Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 290 Painting Cake
While Li Song was in Hong Kong, his superiors on the mainland were also discussing site selection for his space exploration company.

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center was chosen because it is located on the west side of the Badain Jaran Desert.

This way, after the rocket launch, whether it's rocket debris or if it falls out of control, it will end up in a sparsely populated area.

"I think it's entirely possible to share a logistics chain with the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center!" This was the topic of discussion among leaders from higher-level departments during a meeting.
"His company is a private company, but everyone in it is one of our own people; there isn't a single foreigner!"

“Look at the Chang’an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant that Li Song has built. Apart from arranging some people from his hometown to work there, he hasn’t brought a single foreigner with him. He always goes alone!” one of the leaders at the meeting suggested.

"I think this is a good suggestion."

"And security work is also easier to do there."

"It just needs to be separated from our satellite launch center."

"Choose a separate spot!"

"When the time comes, the fuel and other supplies needed by Li Song's private company's launch center can be centrally allocated from that base!"

"After all, many rocket fuels are toxic!" Another leader agreed.

"The location there is quite good, but we still need to see if Li Song agrees."

"In addition, if we share the material reserve base, won't people gossip? After all, the material reserve base is state-owned, while Li Song's company is a private company," a leader asked with concern.

"That's a problem too!"

“The location can be chosen, and a separate material storage base can be established there.”

"His company can then purchase all kinds of supplies from us!"

"I also think that establishing a separate material reserve base is a good suggestion!"

"This makes the division of responsibilities clearer."

"Then let the relevant experts find a place nearby."

"I just don't know what technology Li Song brought this time."

"Yes!"

"America's Saturn V launch vehicle has been decommissioned."

"Li Song and his team probably wouldn't use rockets like this to make money."

"It's said that the cost of this kind of rocket is too high; the cost of just one is equivalent to that of an aircraft carrier!"

"Its launch efficiency is very low, with fuel accounting for 71%!"

"According to Li Song's usual practice, what he brings out should be relatively good technology."

"Yes!"

"I really want to see what kind of technology Li Song will bring out."

"Then let the experts find a place in the Northwest first."

"Then we'll see what Li Song plans to do." In the end, the higher authorities decided to find a place near Jiuquan.

As for the subsequent construction, that depends on what Li Song and his team are willing to do.

January 13, 1981, Tuesday. Today is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

However, Li Song didn't have time to go back to his hometown!

Li Song's relationship with the original owner's parents in his hometown was not particularly close; he could only be said to have fulfilled the responsibilities the original owner should have had.

Moreover, every time I go back, they urge me to get married, because people my age who didn't go to school are basically all married.

I've even heard that some of my junior high school classmates already have children.

This is somewhat at odds with Li Song's current views.

In the morning, Li Song drove his other car out for a spin.

When I got back, there were a lot of documents in the car.

This is the information that SpaceX needs.

What Li Song needed was a rocket to launch a satellite, so he directly offered a reward for the Soyuz technology on a second-hand platform.

Furthermore, it has been optimized for second-hand platforms.

The Soyuz rocket is arguably the most launched rocket, having been launched thousands of times. Of course, there have been more than a dozen different models of the Soyuz rocket from its inception to the present.

The success rate reached nearly 97%!

Soyuz later became the main rocket for transporting cargo and personnel to the International Space Station.

Moreover, the Russians' rocket engines were excellent, and later even their old rival, the United States, purchased a large number of their rocket engines.

It must be said that the Russians do have a significant advantage in rocket engines and aircraft engines, especially in fighter jet and bomber engines.

The Soyuz rockets were more than enough for Li Song to launch rockets.

Of course, apart from the rocket's own technology, ground control technology is also extremely important.

However, regarding ground control, Li Song felt that it could be jointly constructed with the mainland.

Of course, if the mainland does not agree, then we will have to build it on our own.

Li Song only presented rocket-related technologies this time; as for ground infrastructure construction...

We'll have to wait until we manufacture our own chips, then install our own operating system and our own computers.

In any case, the site selection and construction of the rocket launch center, as well as the manufacturing of the rocket itself, all require a certain amount of time.

After returning to the Federal Garden, Li Song asked Brother He to contact people in the mainland on Hong Kong Island to send the rocket technology data on the vehicle back to the mainland.

Immediately afterwards, Li Song went to Phoenix TV.

Li Song met Nick from CBS TV here.

It was because he wanted to see Nick that Li Song returned to Guangzhou today; otherwise, he would have gone back to Guangzhou today.

"Mr. Li!"

"You guys are moving too fast! I didn't expect you to be producing engines so soon!" Nick only found out how fast Li Song's team was moving after receiving news from CBS.

"Of course, our scientific research and manufacturing capabilities are beyond doubt!"

"And it's just a six-cylinder, opposed engine." Li Song picked up the relevant aircraft information and handed it to Nick.

"Very good!!" After Nick got the information, the first thing he saw was the single-wing design in the rendering. However, this single-wing design looked much more advanced than the traditional single-wing design from the American side.

However, this high-wing aircraft does not use several linkages to support the fuselage like the wings on the American side.

Moreover, the entire fuselage looks very streamlined.

Nick continued looking and discovered that the fuselage used a unibody die-casting technology, meaning that the entire fuselage frame was made using a single die-casting process!
"They actually use such advanced technology?" Nick was familiar with these kinds of aircraft because he liked small planes.

The entire fuselage frame is die-cast in one piece, which has many advantages.

This greatly increased the strength of the fuselage and reduced its weight.

Moreover, the unibody die-casting of aluminum alloy greatly enhances the overall impact resistance of the chassis frame!
Of course, this would be too costly.

Because the fuselage uses a one-piece die-casting technology, the wings are directly connected to the fuselage.

Moreover, the internal structure of the wing is convex.

In other words, this convex structure is directly attached to the top of the entire fuselage.

This way, when someone sits down, the headroom will increase by another ten centimeters. It will be ten centimeters higher than what you see from the outside!

Of course, this method of manufacturing aircraft results in excellent overall integrity, but the cost of subsequent maintenance would be too high.

To put it simply, this is just like a one-piece die-cast car body.

It's good, but the repair costs will be high if an accident occurs later.

Because if an accident occurs, the only option is to cut it off!

However, Li Song's small plane was very inexpensive, so if it got damaged, he could easily buy a new one.

Because the repair costs at Aramco might be higher than buying a new plane.

Of course, what we see right now are just the design parameters.

Specific data can only be obtained after the product is manufactured and tested.

"Mr. Li!"

"This plane can cost $10,000?" Nick was very interested after reading it.

Because this aircraft also has several modified versions, the landing gear can be converted into the landing gear of a seaplane.

It can also be modified into landing gear for landing on snow!
"It depends on how many orders there are. If there are only a hundred, we definitely can't do it!"

"After all, the manufacturing process and technology are here!"

"If a thousand people make reservations, that should be about right!"

"Of course, just like I said in the interview, the final cost estimate will not exceed $20,000!"

"And I also promised that if it costs more than $20,000, I will personally cover it!" This kind of small plane doesn't have any high technical difficulty!
Moreover, Li Song's investment in research and development was almost zero.

The next step is production.

Even if manufacturing this small plane results in a loss!

However, Li Song's personal fame is very beneficial to the development of his other brands!

Therefore, Li Song had already decided that the crowdfunding price would be $10,000, even if it meant losing money.

We want to make those in Europe and America who don't want to buy small planes interested in this price, this craftsmanship, and this configuration!
Anyway, the market for small aircraft is only so big, and these small aircraft have a long service life, lasting for decades without any problem.

If one company takes a large slice of the pie at a loss, it means that the operating costs of other aircraft manufacturers will be even higher.

Maybe I can bankrupt them in no time.

Some people say that Li Song's actions lacked martial ethics and that he was a disgrace to the industry.

Li Song admits it!

As a latecomer, the only way to seize the market and build a brand is to lower prices!

There is no other way!

Companies that boast about outperforming established brands from the outset are often just looking to fleece investors and then disappear.

“Mr. Li, according to my investigation, the final order may exceed one thousand, but the exact number will depend on the aircraft's test data!” Nick said.

"very good!"

"Nick, I have a suggestion!"

"After the six-cylinder horizontally opposed engine is manufactured, I'd like to find a place in America to test its lifespan!"

"I hope you can find some technicians in this field."

"Everyone can watch the test!" Li Song felt a little regretful. The internet is not as developed now. If the internet were more developed, he would organize a 24-hour continuous test live broadcast.

The engine's lifespan was continuously tested right there in the live stream.

"This way, your people can see the engine's technological level!" Of course, Li Song would put the BMW engine logo on the engine!

This can also be considered a way of advertising for BMW.

When the BMW cars come out, the people on Amei's side will suddenly realize that this is the factory that manufactures small aircraft engines!

Upon hearing Li Song's suggestion, his eyes lit up; he felt the suggestion was incredibly cool!

"Mr. Li, you truly deserve to be called a world-renowned writer; your ideas are simply brilliant!"

“I think our CBS television station is willing to follow up on this matter and provide assistance.” Nick had already decided to have CBS television station provide daily coverage.

"Actually, we could collaborate with a university laboratory!"

“I believe they won’t refuse such a cool suggestion!” Nick further refined Li Song’s idea.

Because Nick, being a native Amis, naturally knew how to make this more believable.

"Nick, your suggestion is fantastic!"

"However, you should be careful when looking for schools, after all, our competitors are very strong, and I have seen a lot of reports from your local news media!"

"They keep questioning our cause without any evidence!" Li Song said in one sentence, turning the crowdfunding for the small airplane into our cause.

"Yes!"

"It's all those damn aircraft manufacturers." Nick, being a media person, naturally knew that America's media outlets were also divided into factions!

Of course, I also know why those people question what I did.

That's all for profit.

Nick now truly considers this his career.

Because Nick has already gained a lot from this matter.

First of all, as a journalist, consistently generating breaking news stories can bring numerous benefits.

Whether it's professional experience or personal benefits.

Furthermore, Li Song will also gift a small airplane.

"Then I'll leave this matter to you. Just tell me how much money you need!" Li Song knew that in capitalist society, money was the best thing to say.

“Thank you for your trust, Mr. Li!” Nick nodded, unsure whether the school labs would charge fees.

"Nick, next time you have the chance, I'll invite you to my aircraft manufacturing plant, a jet aircraft manufacturing plant!" Li Song promised him another lucrative opportunity.

Nick was immediately excited when he heard this, because the West found it hard to believe that Li Song could build airplanes, and jet airplanes at that.

Currently, we can only find relevant information from photos reported by some news media.

Li Song's invitation to visit his jet aircraft manufacturing plant is undoubtedly another news story.

"Thank you!"

"Thank you!" Nick said excitedly, thanking him twice.

"I would like to invite you to ride on our small jet airliner if you have the opportunity."

"Of course, there are also medium- and long-range passenger aircraft to follow, and I want to tell you that our first medium- and long-range passenger aircraft will have its test flight before the end of this year!"

"The speed at which our plan is progressing will exceed your expectations. We will submit our test flight certificate and flight permit to Europe by next year at the latest!"

"And I don't know if you've noticed, but we've applied for another patent for a general-purpose helicopter. Our company will also produce general-purpose helicopters and micro helicopters in the future!"

“Next time we have the chance, let’s crowdfund a small helicopter, the kind that can land on rooftops, so that we can provide more options for urban commuting,” Li Song promised Nick an even bigger deal.

(End of this chapter)