What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 464 Adding fuel to the fire
The term "space carrier" sounds alarming, but it's easier to understand if you rephrase it as "mother-daughter aircraft."

The history of this thing is almost parallel to the development of the aviation industry. In the early days, the United States tested it with airships, and it was quite imaginative:

They had considered two possible solutions:
One method involves launching the aircraft into the air using a hook, and then retrieving it using the same hook from the airship, which is more difficult.

Another fantastical idea was to actually lay a flight deck on the upper level of the airship for takeoff and landing, but it was ultimately rejected because it was deemed unreliable.

(The image below is a 1928 photograph restored using AI.)

Meanwhile, the Russians were not idle either. They were developing the world's largest TB series bomber and forming an airborne aircraft carrier by carrying I-16 fighters with the huge TB3, and they actually put it into practice.

A single TB3 can carry up to five I-16s, but its drawback is that it cannot be recovered.

(Illustration of TB3 carrying I-16)
If these can only be considered as imaginative ideas in the early development of the aviation industry, later, with the advent of the jet age, the Empire, in order to escort its bombers, revived the mother-daughter aircraft concept, preparing to attach fighters to bombers and launch them in case of danger.

McDonnell Douglas seriously developed the XF85 micro jet fighter. After the B-29 was modified, it could be housed in its own cabin. During recovery, precise docking with the fighter was required.

For large aircraft such as the B36, B47, and B52, the XF85 can be directly suspended under the wing, allowing for the carrying of more XF85s.

(The image below shows the XF85 'Goblin' fighter jet.)

However, these attempts ultimately failed to achieve their goals, because with the advancement of technology, the range of advanced jet aircraft has become increasingly longer, and the maturity of aerial refueling technology can also significantly increase the range.

But the most crucial point is the purpose of the airborne aircraft carrier: the need to provide escort for bombers no longer exists.

After the 60s, everyone was throwing rockets at each other, and bomber penetration became obsolete overnight. The XB70 Valkyrie and T4 were both stillborn.

The next time theories of airborne aircraft carriers and mother-daughter aircraft emerge will be in the drone swarm era, 20 years from now.

Changbu was certainly aware of its many flaws, but... well, it's a novel, and he understood the stereotypes surrounding Hans's advanced technology.
"If we follow Hans's technological approach, there are two options: one based on airships, and the other based on large bombers."

The previously designed gnat was actually quite good; its meaningful standard weight was only 2 tons, enough for a Zeppelin airship to carry about 10 of them. But it seems the Germans don't have many long-range bombers. Should they use the Me 264 or the Arado E555?

Tang Wen, a former veteran keyboard military enthusiast, recalled these two codenames. ME264 is more traditional, similar to the traditional four-engine heavy bomber like B17 and B29. There was a plan for it in history, but it did not succeed.

Arado E.555, abbreviated as Ar.E.555, was impressive, but it was basically just a fantasy of Arado Corporation, with only blueprints remaining.
(Arado E.555)

Its gull-wing and flying wing layout were so ahead of their time that it was only later discovered in archaeology and used as an electronic pickled vegetable, which amazed people with Hans's imagination.

However, these bizarre solutions now have the potential to move from blueprints to reality.

Tang Wen made the decision almost without much thought:
"Let's use the Ar.E.555 and the super airship as the prototype mothership. As for the daughterships... the gnats don't have the right feel. Can we use the Ta183 as a miniaturized version? That would seem more orthodox."

Changbus: "Ta183? That's fine, but don't you think there's a flaw? Ta183 doesn't have high-altitude, high-speed flight capabilities, which is quite outdated for the era it's set in. Its performance is even worse than a gnat."

Tang Wen also realized that he had forgotten that the Empire had monsters like the Blackbird. These Hans blueprints that he had dug out were so strange that it would be difficult for them to fly to 2 meters. The high altitude seemed to be a blank.

But just then his phone rang. After glancing at the number, he had no choice but to say to Changbus:

"The important task of filling the gaps in the Hans Air Force ecosystem is entrusted to you. Priority will be given to aircraft based on blueprints, and you understand the technical requirements."

"So you're not considering human-machine interface efficiency?"

As he spoke, Changbus scratched his head. The safety and human-machine interface of the CJ-6, JJ-1, and Y-10 trainers that he helped design were excellent. On the contrary, now a whole bunch of aircraft that are almost equivalent to kamikaze attacks have been produced.

……

"Aren't you going to stop yet? Aren't you going to consider the bigger picture?"

Even so, Zhao Hande called not to interrogate Tang Wen, but to give him a reminder.

"Great righteousness? What great righteousness?"

"The international financial situation is changing rapidly right now, and at this juncture, stability is certainly better." Tang Wen became wary: "Stability? It shouldn't involve such a high level of issues, right?"

Zhao Hande: "But some of the consequences make sense. If Cheung Kong Holdings runs into trouble, and so much land becomes undeveloped, the real estate market will plummet..."

Tang Wen: "You mean, we help him through the crisis, and then Yangtze River Real Estate takes advantage of the financial crisis to buy up the housing market at rock-bottom prices, and after the economy recovers, monopolize land, drive up land prices, and make a fortune?"

It seemed there was more than just Lao Zhao on the other end of the phone; after faintly hearing conversations, he asked:
"Then what do you suggest we do? We can't just stand by and watch."

"Take advantage of the moment and immediately support the plan to build another 85000 housing units to bring down the housing market. Land hoarding that is not allowed and is not developed within the specified time will be severely punished. We can even trace the cases back to the source... That's all."

"You make it sound so easy."

Zhao Hande was speechless. These were all old plans for benefiting the people, and if they could be implemented, they would have started doing them long ago.

A problem that is very obvious yet remains unresolved for so long clearly has an underlying reason.

Moreover, doing this is not putting out a fire, it's clearly adding fuel to the fire, or sending liquid nitrogen to someone in dire need.

But Tang Wenfei quickly replied:

"Wouldn't it be easier if Cheung Kong Holdings went bankrupt?"

He wanted to refute it, but after thinking about it carefully... it actually made some sense?

The authorities have always wanted to do this to benefit the citizens, but they have always been obstructed and unable to push it through.

What was originally a thorny problem suddenly became easy to decide after Tang Wen's fluent and smooth explanation.

Moreover, although they burst the bubble ahead of time, they actually gained control over the post-recovery period.

Of course, this is also due to the changes in the timeline. The rapidly expanding naval power in secret has given the country confidence. Entering the market ahead of time means that the importance of middlemen has been greatly reduced, and the Southeast Asian group represented by Gaijin can provide more technological resources.

After comparing all the information, a reply came from the other end of the phone after a long time:

"We don't understand business matters, so we won't get involved."

……

Academy of Social Sciences

Feng Qianjun was engrossed in using the company computer to browse BBS and read up dirt on the Li family when he suddenly heard his assistant's voice:
"Professor Feng, there's an article that needs your name credited!"

Hearing this, he was startled, quickly took the envelope, and opened it. The title of the manuscript inside was:
"The crisis at Nande Group may spread."

Feng Qianjun's eyes widened immediately:
"Wow, is there going to be another big news story in the business world? Why would they send over a report like this?"

The assistant quickly explained, "It wasn't delivered by the same people as before."

"Then why did you give it to me? Just throw it away!"

"The sender is Gaijin Company."

Feng Qianjun maintained the posture of throwing the letter, then slowly pulled his hand back.

Upon closer inspection of the envelope, there was another check inside.

"Well, you go ahead and get busy. I'll take a look at the manuscript and polish it a bit."

(End of this chapter)