Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 379 One move away from chess
"How are the preparations for the dealer conference going?" Li Song asked again.

"Everything is ready. The hotel and the venue are all prepared."

"And there are also media reporters, etc." Tian Jiahui said.

“Okay.” Li Song couldn’t leave Hong Kong Island for the time being because he had to wait for the BMW dealer conference.

Boeing, along with McDonnell Douglas and Airbus, spent several days preparing and finally reached a consensus before Boeing engineers agreed to be interviewed by CBS.

CBS was also prepared, having consulted professionals who did a lot of research.

"Hello everyone, this is a CBS interview program. I'm your host, Linda. This is our special guest observer, Nate, and this is Boeing's chief engineer, Kuch," the host began.

Then the two guests greeted the audience.

"Mr. Kuch, we have a question. What is your opinion on Mr. Li Song's aircraft patent application?" The host, Linda, wearing a shirt with a low neckline, asked Kuch.

"To be honest, I personally feel it's a pile of dog shit!" Kuchi replied with a smile.

"Oh, Mr. Kuchi, your answer is quite unexpected. Could you elaborate?" The host was surprised, but also excited, because this was exactly what the show was all about.

“Of course, I haven’t seen any actual product. As far as the patent design drawings are concerned, they violate the most basic understanding of aircraft design,” Kuch said.

"In the design of civil aircraft, weight is a factor that must be considered. A civil airliner will serve in the civil aviation industry for 25 to 30 years, taking off and landing more than 40,000 times, and sometimes even up to 80,000 times."

"In addition, after civilian passenger planes are retired, they can be converted into cargo planes and continue to serve for decades."

"Mr. Li Song's aircraft patent application contains many unnecessary or excessive designs."

"These designs may be in preparation for future upgrades and renovations."

"But how long is this future? Ten years, twenty years?"

"We have made a preliminary estimate that these excessive so-called designs that we don't understand weigh more than 600 kilograms in total."

"Everyone has mailed air parcels before. Just think about how much it would cost to send a 600-kilogram parcel."

"In other words, whoever buys these planes will be paying for upgrades at an uncertain time in the unknown future."

How much does it cost for each shipment of 600 kilograms?

"One day, two days, three days, one year, five years, and it adds up to a considerable number."

"If one plane consumes so much cost, what about ten, or a hundred?" Kuch rattled off a whole bunch of things.

“I think that makes sense?” Host Linda thought it made a lot of sense.

Observer Nate then asked, "Mr. Kuch, how much budget would Boeing need to upgrade and modify a single aircraft?"

"That's uncertain. If it's a partial upgrade, it could cost tens of millions of US dollars. If it's a complete upgrade, it could cost hundreds of millions of US dollars?" Kuch's heart skipped a beat, and he answered slowly.

"So, will these costs be included in the price of the aircraft?" NEET asked again.

“…Of course.” Kuchi was furious. Did this damn observer not want to work in America anymore?
“I’ve finished asking my questions.” NEET didn’t ask any more, because that was enough.

"Mr. Kuch, Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Airbus are preparing to lobby the government to adopt some protective policies. What is your opinion on this?" Linda nodded in sudden realization, and then asked another question.

"Of course, we do this to protect everyone's safety. As the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing has an obligation to make it safer and more comfortable for everyone to fly. So we will provide the government with some professional advice, after all, we are the most professional in this area."

"Personally, I really like Mr. Li Song's novels, but I think doing things is not like writing novels, especially manufacturing airplanes, you can't succeed just by gimmicks."

"Our Boeing company's achievements speak for themselves, but Mr. Li Song? What about your company's achievements?"

"No one knows more about airplanes than Boeing. We at Boeing always put customer safety first."

"And let's not forget that Boeing is also involved in other industries, such as military aircraft." Couch presented the facts and reasoned with everyone, showing them Boeing's achievements.

“Mr. Couch makes a lot of sense, but I personally think that commercial airliners and military aircraft have little to do with each other. If that’s the case, wouldn’t McDonnell Douglas be more powerful than Boeing?” Nate praised Couch’s words first, and then refuted them.

"Ugh..." Kuchi wished he could shove a baseball bat down this damn NEET's mouth.

“Furthermore, as a Boeing engineer, I personally have some doubts about Mr. Couch’s evaluation of the CA201 aircraft,” Nate continued.

"Boeing is a successful big company, but Boeing doesn't manufacture engines, so Mr. Couch, on what grounds do you consider the CA201 to be a pile of dog shit?"

"Moreover, using such words in a live TV broadcast is more like the mentality of an incompetent person cursing in the street."

"According to the data, the cabin pressure of the CA201 aircraft is only 1800 meters above sea level, while Boeing's seems to be 2400 meters. So, Mr. Kuch, in which environment is a person more comfortable and safer? Is it that Boeing is unable to achieve this?"

"Or is it that Boeing is unwilling to do this due to cost reasons?" Nite continued to ask.

"White...no, we did this according to relevant regulations, and our design and manufacturing meet national safety standards?" Kuchi was about to curse.

"Mr. Kuch, didn't you just say that your company is a responsible company? So why don't you consider the needs of your customers in this regard?"

"Or are you just selectively considering the needs of your customers? Boeing is a professional company. Aren't the engineers in the relevant industries the ones who formulate the safety rules? Or is it that Boeing provides targeted professional advice to government departments?" Nate continued.

“Mr. Nate, I’m sorry, the CA201 you mentioned is still undergoing ground testing.” Kuchi simply shrugged and made a mocking expression.

"Mr. Kuch, are you saying that if there are no competitors, Boeing will ignore the feelings of its customers?"

"You just said that Boeing is a professional company. Don't you know that the cabin pressure at an altitude of 1800 meters is more comfortable than that at an altitude of 2400 meters?"

"Why didn't Boeing come up with this concept before the parameters of the CA201 aircraft were released?"

"Don't we customers understand this? Don't you professional companies understand this either?"

"In addition, the fuel consumption of CA201 is 15% lower than that of similar products. What is your opinion on this?"

“Compared to this, which is more important… Uh, sorry, I forgot Boeing doesn’t produce high-bypass engines…” NEET finished speaking and then made no further move.

Kuch said irritably, "What do you mean by saying all the parameters of an aircraft that's still undergoing ground testing are fake?"

“Yeah, a plane that’s still in testing is being called dog shit by your Boeing engineers. Looks like this plane has really angered some people,” NEET continued.

"No, I'm just talking about the design..." "Can the cabin pressure be maintained at an altitude of 1800 meters?"

"Of course..."

“Then let’s do it. We look forward to Boeing’s new products…”

“There are many problems here, and I can’t solve them all by myself. I’m just a designer.” Kuchi was left with no other choice.

The cabin pressure at altitudes of 1800 meters and 2400 meters places higher demands on the overall performance of the aircraft, as the aircraft is flying at altitudes of several thousand meters, or even tens of thousands of meters, where the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cabin is significant.

The pressure difference between an altitude of 2400 meters and an altitude of 1800 meters is a full 600 meters. Don't underestimate this pressure difference.

Because the aircraft is at a high altitude during flight, the cabin pressure is high. It is simple for an aircraft to withstand pressure, but dealing with this internal pressure requires efforts in the aircraft structure and cost.

In short, the cost is higher, and while an altitude of 1800 meters is indeed more comfortable than 2400 meters, only a small number of people can feel the difference, while most people cannot feel a significant difference.

This is mainly due to individual physical conditions. Some people experience altitude sickness, while others do not. Some people experience altitude sickness at 4000 meters, while others start experiencing it at 3000 meters.

However, in terms of description, the pressure at an altitude of 1800 meters is indeed more comfortable than at an altitude of 2400 meters.

"Oh..." NEET looked like he suddenly realized something, as if to say, "Who just said so much? Wasn't that just talking nonsense?"
Kuchi stood up: "Are you guys just going to watch others steal our jobs?"

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back.

Kuch cursed inwardly, "It must be those bitches from McDonnell Douglas and Airbus. It must be them, they must be the ones who leaked our plans. Otherwise, why would these damn guys be targeting us at every turn?"

It's understandable that Couch thinks this way, because McDonnell Douglas is now Aramco's biggest competitor. They are all manufactured by Aramco, operate on the same model, and use Pratt & Whitney and GM engines.

Moreover, McDonnell Douglas is even stronger. Only experts know how well the DC-10 performs. Most of McDonnell Douglas's "King of Air Disasters" accidents were not related to the aircraft itself, but were caused by human error.

However, he was dubbed the "King of Air Disasters".

Of course, after Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas, it seems to have inherited this as well. However, at that time, Aramco only had Boeing, so when accidents happened, Aramco just covered it up.

Kuch was mistaken. This time, it was Wall Street that was stirring things up. How did Wall Street know about it?
Of course, I learned this from McDonnell Douglas and Airbus, because Airbus and McDonnell Douglas's biggest enemy right now is Boeing.

As for Li Song's CA201, the aircraft has not yet completed its maiden flight, has not been finalized, and it is still a question whether the aircraft can obtain an airworthiness certificate.

And this plane has no market, right?

Why are these two companies in such a hurry?
Let's take down Boeing first.

CBS quickly broadcast the interview.

After seeing Couch's performance, Boeing's CEO was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table, and then he was given a severe scolding by shareholders over the phone.

Boeing's stock price plummeted the next day.

The main point is what NET mentioned about Boeing providing targeted professional advice to government departments.

And what about the cabin pressure at an altitude of 1800 meters that others don't mention? Isn't that thinking about the customer?

Moreover, some newspapers have criticized Boeing for not demonstrating the responsibility of a large corporation.

They're just after the stock price anyway.

Many people who feel uncomfortable while flying blame it on cabin pressure.

Boeing quickly published a popular science article explaining that only a small number of people can feel the difference, while most people cannot.

This is another mistake. They are accusing Boeing of not caring about minority groups, and many people who are uncomfortable flying complain about Boeing planes.

Li Song saw the news two days later, but he didn't plan to give an interview now. Anyway, the whole world knew that the CA201 aircraft posed a threat to Boeing, and the engineers were swearing in the media.

Li Song chuckled to himself, thinking, "You guys should learn from me about internet traffic."

Of course, the premise is that your quality must be excellent and you must have real skills; otherwise, such hype will become a laughing stock.

Then some car manufacturers came up and started giving orders, saying this wouldn't work and that wouldn't work, but what was the result?
And then there are those who constantly claim to overturn the history of the automotive industry, which ultimately amount to nothing.

On June 25, 1981, the BMW dealer conference was held on Hong Kong Island, with dealers from dozens of countries around the world in attendance.

The dealer conference was held in a warehouse in Kwun Tong, which was full of cars.

BMW vans are called BMW M. The BMW M1 is a 1.2L five-seater with both manual and automatic versions. The BMW M2 1.5L is a seven-seater, and the M3 1.5L is a nine-seater.

The BMW M1 has a boxy shape, while the M6 ​​looks more like a business car, but not quite.

This warehouse has been temporarily converted into a showroom, with a row of vans in silver, white, red, and champagne colors.

There are also sedans, namely the BMW Z series. The BMW Z1 has a manual 1.5L engine, and it is available in both manual and automatic versions. The Z2 has a 2.0L engine.

It is further divided into cast iron engines and all-aluminum engines, mainly for different countries.

There was also a BMW B model two-door sports car.

Li Song personally received these dealers, most of whom were BMW motorcycle dealers.

"Mr. Li!" William, dressed in a suit, saw Li Song greeting him and quickly walked over, extending his hands.

"So it's Baron William." Li Song quickly smiled and shook hands with both hands, appreciating the presence of a British nobleman.

"Mr. Li, congratulations! You've finally got a car," William said.

"We'll need your continued support, Baron." Li Song reciprocated with flattery.

“No problem, I brought enough deposit this time,” William said confidently.

"Okay, please come in. We'll tour the place first, and then we'll arrange a test drive," Li Song said with a smile.

William entered the factory gate and was amazed to find five Panda planes parked inside. The Panda planes were very famous, and he knew that Li Song was showing off his strength. There were quite a few people watching around the planes.

(End of this chapter)