Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 367 Not Optimistic (5200+ words)

At 7 PM on a news program in an Eastern country, the male announcer announced in the preview: "Just yesterday, my country's first domestically developed and manufactured narrow-body medium-to-long-range passenger aircraft successfully rolled off the production line at the Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant and began ground testing."

After all the news previews were finished, this was the first news item.

Just yesterday, May 1st, my country's first narrow-body medium-range civil aviation passenger aircraft, CA201, successfully rolled off the production line.

Higher-level leaders attended the ceremony marking the rollout of the passenger aircraft.

As the host spoke, the first thing to happen was a group of leaders, led by higher-level leaders, walking towards the camera.

Then the photographer turned to the side, and the huge passenger plane appeared in the frame.

However, many of the faces in the image are blurry.

Apart from Chief Engineer Ma, the situation of the others is basically unclear.

Including Li Song!

The group arrived at the front landing gear of the plane.

You can tell how big the plane is just by looking at the footage in the video.

The host continued: "The small jet airliner recently manufactured by Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant has just obtained European flight permits and airworthiness certificates."

The rollout of the first medium- and long-range passenger aircraft marks a significant milestone, signifying that my country's aircraft manufacturing technology has reached the world's mainstream level.

The CA201 passenger aircraft is equipped with two high-bypass engines!
The high bypass ratio engine is also independently designed and manufactured by Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, and has been running for more than 4,000 hours in professional testing institutions!

Both reliability and performance have met the design requirements!

Furthermore, in terms of fuel economy, it is superior to existing Western high-bypass engines of the same type.

This means that the operating costs of our civil aviation passenger aircraft will be lower in the future.

Accompanied by a voice-over, the leaders and their entourage walked from the front landing gear of the plane, then around to one side of the plane and saw the huge engine, and then around to the other side from the back.

It can fly up to 8600 kilometers at a speed of Mach 0.86!

It is fully capable of undertaking international route missions!
The maximum flight altitude reaches 12,300 meters!

Furthermore, the cabin pressure of the aircraft reaches an altitude of 1,800 meters.

Other similar passenger aircraft have cabin pressures reaching 2,400 meters above sea level.

This means that the CA201 will be more comfortable to ride.

This also means that the technology of this aircraft is already ahead of similar international products.

It can accommodate up to 230 people and has multiple layout options!

At this moment, the camera captured the leaders and their entourage entering the plane!

First of all, the seats have a single-aisle layout!
It is approximately 46 meters long and has a wingspan of about 42 meters.

Furthermore, the aircraft is equipped with advanced C-band radar that can reflect weather conditions in real time.

At this moment, the leader is seen entering the cockpit of the aircraft.

The layout of the aircraft cockpit is clearly visible.

The camera then panned to the layout of the single-aisle seating in the back.

"Shet!"

"No!" In the Boeing office in Kyoto, the person in charge jumped up immediately after seeing the news.

"Take out the videotape!"

"Send them back to China as quickly as possible!"

"Notify the embassy!"

"Shit!!"

"NO!" The head of the office was going crazy.

Boeing now has two rivals: McDonnell Douglas and Airbus, and before they've even dealt with those, another one has joined the ranks.

Moreover, this newly added enemy poses an even greater threat!
Because all the parts for the aircraft manufactured by Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant are domestically produced.

Boeing itself uses engines from General Electric and Pratt & Whitney.

Even worse, the limited information available suggests that the aircraft patent applied for by Baisheng Company has already been implemented.

According to the aircraft engine parameters applied for by Baisheng Company, the fuel ratio is 15 percent lower than that of existing similar products.

Only the next generation of high-bypass turbofan engines from General Motors and Pratt & Whitney will have such parameters.

The person in charge recalled the information that had just been sent back from headquarters a month earlier.

After obtaining European flight permits and airworthiness certificates, the Starliner aircraft...

Both General Electric and Hewlett-Packard conducted comprehensive assessments of Chang'an Aircraft Factory and concluded that it would take at least three to five years for the factory to produce high-bypass turbofan engines.

The engines used in small jet airliners are not at the same level of technology as those used in commercial airliners.

Therefore, based on the assessment results of these two companies, Boeing estimated that it would take five to eight years for Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant to produce medium- and long-range civil aircraft. If ground testing is included, flight testing would take eight to ten years to finalize the design!
In eight to ten years, the broadcasting company has already launched the next generation of passenger aircraft!

Technically, it completely surpasses the patents that Li Song has applied for.

Thinking of this, the person in charge cursed, "These damn bureaucrats!"

"And those bastards from General Electric and HP!"

"From what direction was the data obtained, and how were the evaluation results derived?"

Boeing established an office in mainland China last year.

Boeing is also very optimistic about the mainland's civil aviation passenger aircraft market.

Because the mainland has a vast territory and a large population, the demand for airplanes is relatively high.

Furthermore, the office also has a resident representative!
It wasn't just the Boeing office manager who started swearing.

The person in charge continued watching, and the news showed that CA201 autonomously glided from outside the assembly workshop to the test track.

Ground tests were also conducted.

Finally, there's a group photo of the factory staff with the CA201 aircraft in the background!

You can see ambulances, fire trucks, and refueling trucks standing by the plane!
Because of aircraft ground testing, the amount of fuel added each time is related to the test items and test duration.

For example, if the test lasts for half an hour, then the fuel can only be used up to the amount of fuel consumed in forty minutes!

It refers to the fuel added to a commercial airliner before each takeoff, not necessarily a full tank of fuel.

It just adds a little more fuel than the flight range!

Because aircraft refueling is measured in tons, and this aircraft has a maximum range of over 8,000 kilometers.

Since flight routes are typically one or two thousand kilometers long, excess fuel will increase the weight of the aircraft, resulting in more fuel consumption during flight!

Of course, there are exceptions, such as international routes refueling when transiting through the Middle East or certain countries in northern India.

Because fuel is quite cheap there!

Refueling at these transit points can save a lot of money.

Moreover, some Middle Eastern countries rely on such preferential policies to attract many flights to transit through their countries.

Even the embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany felt their scalps tingle after seeing this news.

Just last month, a relevant assessment report was sent from China.

In other words, the manufacturing capabilities of Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant are assessed by examining the manufacturing technology and parameters of the Xinghui passenger jet.

These reports also cited reports from General Electric, HP, and Boeing!

Because for these countries, the evaluation reports of these companies are highly professional.

Even Airbus cited the evaluation reports from these two engine companies.

Because Airbus aircraft also use General Electric engines.

Of course, Airbus also uses engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce.

But that's not all!
These people almost started swearing!
The assessment report that was just completed has now been slapped in the face.

So these people quickly called people they knew.

These people also have friends in China!
But none of these people were told these things in advance by any of their friends.

However, their friends were also completely baffled!
Because Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant doesn't need to report to anyone.

So even if these people's friends work in some departments and have access to a lot of information.

These people only learned from the news that China's medium- and long-range civil aviation passenger aircraft had rolled off the production line.

After the five-minute news segment ended, international calls began to pick up.

In some Eastern countries, 7 PM on May 2nd is 11 AM London time, which is 7 AM New York time. "Whoa! Whoa!!"

"It seems our friend has given some people a big surprise!" The directors of Bedooch Company in London were having a meeting when they received this news, and they were quite surprised after seeing it.

“Those damn nouveau riche must be having a terrible headache right now,” one of the directors said.

Everyone knows that the nouveau riche are those cowboys in North America.

The whole of Europe has actually made a lot of efforts to counter Aramco.

Airbus was founded to compete with Boeing.

And then there's Paris next door, which develops its own fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft carriers, and submarines, making it one of the few countries capable of achieving self-sufficiency in defense.

London looks down on the nouveau riche cowboys of North America.

They look down on neighboring Paris even more!
"Do you all think we can secure the distribution rights for this aircraft?" some directors asked.

The director asked this question because the demand for commercial airliners is greater than that for small jet airliners.

"I don't think it's very good. Narrow-body passenger aircraft aren't very well accepted in the market right now!"

"Wide-body passenger aircraft are now the mainstream!"

"However, I am still optimistic about the future. Have you all seen the economic situation this year?"

"If inflation increases further, I think many people will fly economy class!"

"I think it will be very difficult for this aircraft to obtain flight permits and airworthiness certificates in Europe or North America!"

"General Motors, HP, Boeing, and McDonnell Douglas will not allow such an aircraft to fly over North America."

"I doubt Paris would allow this plane to fly over Europe!"

"We will not allow this aircraft to fly over Europe."

"So even if we wanted to become the agent for this aircraft, it would be almost impossible!"

"Gentlemen, you are right. GE and HP have contacted Rolls-Royce, and I think that's the reason!"

"Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Airbus are preparing for emergency consultations!"

"Tsk tsk, it seems our Mr. Li Song isn't having such a smooth time this time!" The directors of Bedouchi Company all have big breasts, so they are very well-informed.

"This time, his plane probably won't even get a special airworthiness certificate!"

"That's for sure!" The directors of Bedouch Company were not optimistic about the commercial airliner produced by Li Song.

Of course, what these people don't know is that some people are incredibly lucky. The US will hold an exercise this year, and politicians in Europe and North America will spare no effort to win over certain Eastern countries.

At this time, Li Song was still at the Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant. After reading the news, Li Song was thinking about applying for a patent for the B-type transport aircraft.

As for suggesting that higher authorities purchase American fighter jets, I'll make that suggestion after the US military exercises. Now that the mainland has money, we can buy a squadron of each model!
"Hehe!!" Li Song thought that after buying two squadrons of fighter jets, it wouldn't be long before China would launch a similar model of fighter jet. At that time, the expressions of certain people in certain countries would definitely be quite interesting!
Li Song guessed that even if the two sides reached an agreement, the transaction would probably be completed around 1983 or 1984.

By then, several years had passed since he delivered the two aircraft. The domestic authorities must have thoroughly mastered the relevant technology, and perhaps even started trial production.

Moreover, once purchased, it can be used to deceive the enemy.

They originally bought two squadrons, but probably no one knows how many squadrons were actually purchased.

"It will be just in time for the island battles in the south in the 1980s. At that time, I will suggest that we take back more islands at once."

"Looks like we'll need to modify some refueling aircraft!" Li Song planned to convert existing medium- and long-range passenger planes into refueling aircraft.

Converting commercial airliners into tanker aircraft is not unprecedented; American Airlines has been using the DC-10 converted into the KF tanker for decades.

So Li Song launched a targeted bounty on the second-hand platform for the merchant who designed the airplane last time!
At the same time, Li Song also offered a reward for a four-engine, twin-engine wide-body passenger plane.

While narrow-body passenger aircraft are the mainstream trend for the future, there are also twin-engine wide-body passenger aircraft!
Moreover, as an aircraft manufacturer, there are some things you simply cannot produce, but you cannot do without them.

I can use these products to stir things up when the time comes.

Furthermore, these products can be used to pressure certain companies into agreeing to let them enter the market.

Otherwise, I'll just flip the table myself!

The main point is: if you don't want me to do it, then nobody else should do it.

Therefore, some products must be produced even if there are no customers, as this is used to intimidate the other party!

Actually, the best platform for tanker aircraft is a military transport aircraft, but military transport aircraft haven't been developed yet.

Therefore, modifying a commercial airliner is the most suitable option!

Actually, there were no major conflicts in China afterwards.

Converting commercial airliners into tanker aircraft is more than enough.

As for converting a military transport aircraft platform into a tanker aircraft, it is much simpler than converting a civilian airliner platform.

We'll start by converting a few civilian airliners, mainly to deal with the situation at sea to the south.

At that time, the airport will be directly accessible from the southern islands, so the demand for refueling aircraft will not be very high.

The reward this time is not high, only a little over 20 million US dollars, because the company offering the reward is the same company that designed the passenger plane for Li Song last time!
Because we already had a lot of technology and design from last time, many things don't need to be designed separately this time.

While Li Song was reading the news and pondering the matter, Chief Engineer Ma's home phone was ringing off the hook.

Former colleagues and classmates of Chief Engineer Ma all called to contact him.

Because in the news, Chief Engineer Ma explained to his superiors that these people did not know Chief Engineer Ma's phone number at Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, so they called other people's homes!
Previously, a small number of people knew that Chief Engineer Ma had gone to the Northwest.

Chief Engineer Ma only found out about it later from his family.

"Tsk tsk!!" Chief Engineer Ma thought back to when he left Shanghai for Chang'an. Many of his colleagues and friends were very puzzled by his departure from Shanghai!

People in Shanghai think that anywhere outside of Shanghai is the countryside.

At that time, I truly experienced what it means to be cold and indifferent to human relationships.

In addition, the Y-10 project was cancelled at that time!

Many classmates and friends believed that Chief Engineer Ma had been exiled.

He was a loser, so of course nobody cared about him!

Even when Chief Engineer Ma occasionally returned home, he still vividly remembered the attitudes of his friends and colleagues.

The next morning at breakfast, Chief Engineer Ma told Li Song about the incident as a joke, and then said, "Thank you, boss, for letting me make a name for myself yesterday."

"This is an honor you deserve!" Li Song did not show his face yesterday. Although he spoke at times, those moments were later edited out.

Well, how should I put it!

The main reason is that Li Song doesn't want to be too high-profile in the country!

Those abroad who know about it are aware that they hold the patent for this aircraft.

If you don't know something, there's no need to know it.

"Boss, it's going to be very difficult for us to get flight permits in Europe or North America for this aircraft!"

"Their company definitely won't allow our planes into their market!" Chief Engineer Ma said with some concern.

"Our aircraft was originally targeted at our domestic market!"

"In a while, there will be design drawings for twin-engine wide-body passenger aircraft, twin-engine long-range passenger aircraft, and four-engine wide-body passenger aircraft!"

"This is the only series of commercial airliners!"

"No matter what others do, there are some things we must have ourselves!" Li Song first revealed some information to Chief Engineer Ma.

"Don't worry, boss, we will definitely complete the task. We have learned a lot from this. To be honest, the projects we did before were really inferior." Chief Engineer Ma only now realized that the Y-10 project was outdated in design because it used engines that were still outdated from the 1960s!
Even if such an aircraft were manufactured, no airline would be willing to buy it!
Because it is inferior to similar products in terms of fuel economy, maintainability, and safety.

This will increase the airline's costs in subsequent operations, and increased costs will mean lower profits.

Low profit margins can lead to losses if competition arises.

I used to think that as long as I could manufacture airplanes, someone would buy them!

I later learned that the requirements for commercial airliners are much higher than I had imagined.

"Ok!"

“Once you have thoroughly mastered the relevant technology, I will issue the next phase of the task. At that time, we will have to rely entirely on ourselves!” Li Song said.

Li Song said this to train Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant's independent design and manufacturing capabilities!
In fact, the main development of civil aviation passenger aircraft has been the application of electronics and intelligence, with little other change.

Of course, Li Song said that, but in reality, there was also a guarantee from the second-hand platform.

We'll have the factory make it first, and then we'll get it from a second-hand platform and compare the two. That way, we can learn more.

After finishing his meal, Li Song went to his office and saw today's newspaper, which also contained news about CA201.

Li Song took the newspaper and flew straight to Shanghai!

Having your own private jet is awesome; you can just go whenever you want.

(End of this chapter)