Chapter 67: The Whip Wielder Defies Orders and Takes Flight

  Arsalan Edward Eben Zaid, who is not yet 18 years old, has already accumulated over 300 hours of jet flight experience. At the age of 14, he altered his age and entered the Iraqi Air Force. This was all because he is a member of Iraq's prominent Zaid family, which has long supported Saddam Hussein's regime and has good relations with high-ranking government officials.

  Although Arslan is young, he has a fearless and bold personality. He admires heroes and his favorite motto is: Attack is the life of the air force!

  This time, the Iranian plane actually flew into Iraqi airspace in broad daylight, intending to bomb the capital Baghdad. This made Arslan, who was on combat duty, feel that an opportunity had come. He immediately rushed towards his own aircraft: MiG-23BN, codename: Whip.

  Iraq was the second foreign customer for the MiG-23MS and BN, receiving its first batch of 48 in 1974. Before the start of the Iran-Iraq War, a total of 80 MiG-23BNs were delivered, but like any other country operating the MiG-23, the Iraqi Air Force was not satisfied with this fighter. During the early stages of the war, the MiG-23BN suffered heavy losses, with over 40 being shot down by Iranian F-14s, F-4s and surface-to-air missiles between September 1980 and May 1981.

  All of this is MiG-23's embarrassment.

  The MiG-23 was the Soviet Union's first swing-wing fighter, although like the F-111, it used this new technology, due to design and craftsmanship backwardness, the variable sweep wing technology did not bring an increase in maneuverability, but instead led to an increase in structural weight, making its performance even worse than the MiG-21.

  However, the MiG-23 still has its advantages, with notable performance being high speed in level flight, reaching 2.35 Mach at high altitude and 1350 km/h at low altitude, as well as good horizontal acceleration, which is beneficial for low-altitude penetration, high-speed interception, and post-strike escape. Its ground attack variant, due to its large weapon load capacity, long range, high speed in low-altitude penetration, and good armor protection, is not a bad ground attacker either.

  So, Aslan was familiar with all the pros and cons of the MiG-23, so he was more confident in using his new invention tactics: whip attack.

  To shoot down enemy planes, especially those with panda escorts, is not entirely impossible. One method is to command from GCI (ground-controlled intercept), at an altitude of 500 meters, enter the formation behind Iranian aircraft before firing weapons, and use the excellent acceleration ability of the MiG-23 to accelerate and climb to the maximum range of the missile, then fire air-to-air missiles at the target. Then quickly return.

  Arsalan's disobedience was not the first time, each time, the base commander would be furious, but every time, his palm would be raised high and put down gently, he believed that as long as he entered the combat zone, the base would immediately provide him with radar guidance.

  As Arslan rushed from the operations room to the plane, his wingman, Captain Omar Goben, knew something was wrong. However, he did not choose to follow this bold pilot in disobeying orders; it was better for him to listen to commands and advance step by step through his own efforts.

  However, when facing a group of machines alone, Arslan's situation wasn't that optimistic. Omar could only pray for Arslan and wait quietly.

  Arsalan stepped fearlessly into the familiar cockpit, where ground crew members, unaware of his disobedience, came to check his oxygen mask and ensure that the canopy was properly in place before removing the ladder.

  Arsalan opened various switches one by one in an orderly manner. The familiar rumbling sound finally came through.

  Ground personnel gave a thumbs up to Arslan after visually confirming that the engine flame was normal.

  At this time, the base's tower had not yet discovered anything unusual.

  Arsalan released the brakes and the MiG-23 began to roll slowly down the runway.

  God, what does he want to do? The duty personnel in the tower immediately discovered the anomaly on the apron.

  "Fly Tiger, Fly Tiger, shut down and await orders, shut down and await orders." The tower immediately called out. Fly Tiger was Arslan's codename.

  "Blue sky, blue sky, Flying Tiger requests takeoff." Arslan shouted over the radio.

  Suddenly, a burst of whispers came from the tower, and Tasker, who was on duty, immediately grabbed the wireless and said: "Arsalan, stop right now, you dare to take off, I'll shoot you dead."

  Then Task saw that the plane of the hairy little boy on the runway had changed its tail flame to light blue, and he opened the afterburner!

  "Yes sir, taking off immediately." Arslan said solemnly.

  "Bastard!"

  Arsalan had already taken aim at the runway, he glanced at the missiles hanging on both wings, two P-60 (AA-8) short-range air-to-air missiles, in addition to those two, under the air intake, there were also two P-23T (AA-7) medium-range air-to-air missiles, using radio command mid-course guidance and passive infrared terminal guidance. Although called medium-range air-to-air missiles, the range was only 15 kilometers, and the guidance accuracy was not high, but for a sneak attack from behind, it was already sufficient.

  Due to the variable sweep wing, it is not possible to install multiple hardpoints under the wing. Otherwise, during a high angle of attack dive, the missile would scrape against the fuselage.

  It's time for these missiles to show their power! Arslan pushed the throttle stick to its maximum and opened fire.

  Suddenly, a strong push-back feeling came, Arslan leaned against the seat and watched as the scenery on both sides became faster and faster.

  To obtain maximum lift, the wings were fixed at their minimum value of 18 degrees.

  He took a glance at the airspeed indicator, which had already reached 300, and pulled up on the control stick.

  The whip-cracker raised his high head and pierced the sky.

  "The Flying Tiger has taken off and is ready to fly south at low altitude. Please guide me to the correct intercept point, Blue Sky," Arslan said.

  "Get back here at once, or I won't be able to protect you and will have to report this to my superiors!" Task exclaimed. What bad luck! Today was his shift on duty, and now something like this had happened. Who arranged for that kid to be on combat readiness duty today? In his anxiety, he didn't even have time to use a code name - he really wanted to scold him severely!

  " Flying Tiger has locked onto heading 2-1-1, preparing for a low-altitude high-speed intercept." Arslan said leisurely over the radio.

  At this time, an excited voice was heard: "This is a real fighter!"

  The light spot on the radar screen suddenly accelerated.

  This guy actually wants to engage afterburners and fly at supersonic speeds? Task felt a wave of dizziness.

  "Altitude is not suitable for supersonic flight, I'll guide you immediately, at 0.8 Mach cruise speed, adjust heading to 2-1-2, twenty minutes later, will encounter Panda." To avoid this guy harming the people on the ground, Task finally gave in.

  "Course 2-1-1 is correct, I'm not making a head-on intercept, but rather coming around from behind the panda's butt, so, contact will be three minutes later, twenty-three minutes, we'll make contact." Arslan had already calculated the time.

  You all know that already. What else can I guide you to do? Task said: "Connect with the Air Force Command, report Lieutenant Arslan's disobedient behavior."

  PS: Thanks for the reward from "Cang Ye Fei Long"!