Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 107, Section 106: First Stop, France, Farman F.220 Large Bomber

The Shrike completed its final intercontinental voyage and arrived at the Bosphorus Strait.

This is the outlet to the Black Sea, and also a passage that must be crossed by both Europe and Asia.

Its unique geographical location gave birth to a remarkable city: Istanbul.

The city is situated on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait. The north shore is in Europe, and the south shore is in Asia.

But these days, there isn't even a bridge across the Bosphorus Strait.

In other words, the only way for people to travel between the two sides is by boat or by swimming.

Fang Wen was slightly surprised. He flew his plane across the Bosphorus Strait and found Atatürk Airport on the European side.

The airport is very large; from the air, you can see many planes parked below.

Fang Wen activated his radio to call the ground and landed after receiving permission.

After the plane landed, a man in a suit greeted him.

He took out his business card:
"Hello, I am Anton Dini, Sales Manager of Boeing's European branch. Thank you for your service to Boeing. This long-haul Asia-Europe flight has been successfully completed. This is my business card. I hope to continue our cooperation in the future."

Fang Wen took the business card, and the other party took out another piece of paper.

"This is the hangar rental voucher for Atatürk Airport. You can store the Shrike in the hangar for two months. If you're ready to return, contact me and I'll arrange your return flight."

All of this was Fang Wen's subsequent compensation for serving Boeing.

In Europe, unlike during its Asian journey, the Shrike could no longer be flown freely and had to be temporarily stored at Atatürk Airport.

Fang Wen carefully put away the voucher, drove the plane into the hangar, locked the door, and took the only key with him.

After that, he and Anton Dini had to do one last thing.

That means getting the passport issue sorted out.

Because he had previously flown his own plane, traversing the airspace of multiple countries, the Republic of China passport that Fang Wen brought was completely blank, without any stamps from the countries he had passed through. Such a passport would not be valid in European countries.

In order to clear customs at other European customs, the passport must be jointly supplemented with information from the Chinese Embassy, ​​the US Embassy, ​​and the Turkish Customs, explaining the flight route through Asia and Europe and affixing their seals.

1933 1 Month 1 Day.

With the passport issue finally resolved, Anton Dini left immediately.

Fang Wen stayed at a hotel near Istanbul Airport.

Reflecting on this long journey, I pondered what to do next.

After five days, from December 27th to December 31st, the journey from Shanghai to Istanbul was finally completed.

The journey took us through 10 airports and landing points, across multiple climate zones, and through diverse customs and cultures.

Incidentally, they also helped Boeing sell twenty aircraft, but it's unclear whether they'll be able to recover the remaining payment after India gains independence.

And this trip also yielded another significant gain.

That is, Fang Wen recorded all kinds of flight data throughout the entire journey. With these data, international routes can be opened just like domestic routes.

It's hard to say whether the 4000-kilometer journey from Karachi to Istanbul is possible, but the 4000-kilometer journey from Kunming to Karachi is definitely feasible.

Isn't this the Hump airlift route?
In the event of a full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, the Hump airlift route could be opened in advance to transport various strategic materials back to China in order to counter the Japanese blockade.

Thinking of this, Fang Wen took out his notebook from which he had recorded the entire voyage, wrapped it together with the map marked with symbols in kraft paper, and put it in his inner pocket for safekeeping.

After recounting his journey, he began to ponder what to do next.

When you come to Europe, you should visit three places: France, England, and the Weimar Republic.

Fang Wen was unsure of what he could gain.

But for an Easterner who is unfamiliar with the place and cannot fly a plane, it requires careful planning.

Besides the consulates of the Republic of China in Europe, the only other sources of support were the overseas Chinese communities scattered throughout Europe.

Among these overseas Chinese, some were fellow villagers from Guangdong and Fujian. His wife had said that once they arrived in Istanbul, she could arrange everything else.

Oh right, I promised to telegraph home to let you know I arrived safely in Istanbul, I almost forgot.

Fang Wen immediately took out a telegraph machine from his canvas bag and sent a telegram back home.

Shanghai Airport.

Fang Wen's small group of people gathered at his house.

Fang Shouxin, Fang Shun, Shao Sishen, Pan Jiafeng, Liu Zhanggui, Sun Debiao, Howard.

Manager Liu sat next to the telegraph machine, listening with one earphone in his hand.

The others were talking in hushed tones.

"Why hasn't the general manager called back yet? It's been six days."

"Something must have been holding me up."

"By the way, I heard that our time is different from Istanbul's. What time is it there now?"

"They are 5 hours behind us. It's 8 p.m. now, and it's 3 p.m. there."

Besides these people, Kuang Mingzhu was also there. She appeared calm on the surface, but she was more anxious than the others.

Everyone was waiting for Fang Wen's call back.

Time passed slowly, and suddenly Manager Liu raised his hand.

"We have a signal."

Everyone immediately fell silent.

Manager Liu listened carefully to the radio waves, translated them, and wrote them down on paper.

After he finished, he got up and handed the note to Kuang Mingzhu.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Kuang Mingzhu began to read.

"Arrived at point B. Sending a telegram to report that you are safe."

"B" is the abbreviation of Istanbul's Morse code, and everyone cheered with joy, for the host had succeeded.

Manager Liu quickly replied, "It's not over yet."

Then everyone fell silent again.

Kuang Mingzhu continued reading, "If you wish to travel to the Three Kingdoms, can you arrange for someone to meet you?"

Kuang Mingzhu looked at Manager Liu: "Can we call him back right now?"

Manager Liu nodded: "Okay."

“Then I’ll do the talking, and you send the message.”

Manager Liu sat back down and listened and took notes.

"Tell him his current address, and I'll send a telegram to the villagers there to come and meet him. Also, tell him that Sixth Sister has been released on bail, but her teacher is still in custody. I'll continue to try to find a way."

After recording the telegram, Manager Liu began to skillfully press the send key.

At this moment, everyone felt much more relaxed after learning that Fang Wen was safe.

Istanbul, Fang Wen sent the current address back.

Then he went out carrying a canvas bag.

He entered the airport with the hangar rental documents, opened the hangar door, and then closed it behind him.

It's time to withdraw the funds for this trip to Europe.

He crouched down and crawled under the fuselage, pulling out a connecting rod from the side of the auxiliary fuel tank.

Then insert the connecting rod into the small hole under the fuselage and rotate it clockwise.

After spinning three times, a click came from inside.

The specially installed spring-loaded mechanical lock opened.

A gap appeared in the belly of the aircraft. Fang Wen opened the hidden door, reached inside, and took out a sealed leather bag.

The bag contained $30 worth of U.S. Treasury bonds.

After unzipping his briefcase and checking that the government bonds inside were intact, Fang Wen put everything back as it was, put the briefcase inside his clothes, and turned to leave the hangar. The night passed uneventfully; he had dinner at the hotel and didn't go anywhere else.

The next day, there was a knock on the door.

Fang Wen got up and opened the door.

A tall, Asian man stood outside the door.

He spoke in a thick Minnan accent.

“Mr. Fang, my name is Lin Shuiwang. I’m a friend of the Kuang family. I just received the telegram this morning and came over immediately.”

"Hello, please come in." Fang Wen opened the door and invited this person in.

Inside the room, Fang Wen poured him a glass of water and asked him what was wrong.

"I'm going to England, France, and the Weimar Republic. The journey isn't very convenient, so I'd like to find a trustworthy tour guide. Ideally, someone who can work on the ground so it's convenient when I need to get things done."

“That’s me. I started working on ships at 13 and stayed in Europe to make a living at 20. I’ve been to all three places you mentioned, and I know people on land as well,” Lin Shuiwang replied. Then he stood up again. “Mr. Fang, I know the situation in China is not good right now. We who are adrift in foreign lands also want to do our part. Tell me what you want to do, and I will do my best to help you.”

It seems that the wife did say something to the other party.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Wen said, "I came here this time to investigate three things. All of them are of great help to our motherland. One is to find the manufacturing process of a drug called penicillin in England. It can treat gunshot wounds and greatly increase the survival rate of wounded soldiers on the battlefield."

The first thing that impressed Lin Shuiwang was that he had never fought in a war, but he knew how cruel war was. Far more soldiers died from infected wounds than from direct bullet wounds.

If this matter is done well, it will bring great blessings; even the Third Prince will approve.

He listened attentively as Fang Wen continued speaking.

"The second thing is to investigate whether there are any production lines that can be acquired, such as those for firearms and bullets or engines. Our industrial manufacturing capabilities are too poor. With these things, we can do more with less money. The third thing is also my own personal matter: to see if there are any high-performance aircraft."

After listening to Fang Wen's explanation, Lin Shuiwang patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely help you accomplish these three things."

Fang Wen didn't know whether Lin Shuiwang could be completely trusted, but at present he was the most suitable candidate.

Immediately, he and Lin Shuiwang set off that same day.

I bought a plane ticket at Atatürk Airport and headed to my first destination, Paris.

The plane from Istanbul to Paris landed.

Fang Wen and Lin Shuiwang got off the plane and followed the passengers to the immigration exit.

At the exit, customs and military police were on guard, checking everyone's passports.

Lin Shuiwang's passport was cleared, but when it came to Fang Wen's, the customs officer looked up and scrutinized him.

"You flew from Shanghai to Istanbul?"

"Correct."

The customs officer looked down, carefully examined the stamp on the passport, and without asking any further questions, picked up the stamp and applied it.

After collecting their passports, Fang Wen and Lin Shuiwang left the airport and boarded a shuttle bus to enter the city.

Lin Shuiwang was indeed very familiar with this area, and he took Fang Wen to stay at a reasonably priced and safe hotel.

In the guest room, Lin Shuiwang recounted what he knew.

"The Chinese community in Paris is scattered, so it will take some time to find someone from your hometown to help you. Mr. Fang, what do you want me to inquire about?"

"Could we find someone who knows about the industrial manufacturing situation in France?" Fang Wen replied.

"Ok."

Afterwards, Lin Shuiwang took the initiative to go out and inquire.

Fang Wen, who doesn't speak French, stayed in the hotel room.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Lin Shuiwang returned with a middle-aged man.

“This is a fellow villager with the same surname as me; he meets your requirements.”

Fang Wen shook hands with the other person and introduced himself: "Hello, my name is Fang Wen."

"My name is Paul Lin." The middle-aged man's Chinese pronunciation was a bit strange.

"You must have been born in France, right?" Fang Wen asked in surprise.

The middle-aged man recounted his family affairs with some emotion.

"Yes, my father studied in the French class at the Baoding Army Primary School. Later, in 1908, he came to France to study at the Lafite Army Secondary School. After the Qing Dynasty fell, his financial support was cut off. While his classmates returned to China, he stayed in Paris. At first, he wanted to work and study to finish his course, but he couldn't keep it up. So he found a job in Paris, got married, and had children. Then war broke out, and he joined the army. We never heard from him again."

Fang Wen nodded; life was indeed not easy.

"Lin Shuiwang brought you here, which shows that you have some understanding of French industry, right?"

"That's true. I worked in an agency under the Ministry of Industry and know some of the details."

Fang Wen asked his first question: "I would like to know about the current state of the aircraft manufacturing industry in France."

Paul Lin shook his head: "In recent years, the aircraft industry has been stuck in the biplane stage, and the development of monoplanes has fallen behind other countries."

"Which aircraft manufacturers are developing monoplanes?" Fang Wen continued to ask.

"Falman Aircraft Manufacturing Company is developing a bomber codenamed F.220, and Newport Aircraft Manufacturing Company is also doing the same research, but it seems they haven't succeeded."

"F22?" Fang Wen asked in surprise.

"It's an F-220."

There was a discrepancy of one number, but Fang Wen became interested in the bomber that was under development.

He asked Paul Lin to get the data on the monoplane that France was currently developing.

Two days later, Paul Lin came over with the information. Since it was all publicly available information, it wasn't difficult for him.

Fang Wen looked it over once, but ultimately focused his attention on the Farman F.220 bomber.

This is a night bomber.

In 1929, the French Aeronautical Technical Bureau put forward a requirement for a night bomber, and Farman Company won the contract and began the development of the F.220 bomber.

Currently, the company has secured an order for two aircraft from the French Air Force.

The first prototype completed its test flight last May.

The mere mention of night bombers was enough to attract Fang Wen's attention, as night bombing was one of his strengths.

He looked on carefully.

The F.220 bomber features a high-wing configuration with struts, a design well-suited for large-capacity transport aircraft and large bombers.

F.220轰炸机安装了4台600马力的Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr 12缸直列式液冷发动机。

Next, we will look at the detailed specifications of the F.220 bomber.

Wingspan 36 meters

The height of the aircraft is 5.2 meters.

Wing area 186 square meters

Empty weight approximately 10474 kg
When fully loaded, it reaches 18675 kilograms.
Fang Wen was stunned.

This was the largest aircraft in terms of size and carrying capacity that he had seen since he traveled through time.

How far and how fast can such a huge plane fly?

Fang Wen continued reading.

Aircraft payload: 4000 kg carried in the fuselage bomb bay and 4000 kg on external weapons.

Air combat weaponry: three 7.5mm MAC1934 machine guns mounted in turrets on the nose, back, and belly of the fuselage.

Crew: 5 people, including 2 pilots and 2 co-pilots, and 3 machine gunners.

Speed: The maximum speed at an altitude of 4,000 meters is 320 km/h.
Altitude: Service ceiling up to 8000 meters

Flight range: 2000 kilometers
Looking at these data, Fang Wen felt a surge of greed. "My darling is amazing!"

Images of the F.220 bomber cannot be published online due to copyright restrictions; however, they can be viewed elsewhere. While this bomber might seem impractical to others, it is a treasure to the subject.

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(End of this chapter)