exchanges editorial offices and five scientific research and production bases for the construction of an aviation research system". Aviation research work started from the repair of aircraft and engines during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Through the practice of aircraft imitation production, the scientific and technological team of the aviation industry gradually grew, and the number of scientific and technological personnel increased from 2,065 in the early days of its establishment to 14,962 at the end of 1957. The technical level has been rapidly improved, and the repair and manufacturing technology of aviation products, as well as various testing, test driving and test flight technologies have been mastered. With the rapid development of economic construction, the construction of domestic basic industry and aviation industry has also made great strides. All of these have created the necessary conditions for my country to design its own aircraft and build a complete and independent aviation scientific research system.
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Formally established
In 1959, the Central Military Commission determined the policy of the military to grasp national defense scientific research. On December 20, 1960, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China approved the "Report on the Establishment of Three Research Institutes of Aviation, Ships, and Military Radio Electronics" submitted by the Central Military Commission and drafted by the National Defense Science and Technology Commission.
The strength of the Aviation Research Institute is composed of the Materials Research Institute (Sixth Research Institute), Technology Research Institute (Ninth Research Institute), Instrumentation and Automation Research Institute (30th Research Institute), Flight Research Institute (Eighth Research Institute) and the Aircraft Design Office of Factory 112, the Engine Design Office of Factory 410, the Aircraft and Engine Research Institute (First Research Institute), Radar Research Institute (Second Research Institute), Command and Guidance Research Institute (Third Research Institute) of the Air Force, the fighter design force of the Military Engineering College, and the research and design force of air-to-air missiles. From January 1, 1961, it was changed to the Sixth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense and led by it.
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▲On January 8, 1955, the predecessor of the Aviation Aerodynamics Research Institute, the Harbin Military Engineering Aerodynamics Laboratory, was established. The picture shows the stone tablet inlaid on the wall of the laboratory
The Sixth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense (abbreviated as the Sixth Institute), code-named the 4847th Unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, is affiliated to the Ministry of National Defense and carries out its work under the leadership of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission. On July 18, 1961, the General Staff approved the establishment of the first batch of 10 research institutes by the Sixth Institute. By the end of 1964, the Aircraft Design Institute (Institute 1 of the Sixth Institute), the Aircraft Engine Design Institute (Institute 2 of the Sixth Institute), the Aircraft Accessories and Ground Equipment Design Institute (Institute 3 of the Sixth Institute), the Aviation Science and Technology Information Institute (Institute 4 of the Sixth Institute), the Aviation Weapon Design Institute (Institute 5 of the Sixth Institute), the Aviation Materials Institute (Institute 6 of the Sixth Institute), the Aerodynamics Institute (Institute 7 of the Sixth Institute), the Flight Institute (Institute 8 of the Sixth Institute), the Aviation Technology Institute (Institute 9 of the Sixth Institute), the Aviation Special Equipment Design Institute (Institute 30 of the Sixth Institute), the Large Aircraft Design Institute (Institute 10 of the Sixth Institute), and the Wuhe Factory were established. A total of 11 institutes and 1 pilot factory were established, and the technical team for self-developed aircraft was basically formed.
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▲In 1956, the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials was established. The picture shows the document of the Second Ministry of Machine Building deciding to establish the institute
At the same time, under the chairmanship of Lieutenant General Tang Yanjie, the first president of the Sixth Institute, and Major General Wang Zhenqian, the Political Commissar, the "Outline of the Ten-Year Development Plan for Aviation Research (1963-1972) (Draft)" was formulated and completed in February 1962.
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▲Lieutenant General Tang Yanjie, the first president of the Sixth Academy, and Major General Wang Zhenqian, the first political commissar
In the early days of the establishment of the academy, a group of experts including Xu Shunshou, Huang Zhiqian, Wu Daguan, Xiong Yan, Rong Ke, Yu Guangyu, and Zan Ling became deputy technical directors, chief engineers, or technical backbones of various research institutes. They made every effort to understand the MiG-21, cooperated with the trial production of the J-7, and started the development of the new J-8... Rong Ke made a military order for the development of hollow blades for the new engine, which became a good story for aviation people!
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▲President Tang Yanjie and technical personnel inspected and discussed the development of hollow blades for engines
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Twists and turns
In order to promote the combination of scientific research and production work, in January 1965, the state implemented the "merger of ministries and academies", and the Sixth Academy was placed under the leadership of the Third Ministry of Machine Building. According to the original plan of the Sixth Academy, the Third Ministry of Machine Building decided to expand the Aerodynamics Research Institute, build a new Aviation Engine Research Institute (Sixth Academy 11th Institute) and Aircraft Structural Strength Research Institute (Sixth Academy 12th Institute) three key research and testing institutions.
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▲ Chairman Zhu De wrote an inscription for the Sixth Institute of the Third Ministry of Machine Building (December 22, 1966)
After the start of the "Cultural Revolution", aviation research work was greatly impacted. After several twists and turns, on July 12, 1969, the Central Military Commission Office Group approved and agreed that from July 13, the Sixth Institute would be placed under the leadership of the Air Force.
At that time, in accordance with the principles of "centralization and unity, division of labor and cooperation, military-oriented, and military-civilian cooperation", it was planned to build 8 new research (design) institutes and 1 pilot factory on the basis of the original 13 research (design) institutes. After approval by the Central Committee, the plan began to be specifically organized and implemented in March 1968. Affected by the "Cultural Revolution" and "Third Line Construction", the plan was adjusted during its implementation. In fact, nine research (design) institutes and one trial production factory were newly built, including the Helicopter Design Institute, Seaplane Design Institute, Airborne Radar Design Institute, Turbine Shaft (Propeller) Engine Design Institute, Aviation Life-saving Design Institute, Aviation Fire Control System Design Institute, Avionics Equipment Institute, Aviation Computing Technology Institute, and Second Fighter Design Institute.
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▲In May 1970, the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute began to be built, forming a "one research institute, one system, one institute, one factory" pattern with the Chengdu Aircraft Factory. The picture shows scientific researchers carrying materials and equipment during the construction of the institute
The various research institutes and the vast number of scientific researchers have worked hard to overcome adverse effects and promote the continuous improvement and development of my country's aviation science and technology system.
In August 1973, the State Council and the Central Military Commission decided to re-assign the Sixth Institute to the leadership of the Third Ministry of Machine Building. "In order to implement the principle of 'combining ministries and institutes, linking factories and institutes', and 'implementing the unified leadership of the Party'", the main engine and auxiliary engine design institutes were separated from the Sixth Institute in phases and batches and placed under the direct leadership of the Third Ministry of Machine Building. By 1973, the scientific research system with the Sixth Institute as the main body was basically established.
At the same time, the Third Ministry of Machine Building, which was responsible for production, also established a number of technical basic research institutes and factory supporting main engine design institutes. In April 1961, the Precision Machinery Research Institute and the Metrology and Verification Institute were established; in October 1970, the Comprehensive Technology Research Institute was established. In the late 1970s, the Aircraft Design Institute and the Coastal Defense Missile General Design Institute were established at the Hongdu 320 Factory; the Guizhou Fighter Design Institute (First Institute) and the Guizhou Jet Engine Design Institute (Second Institute) were established at the Guizhou 011 base, the largest aviation industry in the "Third Line Construction".
Under the guidance of the Party Central Committee's policy of "science and technology is the primary productive force", the Sixth Academy supported the country's first "1978-1985 Aviation Industry Science and Technology Development Plan Outline" issued on July 20, 1978, sorted out the 10 major aviation professional key technologies with great foresight, systematicity and direction, and proposed 8 key projects and 199 major research topics in 10 major professions, laying the foundation for my country to implement the separate pre-research plan for the first time during the "Seventh Five-Year Plan". It led and organized the "Seventh Five-Year Plan", "Eighth Five-Year Plan" and "Ninth Five-Year Plan" aviation science and technology pre-research, and sounded the clarion call for China's aviation industry to leap to the third-generation aviation equipment. The core technologies of the third-generation aviation weapons and equipment all originated from the China Aviation Research Institute.
From July 22 to August 2, 1978, the Third Ministry of Machine Building held an aviation science and technology work conference in Tianjin to implement the spirit of the National Science Conference. In order to adapt to the smooth development of aviation pre-research work, it was decided to adjust the tasks of the Sixth Academy to mainly manage basic research, applied research and pre-research, and transfer the management of model development to various professional bureaus. After the adjustment, the Sixth Institute's management units also have 12 airborne and basic research institutes, 2 trial factories, 4 hospitals and 1 warehouse. In March 1979, with the approval of the State Council, the Sixth Institute of the Third Ministry of Machine Building registered "China Aviation Research Institute" as its external name.
During this period, my country's independent research and development of aviation weapons and equipment made major breakthroughs. On July 5, 1969, as a model project led by the Sixth Institute, the first high-altitude and high-speed fighter designed and manufactured by my country, the J-8, made its maiden flight successfully. A large number of young and middle-aged aviation science and technology talents represented by Gu Songfen grew up rapidly.
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▲J-8 maiden flight
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The master
In June 1982, under the background of the national institutional reform, the Third Ministry of Machine Building was changed to the Ministry of Aviation Industry, and the scientific research management functions of the Sixth Institute were merged with the ministry. The China Aviation Research Institute only retained the two functions of postgraduate training and international scientific and technological cooperation. Since then, the affiliation of various institutes in the aviation scientific research system has changed with the changes in the management system of the national defense industry and the aviation industry.
So far, my country's aviation industry has 32 research and design institutions, including 6 aircraft design institutes, 3 aero-engine design institutes, 8 airborne equipment design institutes, and 15 professional institutes. In addition, there are 4 research and design institutions directly under the main engine factory, including 2 aircraft design institutes, 1 aero-engine design institute, and 1 coastal defense missile general design institute. In addition, some other units and factories under the aviation industry also have their own research and design institutions (institutes or rooms) according to their own development needs. The aviation industry system of New China has established an independent, complete and well-matched aviation science and technology research and design system, which is a major achievement in the history of the development and construction of the national defense industry and the development of comprehensive national strength in New China for more than 30 years!
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Carrying on the past and opening up the future
Since the reform and opening up, China's aviation scientific research system has been continuously reformed and adjusted, and its capabilities have been continuously enriched and improved. It has become one of the important material and technical foundations of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, supporting the rapid development of my country's aviation industry and the emergence of advanced aviation products. China's aviation industry has a strong ability to develop high-performance military and civilian aviation products.
In November 2008, the First and Second Aviation Industry Groups of China Aviation Industry Corporation merged into the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, and the China Aviation Research Institute was managed as one of the 10 functional sectors. In August 2016, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China decided to integrate the relevant units and businesses of the China Aviation Research Institute and the China Aviation Industry Economic Research Institute based on the China Aviation Research Institute, and the newly established China Aviation Research Institute was managed as a direct unit of the group company. The business positioning of the new China Aviation Research Institute is to "focus on the 'strategic, holistic, forward-looking, basic, and shared' technical research of aviation technology, and strive to become a base for independent innovation and a leader in the development of cutting-edge aviation technology."
From then on, the China Aviation Research Institute started a new journey.
