Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 322 Panda Aircraft Passes Certification (6600+ words)

The reason why the higher authorities made this statement is that the biggest shortcoming has now been almost completely addressed.

What does China need most right now?
Of course, it's about technology. Not only is the domestic market in need of this technology, but it's also needed internationally.

For all aspects of domestic development, more advanced and mature technologies are needed.

More advanced technology means higher productivity. Take steel, which is most needed for national defense, for example. Whether it is warships, tanks, or even weapons for individual soldiers, the steel used is not ordinary steel.

If the steel is of poor quality, then the overall equipment will be subpar.

Although we have won battles in the past without relying on equipment, the loss of personnel was too great.

In the past, there was no other way. If you wanted to buy someone else's technology or production line, you could only let them set the price, even if you knew that their technology was outdated and their production line was obsolete.

The technology we have now is far more advanced than what we would buy domestically, so we should support it from any perspective.

"After the movie is released, be careful to control public opinion."

"Don't disrupt the normal production order," the leader added.

"it is good."

Just then, someone delivered a document from outside. The person who received the document glanced at it and said, "Breaking news: the Panda plane has passed safety certification in America, and the rating is very high."

"that would be great."

"Those people behind Li Song really understand the Western way of doing things. This Panda plane is going to become famous!"

"Yes, the people behind Li Song are much more sophisticated in their methods than we are. I think CBS might be connected to the people behind Li Song?"

"That's not necessarily true. The person who raised the question was just a reporter. These people aren't so easily discovered."

"I wonder how many orders there will be this time."

It's evening here in mainland China, but it's morning in New York.

The Panda aircraft passed Aramco's small aircraft safety certification because the certification professionals couldn't find any fault with it.

Whether it's the manufacturing technology of the six-cylinder aluminum alloy engine, the unibody cast fuselage, or the modular design and unibody cast wings.

Both the materials and the technology are impeccable. If this safety requirement is not met, then all of Aramco's small aircraft of this type will be deemed unqualified.

The remaining procedures were easy to handle, because Li Song was from Hong Kong Island, and his Parkson Company was a company from Hong Kong Island, which is now part of the Commonwealth.

So far, Ame hasn't pulled any tricks regarding product traceability, so the crowdfunding club has a contract with Parkson.

Baisheng Company commissioned BMW to manufacture the cars.

It's clearly written on the nameplate of the Panda aircraft.

The crowdfunding club's phone lines were ringing off the hook because the Panda plane was half the price of other similar planes.

It involves $20,000, while current wages are only a few hundred dollars. Who wouldn't be interested?

Crowdfunding orders surged, reaching nearly 5,000 units initially, and then exceeding 6,000 units by noon.

In the evening, CBS invited FAA staff to participate in the program.

The FAA, or Federal Aviation Administration, reviews the design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft to ensure they meet safety standards.

The host first introduced the relevant FAA staff: "Hello everyone, this is Seven, a safety engineer from the FAA. Seven participated in the safety certification of this crowdfunded aircraft. Let's see what Seven thinks of this aircraft."

Seven was a middle-aged man wearing glasses, a black suit, and a plaid shirt underneath.

Seven waved and said to everyone, "Hello everyone, we've actually been following the panda airplane for a long time."

“We at the FAA pay attention to the manufacturing and design of aircraft worldwide. When the Panda aircraft was patented, we studied the design of this aircraft.”

"This aircraft is exceptionally well-designed, far superior to current models in both its overall structure and design."

Upon hearing this, the host asked, "Really?"

"Of course it's true, because at the time we also noticed the design of the Starliner and medium- and long-range passenger aircraft."

"The design of these aircraft surprised us because some of the designs are things we don't even have."

The host quickly asked, "There are reports that the FAA has granted the Starliner a special airworthiness certificate. Is this true or false?"

Seven said, "It's true. We've also received a special airworthiness certificate application from Yum! Brands. The aircraft will travel to Europe in early May or even earlier for flight permits and airworthiness certification."

"Based on the available information, the design concept of the Starship is excellent."

"Of course, we're talking about the panda airplane today!"

"The Panda aircraft adopts a modular design, which greatly enhances the aircraft's structural strength!"

"The number of parts in the entire aircraft is 80 percent less than that of similar aircraft."

"Moreover, modular design also reduces the aircraft's failure rate."

"We know that the more parts there are, the greater the probability of a malfunction!"

"In terms of overall manufacturing process, the Panda aircraft can be described as having the highest level of manufacturing technology among small aircraft with a single-engine propeller!"

"The fuselage uses the most advanced one-piece casting technology, and the performance of the aluminum alloy material is 30% higher than that of similar products."

"Because the integrated die-casting technology not only reduces the weight of the entire aircraft, but also reduces the number of parts."

"During maintenance and repair, it is no longer necessary to check so many parts."

"In addition, the six-cylinder high-performance engine is more fuel-efficient than similar engines."

"The engine also uses advanced aluminum alloy engine technology, and it is superior to similar engines in terms of materials."

"A common problem with horizontally opposed engines is uneven wear."

"The cylinder block material of the Panda aircraft's horizontally opposed engine is superior to that of similar engines, so its lifespan will be longer."

Upon hearing this, the host asked with a surprised expression, "You mean the materials used in this aircraft have even higher performance?"

Seven nodded: "Yes!"

"Of course, the processing technology for this material is confidential, and we have no way of knowing how this material was developed."

"The wear resistance of the material is more than 15 percent higher than that of similar materials."

The host asked with some doubt, "Don't we have similar materials?"

Seven shook his head: "No, at least not in the products I've come across, and I've also consulted an expert on the relevant materials."

"This highly wear-resistant material is extremely expensive."

"So the fact that this aircraft uses this material is simply unimaginable to me."

Seven was telling the truth, because this small plane contained a lot of new materials.

He then added, "I am really looking forward to the cars that BMW manufactures. If their engines also use this material, then the engines will have a longer lifespan."

"Especially the design of the engine's propeller blades!"

"We at the FAA are developing new safety standards, and in the future we will also require engine blades to undergo special treatment to ensure user safety."

"In addition, this aircraft also has a matching pesticide module and fertilizer module."

"These modules can be installed simply by removing the seats, transforming the aircraft into a seeding or spraying aircraft."

The host nodded upon hearing this: "I saw the two types of modules for this aircraft on the crowdfunding club, and they are indeed quite convenient."

"So, Mr. Seven, do you think the Panda plane has any shortcomings?"

When Seven heard this, he shrugged and said, "The main problem is that they're too cheap. This will have a huge impact on our own small aircraft manufacturing industry!"

"Such an excellent product should be sold at a higher price."

"Of course, the Panda Airplane is a crowdfunding product, so it can't be measured by the standards of ordinary products!"

"But I still find it incredible that an aircraft made with such advanced manufacturing technology and such excellent materials can be priced at only one-third of similar products!"

"Therefore, I think we must pay attention to inspection in subsequent products. Of course, I am not saying that Mr. Li Song would engage in fraud!"

The reason Seven said the last sentence is mainly because Li Song is now a well-known writer.

Upon hearing this, the host asked curiously, "There are reports that the government is reviewing some proposals to prevent similar foreign products from being sold in Aramco?"

Seven said, "I've also heard about this news, but I personally think it won't have much impact on the Panda plane."

"First of all, the Panda Airplane is a crowdfunding product, which is different from the traditional commodity we understand."

"If the relevant legislation is indeed introduced, then judges will have to decide whether the Panda Airplane is a legitimate product!"

"There is no clear legal definition in this regard, at least from what I understand!"

Upon hearing this, the host nodded and then asked, "So, Mr. Seven, how many orders do you think the Panda plane will receive?"

"Our country has two million farmers, among whom the demand for these small aircraft is very high among medium and large-sized farmers, and even some small-scale farmers also have a need for them."

"Last year, our total sales of Aramco small aircraft reached more than 11,000 units. According to my personal estimate, it should be more than 20,000 units. If it really is $10,000 per unit, this number may double."

"Of course, I also ordered one. I think this plane can accompany me until retirement, and it supports multiple modes, including snow mode and amphibious mode. Different types of landing gear can be purchased."

"And what surprised me most was that the aircraft's parts were designed with foolproof measures in place!"

"The same colors and graphics are used in all parts where they are assembled."

"Any normal person wouldn't assemble the parts incorrectly."

The host shrugged and said, "This could be a disaster for other small aircraft manufacturers!"

"Yes!"

"But I personally think it's a good thing."

"Just like our domestic single-propeller fixed-wing aircraft, which have always used wooden propeller blades."

"And their manufacturing technology is still stuck decades in the past!"

“It even uses manufacturing technology from World War II.”

"Personally, I believe that as science and technology develop, aircraft manufacturers should proactively improve their manufacturing processes and safety standards. Of course, I am not saying that aircraft manufactured by other manufacturers do not meet safety standards."

The host understood Seven's meaning: "I also think safety is the most important thing. So, will Panda Aircraft face an anti-monopoly investigation?"

"It's hard to say. Personally, I think Mr. Li Song will lose money selling this kind of aircraft!"

"Moreover, even if the Panda aircraft receives 50,000 orders, its market share will still be low!"

"Moreover, this loss-making model does not generate profit."

"Therefore, the outcome of the antitrust investigation still needs to be determined by the relevant agencies and judges!"

"Because there is no similar case in our country, or even in Europe, I think the relevant laws should be improved to address this type of issue!"

The host nodded upon hearing this: "I also trust the judge's judgment!"

Seven nodded!
After Amer's aircraft manufacturing companies obtained flight permits and airworthiness certificates for the Panda aircraft.

They are preparing to activate the backup plan, which is to push for an antitrust investigation into Panda Aircraft.

These small aircraft manufacturing companies of Aramco have a great deal of influence in the FAA.

However, the Panda aircraft was far superior to its competitors in both design and manufacturing process. Therefore, the FAA had no choice but to grant it flight permits and airworthiness certificates.

More importantly, the crowdfunding club now has more than 100,000 members.

Of these 100,000 people, more than 85 percent are farmers.

These farmers have the greatest influence in America.

If the Panda aircraft has any design or quality issues, the FAA can use that as an excuse to make trouble.

However, the Panda aircraft perfectly meets the standards set by the FAA in both design and manufacturing.

They were unaware that Li Song had already set the conditions when he offered a reward for the design drawings on the second-hand platform.

The aircraft's design and manufacture fully comply with all existing Aramco regulations.

There was no excuse, plus the crowdfunding club had so many people watching with bated breath.

It's like trying to find fault with an egg, but there's no bone in the egg.

If the decision is rejected at this point, the FAA will be in a difficult position to explain.

Because Aramco has both a ruling party and an opposition party, in certain matters, if there is no relevant evidence, the certification of the Panda aircraft can be rejected!

Then the relevant personnel and leaders of the FAA are probably just waiting to be fired.

The key point is that the Panda Aircraft still has samples and parts on display at the crowdfunding club.

If the FAA rejects the claim, the crowdfunding club will definitely seek third-party authentication agencies, or even some professional laboratories, to conduct the authentication.

This is why the FAA certification process is so fast.

As Seven mentioned earlier, they had been paying attention to Li Song's aircraft patent application for some time.

They already had an understanding of the design, and now the main focus is on understanding the manufacturing technology and the evaluation of the prototype.

If there are no problems, then of course we should issue flight permission and an airworthiness certificate.

Therefore, Aramco's aircraft manufacturing plant had already received the news in advance and prepared a backup plan!

However, there is currently no data on the market share of the Panda aircraft.

Moreover, Aramco has a very large number of these single-engine small aircraft. Even if the Panda has tens of thousands of orders, it still doesn't reach the standard for a market monopoly.

However, these small aircraft manufacturers still pushed for an antitrust investigation.

Because the Panda aircraft is likely to secure a large number of orders this time, it will capture the market potential of small aircraft in the United States.

This market will likely become very bleak in three to five years.

These aircraft manufacturers will likely face bankruptcy within three to five years.

This is why these aircraft manufacturers, even knowing that the antitrust investigation may not yield any results, still push for it.

The Panda plane received even more attention after the CBS news broke.

Phoenix TV's reporter in New York also sent the relevant news report to Hong Kong Island.

Phoenix TV also went international, establishing news bureaus in many countries around the world.

As one of the most developed countries in the world, the America region certainly wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

Li Song, of course, had no idea that Ami's Panda plane would be certified so quickly.

Li Song believes that Aramco's certification body will probably delay.

Actually, the safety assessment for these small aircraft is not as complicated as that for jet airliners.

Li Song received the message from Section Chief Zhou the next morning when he was flying to Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant.

Li Song breathed a sigh of relief when he heard about the safety certification and that he had obtained the aircraft's airworthiness certificate!

As for the final number of orders, Li Song wasn't worried about that.

Because the market potential of the Panda aircraft is enormous.

On the one hand, Aramco already had a large demand for these small aircraft.

On the other hand, the price reduction of the Panda aircraft will further increase this demand.

This small aircraft costs $40,000 at Aramco, so it could have 10,000 potential customers.

However, when the price of this small aircraft is only a quarter of what it used to be, its potential customer base will definitely increase by more than four times.

After landing in Chang'an, Li Song immediately called the BMW factory and asked them to proceed according to plan!
That means expanding production lines and extending the supply chain.

In other words, the BMW factory is only expanding its core engine and fuselage/wing production lines!

Just like other components on an airplane, they can be manufactured by other machine shops.

Of course, Li Song's side settled accounts with these manufacturers in US dollars.

At the Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, Li Song looked at the medium- and long-range passenger planes.

The keel of an airplane is filled with a dense network of pipes.

It contains air conditioning pipes, electrical pipes, and fire protection pipes.

There are also hydraulic lines for controlling the aircraft, and so on.

Passenger planes are much more complex in structure than cargo planes.

The aircraft has far more pipes and conduits than a cargo plane, because every seat on a passenger plane needs a light and an air conditioning vent.

In addition, passenger aircraft have strict requirements for thermal insulation and airtightness.

In addition, passenger planes have a much higher safety rating than cargo planes.

Therefore, passenger aircraft manufacturing technology is much more advanced than that of cargo aircraft.

After looking around the assembly workshop, Li Song went to the engine manufacturing workshop.

The engine manufacturing workshop is currently producing two types of engines: one for the Starliner passenger aircraft and the other for medium- and long-range passenger aircraft.

Due to patent issues, technological limitations, and market constraints, it took our country several decades to achieve independent production of turbofan engines.

It can be said that Li Song's small step was decades ahead of its time in history.

Moreover, Li Song can take advantage of this current time to more easily obtain Western airworthiness certificates and flight permits.

Later, when our country manufactured new aircraft, it used a large number of foreign parts.

This is not something that cannot be manufactured domestically!
If you manufacture everything yourself, you can forget about getting Western airworthiness certificates and flight permits.

This is actually a strategy, which is to get more people on your side.

In fact, this was the plan used in China for a long time afterward.

The purpose of attracting foreign investment is not just to bring in their technology and capital.

More importantly, it can help us expand their market!

If you do everything yourself, you won't have any friends in other countries!

Even in Europe and America, they eventually fall out over certain issues, such as "If you don't buy my energy, or I don't buy your products, then we can't be friends."

National affairs are like doing business; everyone is doing business on the same street—you run a tobacco and liquor store, I run a restaurant.

I frequently purchase tobacco and liquor from your store, but you don't support my restaurant business at all.

So why should I let you make money off me?

This is the trade deficit, and there is also the trade surplus.

Of course, small countries can't really use trade deficits or surpluses to make a point.

Because exchanges between countries must first be based on equality of status.

If you're not at the same level, it's best not to cause trouble for yourself.

Because you think you are very important, but in the eyes of those major powers, your influence is almost negligible!
This is why smaller countries often choose sides with larger countries.

Those who didn't take sides have already been slapped to death!
Of course, there have also been people who stood on the opposite side of major powers.

And we all probably know what happened to him!
Li Song had already considered this matter.

Once the aircraft is manufactured, they will not sell it themselves.

In other words, they're giving the opportunity to make big money to their own people.

I just need to earn a meager living through hard work.

Since Xinghui Aircraft also has medium- and long-range passenger aircraft, Li Song would not adopt the low-price strategy of Panda Aircraft!

Li Song, the founder of Panda Aircraft, is mainly doing advertising!

Of course, the Panda plane isn't that simple!
Because Li Song used the Panda plane to give some people in Ami an opportunity.

That's why crowdfunding clubs were born!

Of course, how to use these opportunities is someone else's business. This is why Li Song didn't interfere at all when the crowdfunding club was established, because if he interfered, the nature of the club would change!
Especially in politics!
In other words, Li Song became someone else's tool, but this was something Li Song did voluntarily.

People speak up for you because you have value!
Of course, Li Song took one million US dollars as seed money, but this money was a charitable donation, so no one will make a fuss about it. If someone does make a fuss about it, then can all of Aramco's charitable donations be used as a fuss?

The number of workers at Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant now exceeds two thousand.

Technical personnel make up the majority of them!

Moreover, Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant is constantly recruiting new workers.

Most of these new workers were demobilized soldiers who were then recruited.

Li Song didn't want to transfer from the military because he knew that if he did, others would be employed in government agencies!

Of course, these workers will mainly be production workers in the future.

As a production worker, one does not need to master too many technologies; one only needs to master one's specific production link.

Of course, as a technician, you need to master more things.

The reason for recruiting these demobilized soldiers is that training them is much easier than recruiting others, because they are already used to following orders in the military.

Moreover, most of those who were rehabilitated were from rural areas and didn't care whether the factory was private or public; as long as they could get paid, that was enough.

As for the source of technical personnel, on the one hand, they were transferred from other places by higher-level departments, and on the other hand, many of them were seconded.

The main reason is the nature of aircraft manufacturing plants.

Of course, the higher authorities also want Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant to manufacture medium- and long-range passenger aircraft as soon as possible, then general aviation helicopters, and then the B-type transport aircraft.

Therefore, the support provided by the higher authorities to Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant was quite substantial!
Moreover, the higher-level departments also felt relatively relieved because the Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant was spending Li Song's money, and that money was being spent wisely.

If we were to allocate funds to other related research institutes in China, many institutes would request funding, but currently, China simply cannot afford to invest that much money all at once.

Li Song believed that those who entered the Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant would definitely be reluctant to leave.

Because of the benefits offered by Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant!
(End of this chapter)